John Thomas' Birth Story

My husband, a JAG officer in the Navy, was sent to Rhode Island for a nine-week training session and I went along. While we were there, we found out we were expecting our first child. At first we didn't know what to think because this pregnancy was unexpected. We were scared then excited. I'll never forget the nurse on the phone telling me the blood test was positive. I think that was the most fantastic, amazing moment of my life.

My pregnancy was pretty much uneventful until the gestational diabetes test came back positive. First, we tried to regulate my sugar levels with diet, and when that didn’t work, we tried insulin injections. With the gestational diabetes, I had to have weekly fetal monitoring and ultrasounds to make sure the baby was doing okay. We already knew we were having a boy, and after the first two visits to the labor deck at the Naval Hospital, everyone greeted me at the door by asking, "How is John Thomas today?" It was great!

At 39 weeks, my doctor recommended induction because they don’t like moms with gestational diabetes to go past the due date, so my induction was set.

On July 28, at 5:45 a.m., my husband and I arrived at the hospital and they started a Pitocin drip. I was four centimeters dilated and 75 percent effaced upon arrival. By four p.m. I was at six centimeters, and 80 percent, so things did not seem to be progressing quickly. The Pitocin was causing harder contractions so I asked for the epidural. I relaxed, and things started moving right along.

By eight p.m. I was ready to push. And push I did! For two-and-a-half hours. Finally, my doctor said I wasn't making much progress, and my baby was coming face up instead of face down. He said after another half-hour of pushing, if nothing happened, they would help with the vacuum. I heard the word "help" and refused to push anymore. I was so tired! It was now 10:30 p.m. and I had been at the hospital since 5:45 that morning.

They wheeled me across to delivery and my son was born at 10:35 p.m.! He was the most amazing thing I had ever seen. Feeling his body come from mine was a feeling I cannot put into words!

Today, my seven-week-old son is the perfect baby! He only wakes once during the night! What more could you ask from an angel sent to me from God?