jonah’s birth story.
baby jonah’s here! wait, did i forget to mention that before? it’s been a whirlwind of a week and before i forget too many details (though i did keep an outline while in labor), here is our jonah’s birth story.
previously, at my 36-week appointment, the doctor said i was at 1-2 cm and the baby’s head was low. he had said then that if i progressed further by the following week, we might just go ahead and induce if i hadn’t gone already since i had super fast deliveries with the previous babies. i was comfortable with that plan since one of my bigger fears was going in to labor suddenly and not having enough time to get the kids situated and make it to the hospital. which would also mean not having enough time to get an epidural. which is kinda what happened when mikey was born. not my favorite birth experience. remember my 2-item birth plan?
so phil and i decided to leave the kids at the grandparents’ house for a week and hope like crazy the baby would come while the kids were being cared for. phil had also started his vacation/paternity time off and i really didn’t want most of it to be spent before the baby was born.
there are kinda more details to be concerned about when a fourth baby is on the way.
sunday night, i started having contractions. the achey, wrap around your back, clenchy feeling of dread kind. not the cute braxton hicks ones. but then again, i’d been having a couple hours of the “real” contractions every night for the past two weeks. they would usually go away by the time i went to bed. so it was hard to tell if these were going to stick around long enough to make any progress.
the guessing game was no fun. especially since i was on the better-sooner-than-later side of the fence this time around.
so phil scurried around getting the last few things packed into our suitcase and we headed to the hospital near midnight since these contractions seemed to be sticking around.
they hooked me up to the monitors and kept us there for four hours to see if i’d make any more progress. the contractions stayed pretty regular, coming every 2-3 minutes, but weren’t nearly as painful as the ones at home had been. i had a feeling these weren’t doing very much of anything. after all that, i was still stuck at 2 cm. so we were sent back home.
we experienced our first *walk of shame* back down the long hallways of the hospital to head back home. thankfully it was at 4:30 in the morning and not many people were around to witness us sheepishly shuffling out.
but it turned out to be a really nice thing to have a couple of days to ourselves while the kids were away. we immediately adopted a bachelor-type lifestyle, staying up crazy late, sleeping in crazy late, eating whatever we felt like whenever we felt like, going to the movies (battle: los angeles), and pretty much having no set schedule for anything. it felt weird. and wonderful. and phil got some much needed chunks of time to get some work done which i know he was glad to have, too.
wednesday morning came around and we headed to the doctor’s office for my 37-week appointment. i had a sinking feeling that i hadn’t made any more progress again even though i had been having contractions again since 4pm the day before. we had been going on long walks every evening in hopes of kickstarting labor for good, but the contractions kept fading away on me. i kept envisioning the doctor saying, “well, looks like we’ll see you next week!”
but, it turned out i had made a little more progress and finally made it to 3cm! and then the doctor said he’d talk to us in his office. which was definitely out of the ordinary. my hopes rose a tiny bit. once in his office, he told us that since i’d been having contractions and was progressing, in addition to my elevated blood pressure, he thought it best for us to go have a nice lunch, then head to the hospital to induce that day.
i couldn’t believe my ears. i totally thought i was imagining him saying the very thing i wanted him to say. good thing phil was also there to confirm what he’d just said.
woo hoo! finally time to get this show on the road!
we followed doctor’s orders and had a nice [steak] lunch, packed up, and headed to the hospital.
that was the long part of the story. the actual labor and delivery were over and done with in under eight hours.
we checked in at 2pm and i got hooked up to an iv and pitocin at around 2:40. they started the pitocin really low at first and gradually kept increasing the level. but really slowly for some reason. i started having really mild contractions but nothing bad all afternoon.
the doctor came to check on me at 6 pm and i was still stuck at 3 cm. so he broke my water (which felt really weird) and had the pitocin cranked up.
on a sidenote, i had really great nurses in both the labor/delivery and recovery rooms. cecilia, jopye, and ivy were the best nurses i’ve ever had! which may or may not have had something to do with a phone call one of phil’s former attendings put in on our behalf. at any rate, they took really great care of us and made the whole experience that much better.
at 6:45 pm, the contractions were finally feeling like they meant business. not super bad yet, but phil suggested i go ahead and get my epidural before they got really bad and while the anesthesiologist was available. so i did. and it was great.
the nurse checked me again at 8 pm and i had made it to 5 cm. she said maybe i’d jump to 10 after this. it all started to feel surreal as i realized this baby is actually coming and there was no turning back now.
at 9:30 pm, the nurse checked me again and lo and behold, i was at 10 and ready to push. she called the doctor who said he’d be right over. she assumed he was at home but it turned out he’d waited in the hospital knowing it would go fast once it was time to deliver.
he came in and said he’d check me, but took one look, jumped a bit saying, “whoa, the head is right there! don’t do anything!” he hurriedly gowned up and before i knew it, he said to push. i pushed. the nurse laughed and said i was smiling while pushing. i didn’t feel like i was doing anything.
after a total of two and a half pushes, no tearing and no stitches, baby jonah was born at 9:50 pm, weighing 6 lb 7 oz, 18 inches long. beautiful and healthy. and best of all? he got his mommy’s dimples! which i have yet to get a picture of. but here he is!
19 Comments
Jenny
wow, you make it sound so easy! might as well try for another one. 🙂
so glad you and phil had some fun alone time before jonah arrived. he is soooo cute and i'm looking forward to seeing him soon.
btw – isn't it great to have connections at the hospital? if there was ever a time to have vip treatment, it's when you're giving birth (or getting an IV).
SkyBlueSeed
Oh he is precious!! I know, you do make it sound so easy! That's awesome that it all worked out and baby is healthy! Thanks for sharing your birth story, enjoyed reading it 🙂 Hope you are resting up and enjoying your little one.
MillerMilleu
love love love hearing the story! Glad it was a smooth one for you! He is PRECIOUS! You go mama!
Sonia
Beautiful story. Thank you for sharing… I am so relieved that he came in such a smooth way. Big exhale.
jenny
he's perfect! congrats!!!! loved hearing your l&d story and also hearing about how you two got to really enjoy being alone the last few days. so cute! =)
Lorie
What a great story, Michelle! I seriously hope you're planning to have more babies as you are a delivery machine! Smiling and two pushes?! There are women who dream about that! I think Jonah looks a lot like Phil, but how fun that he has your dimples…yay! What a sweetie, and I know I've said it before but I LOVE his name. Levi has a buddy named Jonah and he SO reminds me of a Tsai child.
Kate Avedissian
Awesome story Michelle…wow, you got to go to the movies and have a nice lunch before your induction. on a side note, they probably didn't start the pit to high because of the fear of putting baby in stress and putting mom in horrendous pain. My doc broke my water first (that is very weird feeling, like you are constantly wetting yourself) then the pit, and once the epidural was in, it all went super fast. Jonah is beautiful!!!!
joyceandnorm
yay!! precious! but why couldn't it be on march 19th so we can celebrate together? =p glad everything went smoothly. rest up mama!
judy
congratulations and so glad to hear that it was an enjoyable experience altogether! what a wonderful way to welcome jonah into the world and a wonderful way for you to end being a mamma of 3! He is just precious!
Janet :-)
can't believe you had him in 2.5 pushes w/ no tear! congratulations again, and i hope you have a fast recovery.
Stef
Sniff. So full of joy for you all!
Anonymous
Jessica Nystrom Johnson
Yeah! Congratulations Tsai's! Can't wait to see photos.
March 17, 2011 at 8:07am
Nancy Fam
Awesome, congratulations!!! Hope you and baby are doing well.
March 17, 2011 at 8:15am
Joanne Han
Congrates!!! He came early. So many March babies in your family. BTW..happy early birthday!
March 17, 2011 at 8:25am
Laurie Sato Len
Congratulations! Can't wait to meet the little guy!
March 17, 2011 at 8:40am
Kelly Yee
Congrats! So awesome!!! Can't wait to see the photos. 🙂
March 17, 2011 at 8:44am
Jami Kim Lee
Congratulations M&P!!!! And to M, A and L too!!!! YAY!!! Can't wait to meet him! Let us know when it'd be okay to come over!
March 17, 2011 at 8:52am
Jeena Livience Lim
Congratulations, Tsais!!! 😀
March 17, 2011 at 8:57am
Kate Avedissian
LOVE the name, saw pictures on Phil's site, he looks like his mommy. Give the peanut a love for me 😀
March 17, 2011 at 9:21am
Kate Avedissian
BTW, yesterday was my oldest bro's birthday, and tomorrow is my niece's 4th birthday. So many birthday's in common with my family. HUGS
March 17, 2011 at 9:22am
Janet Hong
Woohoo! Congratulations!!!
March 17, 2011 at 10:59am
Stella Lee
Congratulations!!! What a cute name, too!
March 17, 2011 at 11:11am
Minna Nah
When did this happen?! (You already answered that, but you know what I mean). 🙂 Congrats!!!
March 17, 2011 at 12:04pm
Jenny Lee
Woo hoo! Congratulations Michelle. I can't wait to see little Jonah in person. Let us know when you feel up for visitors. 🙂
March 17, 2011 at 12:40pm
Lorie Coy Schnell
Yay, yay, yay – congratulations!!!!!! Totally LOVE his name! Can't wait to hear more details and see pics. 🙂
March 17, 2011 at 12:40pm
Sonia Joo
So happy he's here safe & sound… He is beautiful & I am so happy for you all! Congratulations!
March 17, 2011 at 12:44pm
Judy Sunu Lee
Congratulations Michelle! Yay finally gets to join the family in person!
March 17, 2011 at 1:53pm
Barbara Coyle
Welcome, little Jonah!
March 17, 2011 at 2:59pm
Wendy Lee
That's awesome. Congratulations Michelle!
March 17, 2011 at 3:08pm
Tara Wiesley Miller
CONGRATS! What a special time! Hunter said you could have had a baby girl and then you would have matched us!
March 17, 2011 at 3:54pm
Evangeline Chung Kwon
Congratulations!!!!!!!!! Can't wait to see pictures!
March 17, 2011 at 8:08pm
Jan Kang Congrats! Hope to meet your little swimmer.
March 17, 2011 at 9:08pm
Jessica Shutt Lopretta Congratulations Michelle!
March 17, 2011 at 9:55pm
Bruin Doms
YAYYYYYYY!!! COngrats!! Can't wait to see the little one!! 🙂
March 17, 2011 at 10:55pm
Christine Nah Song
CONGRATULATIONS!!! #4 is the easiest!!
March 17, 2011 at 11:25pm
Kim Tamura Hee
Oh my gosh!! I can't wait to meet him!! What a cute name!
March 18, 2011 at 12:22am
Jane Kang Park
Congratulations to the Tsai family! Looking forward to seeing pics of the little guy.
March 19, 2011 at 5:52pm
Stephanie Jay Chinn
And congratulations!!!!!! Can't wait to meet the little guy!!
March 29, 2011 at 12:38am
Anonymous
Joanna Kim
CONGRATULATIONS!!! =)
March 17, 2011
Anonymous
Amy Kim Ho
Congratulations to the Tsai family! So thankful that he came out safe and well.
March 17, 2011
Anonymous
Alice Sun Davis
Congratulations Tsai family! We can't wait to meet Jonah Karsten Tsai!
March 17, 2011
Anonymous
Jammie 'Carretta' Shafer
Rejoicing with you! Way to go girl!! Can't wait to hear how it went & all about the lil' guy!
March 17, 2011
Anonymous
Dri Wang
Congrats, Michelle!!!
March 22, 2011 at 6:43pm
Brooke Fermin
Such a sweet, handsome little boy! Love the laid back story and glad you got your two-point birth plan executed! 🙂 Congratulations Tsais!
March 22, 2011 at 6:58pm
Michelle Tsai
Thanks Dri and Brooke! 🙂
March 22, 2011 at 7:51pm
Stella Lee
perfect! everything! oh…and don't sweat the walk of shame (so funny, because that's exactly the right words for it). I've done that walk with 2 out of 4 of mine!
March 22, 2011 at 8:14pm
Susanna Chung
Congrats!
March 22, 2011 at 8:27pm
Bruin Doms
♥ ♥ ♥ the birth story!! How in the world did you even find time to blog it! He's beautiful, Michelle!! can't wait to see more pix!
March 22, 2011 at 9:20pm
Michelle Tsai
Stella- glad to know I'm not the only one!
March 22, 2011 at 9:48pm
Michelle Tsai
Susan- thank you!
March 22, 2011 at 9:48pm
Michelle Tsai
Dominique- thank you! I've so missed seeing you this year!
March 22, 2011 at 9:48pm
Christian Park
congratulations!! he looks like you already!
March 22, 2011 at 10:09pm
Pui Yee Kam
congratulations tsai's! 🙂 looking forward to meeting jonah…
March 22, 2011 at 10:41pm
Pui Yee Kam
the pitocin when i was induced for megan didn't give me enough time for an epidural (20 minutes?)…and also didn't give enough time for the doc to come to deliver me. 🙁 but so glad it worked out for you! 🙂
March 22, 2011 at 10:44pm
Christine Nah Song
love the pic and the story! congratulations again!
March 22, 2011 at 11:08pm
Evangeline Chung Kwon
Congratulations! That is so nice that you had alone time together. Jonah is adorable.
March 22, 2011 at 11:56pm
Laura An
loved the story Michelle! and am AMAZED that you wrote it so soon afterward! especially giggled at "cute braxton-hicks" 🙂
March 23, 2011 at 5:04pm
Michelle Tsai
Thank you ladies! 🙂
March 23, 2011 at 7:52pm
Michelle Tsai
Pui yee- hmm, so maybe it was a good thing that they did the pit so slowly for me. I had no idea Megan came so dramatically fast!
March 23, 2011 at 7:54pm
Edwin Lee
Congratulations!
March 23, 2011 at 8:10pm
Anonymous
Sako Pak
Congratulations Michelle on your little boy (and your daughter turning 5 years old)! March madness must take on a whole new meaning at the Tsai house! Can't wait to see photos 🙂
March 21, 2011
Anonymous
Jammie 'Carretta' Shafer
So glad your quad is complete… hope you are feeling well!
March 22, 2011