The Birth Story

Isabella Autumn Nearing was born to the world on September 28th at 8:41AM. Sunday the 27th Ang woke me up a few times as she was getting in/out of bed. At that point in the pregnancy, between work and school, I was barely conscious. When I awoke that morning she was smiling ear to ear, "Bells's comin today!" She said she'd been having contractions since 2AM but didn't want to go to the hospital yet. I looked to my Mother-in-Law Jeanne for reassurance, and it seemed like we had a good bit of time before we needed to head to the hospital. Ang knew that once she was admitted, she wouldn't be permitted to eat food, so she and Jeanne decided to prepare a feast. I went to Sacrament meeting and Ang said she would call me if she felt like we needed to head to the hospital. Shortly after Sacrament I got the call!

We arrived at the hospital and Ang made it up on her own two feet. By the time we got her to the room the contractions were pretty strong. Our doctor wasn't on call and we were nervous about having a different doctor but the guy that stepped in was great! We watched Ang's contractions and they were pretty strong. She was hanging tough, but when they checked her-she wasn't dilated. The doctor told us we could either go home or go for a brief walk and he would check her again in an hour. Apparently, because of lazy doctors performing unnecessary C-sections, doctors can only augment labor they can't induce it if no progress is shown for the first baby.

We went for a walk around the hospital and I watched the clock-hoping that when they checked again, the labor would've progressed. We were only supposed to walk for an hour or so. Ang was gripping my arm really tight, sweating, and obviously in a lot of pain. I pushed her to keep going and going because we were afraid of goin home when Ang KNEW the baby was on her way. Ang was a regular soldier and I pushed her for a full hour and a half. When the doc checked again, still nothing.

After giving Ang some meds for the pain we went home. By the time we got home the pain was terrible. Ang cried herself to sleep. I've rarely felt so helpless.

Jeanne and I talked and waited. Two hours later Ang awoke howling in pain. We raced to the hospital. Jeanne hopped out to get a wheelchair this time and Ang looked at me, "I think its coming out!" I bolted from the car and ran to Jeanne and back to Ang. We raced into the hospital, up the elevator and into the birthing room. Looking at the monitors, I didn't think that the contractions could get any more intense.

Ang was yelling and they gave her a shot again for the pain. They checked her, STILL not dilated! The doctor said again, "We'll check again in an hour." We couldn't believe it!

An hour later they checked and she had dilated half a centimeter and the doctor could finally augment the labor that had started about 21 hours earlier.

Ang opted for the epidural and fell asleep thereafter. Jeanne and I talked as Ang fell asleep and we watched the monitor of her contractions. By six in the morning she was at 9.5 and asking for our doctor.

Our rather unpleasant kind of crotchety nurse suggested we still had hours before the actual delivery. After two pushes we could see the top of Isa's head and the nurse promptly called for the doctor. An hour and a half later she showed up apologizing profusely. Ang started pushing and Isa officially arrived about 16 minutes later.

She was 19.5" tall and 8.5 lbs.

As Ang and I had discussed beforehand, I accompanied Isa to the nursery and helped her get cleaned up. She had VERY curly dark red brown hair, Ang's nose and eyes and a few birthmarks.

She stopped crying when they ran water through her hair and I hummed a tune Ang had created and sang while pregnant. I sat in the rocking chair humming to her. We just stared at each other for a long time. A nurse approached me and said that Ang needed me and I had to leave Isa behind. Noting my reluctance the nurse offered to hold Isa while I tended to Ang and sit in the rocking chair with her until I returned. I reexamined every detail about her hands, eyes, nose, hair to make sure no switcheroos were made and hesitantly left Isa with the nurse.

An hour later when I returned, the nurse had been every good as her word. Ang and the baby bonded immediately.

It was the scariest, most beautiful experience I have ever been privileged to be a part of! I love my family!