Birth Story: Ezra Thomas Cole

This beautiful baby boy was born on April 22, 2016 at 6:04am. He weighed 6 pounds, 14 ounces and 20 inches long. And he officially has one of the craziest birth stories out there!

In the weeks leading up to his birth I was just not feeling right. I was so swollen, tired and just not feeling well. So after lots of talking with the midwives, one of them finally understood that these weren't just normal complaints. I developed preeclampsia again, as I did with Jack, and had to be closely monitored. I spent a few nights in the hospital without the doctors deciding to induce me. On April 21st I went in for my usual Non-Stress-Test and was supposed to meet with the high risk doctors to discuss when I would be induced. That morning I really felt awful and was throwing up, so Mom decided she would come with me and Hope said she would watch Jack, which all turned out to be completely necessary. After checking my blood pressure, I was immediately sent upstairs to triage to be induced. My cervix was actually soft and I was slightly dilated.

Ben rushed to the hospital and was by my side to care for me and the baby. Dad, Hope and Ron also came to the hospital, while Jody and Lizzy watched Jack. I am so thankful that I had such a strong supportive family with me!

Induction started and I was very awake and active for it. I was put on magnesium which immediately felt like I was put inside an oven. But other than that while we waited for the pitocin to kick in and start labor, I was feeling pretty good. I was able to joke around and talk with everyone. The turning point was when the midwives tried to insert a foley balloon. Hope stayed in the room because we thought it would be no big deal, but the midwives had trouble with it. I ended up in so much pain that I started throwing up. Hope may be scarred for life and not want to ever have a baby, haha! I did get an epidural. I always wanted a natural birth but the magnesium kept me confined to the bed and it was just impossible for me to cope with the pain on my own without being able to move.

After all night with pitocen I finally became dilated and ready to give birth. Everyone was sleeping in the lobby, except for Ben who was in my room. He was so great, getting me drinks, keeping me calm and I know he was so tired. He slept for a bit but I had to wake him up because I knew it was time. He got my mom and the midwives and we started. After a few pushes we were getting there, and that's when the real craziness started.

I remember looking at Ben and locking eyes and just smiling at each other. Then everyone turned to look at the monitor for the contraction and I heard everyone start shouting. Ben passed out. He just fell right down, hitting his head off of the linoleum floor. A midwife turned to me and said, "Don't be scared but there are going to be a lot of people in here". I had to stop pushing and the room was rushed with nurses and doctors asking me if Ben was prone to seizures. I was so overwhelmed and scared. He finally woke up after a few minutes and was so upset. He didn't want to leave the room, but he had to be taken to the emergency room. He wouldn't get up so a nurse had to get his dad to help him and convince him to go. It was so sweet that he didn't want to leave me. He left and I yelled to him that everything would be alright.

Two pushes later and I pushed out our baby. Ben just missed it by two pushes. The contractions were so painful, but that last push was incredible. I felt so proud of my body for doing this and it was an experience I'll never forget. I didn't even tear, so no stitches for later (HALLELUJAH!). The pediatric doctors were brought in because I had gestational diabetes so they had to check the baby immediately. As the midwives pulled the baby out and set him on my stomach to cut the cord, one of the pediatric nurses walked by and said "What a beautiful baby boy" and my mom, the midwives and I all said in unison, "No, it's a girl!" as the midwife was cutting the cord. I think that shocked her and she jerked her hand, causing the cord to spray cord blood all over my nurse, who was holding the baby. She was covered in blood and said "Just keep going" while they finished up with the baby. She had to go to the emergency room because blood got in her eye! So that's two people from my birth room to go to the emergency room! Then I had a moment to fully realize I had a BOY! I was in total shock, but complete joy that this little baby was mine! They checked him out and then brought him to me. I got to hold him on my chest and then breast feed him right away. Even though Ezra is not who I was expecting, I fell instantly in love and connected to this surprise boy!

We got to spend several hours together as everyone settled down. But Ben was still in the emergency room and was having a hard time. He lost his memory of most of the previous day. He was so confused that we had a boy and kept asking if this was his first. In fact, Ron didn't even believe it when he heard it was a boy. He thought my dad was joking and had to remind him that Ben was really confused and not to joke around! My dad had to tell them repeatedly that it really was a boy! By about 3pm we were able to go down to the emergency room so that Ben could meet his new son. Because I was on magnesium I couldn't get out of bed, so I was wheeled down, with Ezra being wheeled down in a bassinet! Finally Ben got to hold his boy and we confirmed that he was our Ezra Thomas. I didn't want to say the name until I knew that we both were sure it was perfect!

After our visit, Ben was released to a room so we were all wheeled in our beds to our respective rooms! It was so funny, a train of Coles! Later that night, Jack came to visit and got to meet his new brother. It was one of the sweetest moments. He was so excited and thrilled to see the baby. He was afraid to get on my hospital bed, but kept going to see the baby. Over the next few days, it was clear that Jack was meant to be a brother. It was so natural to him and he had such an instant connection to Ezra. I'm so thankful for my boys and their obvious love for each other!

We ended up being the talk of the hospital with that wild birth! As crazy as it was, we were all safe and mostly healthy ( a concussion for Ben). My heart was so full and I couldn't stop smiling the whole hospital stay. I honestly felt guilty about smiling because of poor Ben's condition, but adding Ezra to our family was just too exciting to not smile!