Asher's Birth Story

On Thursday November 19th I started to have contractions at around 3 am. They were about 1 minute long and 20 minutes apart. Kaile had school and clinic that day until 4pm so I just kept telling myself that I needed to make it through until he got home. They stayed consistently 15 to 20 minutes apart for the morning and afternoon. My sweet friend Catherine took Brecken to preschool for me and Mailey and I had afternoon naps. Kaile was able to get home from clinic early so he picked Brecken up from school and got home a little before 4pm. He walked in and it was like my body gave in and said ok now you can have this baby... My contractions went from 20 minutes apart to 3 to 5 minutes apart in a matter of minutes. It was such a tender mercy, miracle, whatever you want to call it that everything happened how it did. We called Catherine again and told her it was go time:) she drove to our house got Brecken and Mailey and Kaile and I left for the hospital. We got to Mercy Hospital at around 4:30 pm and got checked in and to our room at 5. My sweet friend Rachel who has given birth naturally twice with a midwife offered to coach me and act as an unofficial doula for me.  She got there around 5:30 and everything just continued to progress. When the checked me initially I was dilated to 4cm they told me I could order some dinner and eat if I wanted until I was at a 6.  Mercy is an awesome facility with tubs and showers in every room plus birthing bars and balls. Everyone was on board to help me deliver naturally and to keep me as comfortable as possible. I got in the tub and Kaile and Rachel iced my back and helped me time my contractions. My dinner came at around 7:30 and by that time I had no interest in eating. Kaile thought this was ironic because all I had been thinking about my whole pregnancy was food:) They checked me again and I was only to a 7 even though I felt like I had been in labor forever. I decided with the help of my team( Kaile, Rachel, 2 nurses, Dr Byron and a resident) that they should break my water. They did and that's when things really started to progress. From this point on I don't really remember anything...my body took over and just did what it had to. I remember pain and wondering if it would ever end but every time I started to feel like I couldn't do it my team would rally me with the perfect words - "you can do it" "you are strong" "it will end". Everyone was so amazing and supportive. I remember looking into Kaile's face at one point and just yelling and saying it hurt. He was seriously amazing through the whole process and I honestly don't know if I could have done it without him. At around 10 pm my Dr started to prep me for delivery. I was starting to push and she had me move to my back. I started to push but I couldn't push and yell at the same time so I wasn't getting much done with each contraction. One of the nurses coached me on how to push more effectively and breath and take a break imbetween contractions. Rachel was able to video this for us otherwise I would have no idea what happened because its all a blur in my mind. Needless to say I pushed for about 20 minutes and then our BIG Asher was born. Once I delivered I remember my Dr saying he was probably 10lbs which was just crazy to me. He had swallowed some meconium so we didn't get to do skin to skin right away but when the brought him to me I was just filled with such peace and joy. He was perfect and so chubby and he had hair. I was instantly in love and felt like I had known him forever. Kaile and I both talked later on about how we felt there were "others" in the room with us seeing Asher make his way into this world. The whole atmosphere was one of joy and love and peace. His weight ended up being 9lbs12oz just under 10lbs:) and his length was 22 inches long. I still can't believe he was/is so big but it makes for a good sleeper so I can't complain. I am just so grateful for a beautiful healthy baby and that I was able to have a successful VBAC. The experience of giving birth naturally is something I will never forget and I have proven to myself that I am strong.

We love you Asher Ryan Myrick

Born November 19, 2015

10:23 pm

Sledding fun

It snowed yesterday so today we dug out our snow clothes and went sledding at the hill behind our condo. Mailey wasn't too sure about this cold snow business but warmed up to it once she saw Brecken and I having fun. It's weird to look forward to snow since I grew up in Utah and I couldn't wait for the snow to melt. It was a fun afternoon and we enjoyed it because this might be the only snow we get this season.

Happy snow day everyone!!!