First and foremost- to all of my wonderful JM friends...thank you SO MUCH for all of your kind words and well wishes. I'm sitting here with tears in my eyes, I am so, so thankful. While I was waiting for the 300 photos to upload just now (lol) I as trying to catch up on the board a bit, and I was reading the replies in my update threads (thanks for updating Shannon and Anna!) and it really, really touched me. I LOVE YOU GUYS!!

I'll post my full birth story later, but here are the basics:

Contrax started at 1:30am. Realized they were the real thing, we got to the hospital around 3:30 I think. They suspected that I might be leaking water, so they tested for that. The ferning test under the microscope was inconclusive because they only saw 1 or 2 ferns, when normally when your water is broken, they will see a lot more. I was 2cm when we first checked in, so they had me stay another 2 hours to see if I was progressing and if they wanted to keep me. After 2 hours, I was a 3 and the contrax were a constant 2.5-3 mins apart, so they admitted me. Labored for a long time, but each time they checked me (every few hours) I was still a 3. I feel like I was doing okay, but each time they told me I was still a 3, it got harder and harder. The contrax were getting stronger and more painful, but my cervix wasn't changing. I think it was around 3pm that I was checked, and had BARELY made it to 4, and it was strongly suggested that we start Pitocen. At that point, I knew that I couldn't do it natural anymore. I was too tired, discouraged, and just wanted Reid to get here. I also never prepared myself for the thought of a natural birth with Pit. My nurse was WONDERFUL and VERY encouraging of natural. She kept me going for 12 hours (and I did mention pain meds a few times, lol) but even she at this point thought that an epi might be in my best interest, although she did tell me that we could keep going natural. I got the epi and the pitocin shortly after that. Epi made me feel much, much better (obviously, hehe). Even with the pit, it took me a long time to progress out of a 4. Finally made it to a 6....and then an 8 (around 9pm) and was fully dilated by 10:30pm. We started pushing, and Reid was born about 2 hours later at 12:34am ON HIS DUE DATE! Pushing was an amazing experience. My epi was on a fairly low dose and I could feel the contrax and him moving down the birth canal. I was always able to tell the doc/nurse when it was time to push. I didn't get tired, they said I was a good pusher, even though it took 2 hours. lol. I got to watch him the whole time in a mirror which was AMAZING!

Reid William T______
Born 9/6/08 at 12:34 am
7lbs 14oz
20" long
Long medium brown hair

Even though I wanted a natural, med free birth free of interventions, I am very happy with my birth experience. I never planned to be stuck at 3cm for 12 hours and to have such a stubbon little guy. I am so thankful that Reid did well throughout the process which allowed us to make decisions slowly and thoughfully. Interventions were NEVER pushed upon me. The nurses went out of their way to stick to my birth plan, and ultimatly, it was my decision to start the pit and get the epi. I ended up with just about every intervention under the sun (pit, epi, they had to break my water, IV, cathetor, internal contrax monitor, and ALMOST internal fetal monitor, pushed on my back...) but again, I am okay with it. Reid was a trooper throughout the long process and a c-section was never mentioned.

Okay, sorry, too many details! I do the full story later on- here are the pics!!

Laboring in a rocking chair before meds, between contrax. hehe.


After the meds (my oxygen level dropped a bit so they had me on the nose piece)


Since it was a loooong labor, DH and my stepdad took a nap...


My mom and step-mom getting excited as I was pushing!


Puuuush!!! (sorry, this isn't the cutest pic!)


Just born!


Mr. Reid!


First time I held him


Mommy, daddy, and baby


Not a happy camper after his first bath (the morning after)


Bundled up to go home




Daddy and Reid


Mommy and Reid

[*Mrs.J.2011*]

Congratulations! He is gorgeous! You looked great! I would not have been smiling in labor in a rocking chair! What a great pic! lol

Reid has the same birthday as my little sister (which ironically was her due date too!) Sept 6th babies are so smart!

[Mars]

He is GORGEOUS!!!!

I'm sorry you had a difficult time with the labour. But how does a person just give birth and still look so gorgeous??? You ladies are amazing!!

Congrats to you and Will!!

[greeneyes]

Even though it didn't go as planned, I'm so happy that you can look back at your birth experience in a positive manner. It sounds like you guys stayed flexible and rolled with things as they came your way, making the best decisions for momma and baby - and at the end of the day, that's the best anyone could hope for! Y'all make a cute little family... CONGRATS!!

[Resi]

I'm so happy for you! Congratulations to your new family. I loved all the pictures. He is beautiful!

[ShannonMVT]

Congrats, Mama! He is gorgeous. Although you didn't have the birth you planned, I am thrilled that he is here safe and sound.

Sounds like you did an EXCELLENT job with a long labor.

Bre, I am more than tearing up! CONGRATULATIONS MOMMY! I am so touched by your pictures and your story! Welcome Reid!!!

[ScottishBrit]

Awwwwwwwwww He's s cute!!! Look atthose lil smooshed lip's In the chair!!! I Love It!!!!! Im glad you arehappy with your Labor......You Look great!!! And that Is the cutest pic of DH holding his Son Love It!!!!!!! Congrats Bre!!! And to think you thouht you were gona be late!!!

[midnight_starr]

Congrats Breanna!!!! He is just precious!!!!

[A*LOT*OF*HOPE]

Congrats Breanna!!!! He is amazing!!!! Although the birth was not like you had planned, im glad it was still a wonderful experience for you!! I loved all your pictures, and do agree on the above statement on how you look amazing just after giving birth!!

[Oriyan]

Bre he is SO adorable!!!!!

I am so glad that you were happy with your birth!

Welcome back!

[Hoosier Kitty]

Awww Reid is adorable cute!!!!!!!!!! Congrats!!!!!!!

[bittersweet]

He is gorgeous! Congrats mommy! Love his little coming home hat

[Mod-LadyCoconut]

CONGRATULATIONS! I am so thrilled for you guys! He is just absolutely perfect, I love his little mouth! What a doll! You look fantastic, through it all! I am so glad that even though the birth didn't go exactly how you'd hoped, you rolled with the punches and are okay with how everything went. That's AWESOME! I am so happy for you! And seriously, Reid is just the cutest little things! I'm so happy to watch that little booger grow up!

[Alison81]

Aww, he is adorable!! And congratulations, even if it wasn't the labor you planned, it sounds like it still turned out pretty perfect!

[thepinkleprechaun]

You look great and he is such a beautiful baby! OMG what a cutie!!!

I'm so happy for you guys, get some rest before you upload 300 more pics for us LOL!

Congrats Bre!! He is so adorable. And it sounds like you had a great birth which is awesome! Your little family is so adorable, it warms my heart

[misfitinmn]

OHHHH!! He's sooooo cute, and what a trooper you both were!! Congratulations!!

[chellerenee]

OMG! He is absolutely adorable! You had me sitting here crying looking at the pics! Especially the one of you, Will, and Reid! You both just look so happy and amazed! Congratulations Mommy!!! Are you breastfeeding? How's it going with that if you are? I can't wait to see more pics of the you and the little cutie pie!

Michelle

[.Brandi.]

He is so goregous!!! Looks just like Daddy!! And wow! You look like a super model! I looked like hell! I'm so jealous!! So proud of you and little Reid, you both did amazing!! You changed his middle names!!