The "official" Birth Story of Marshall Jay Callahan

I really can't start the story without mentioning how Marshall did NOT come a week early like his 2 siblings, and how he didn't even bother to come on his due date, he was, in fact 5 days late! Or without including how, even though I was appointed to be induced on Wednesday the 10th, I was pushed back to Thursday the 11th. So here's how it all went down:


Thursday morning, I wait patiently for a call from the ever-so-busy labor and delivery section of the hospital and finally, FINALLY, at 11:20 AM we got a call from a nurse asking if we were ready to have a baby and if we were could we please arrive at 12:15. At that very point in time Jesse was pulling out of the refrigerator the makings of tacos for lunch. We screamed and hugged and celebrated and while I went to put on my makeup and pack my toothbrush in my hospital bag, he continued on his preparations and proceeded to eat 8 tacos, I ate 1 (for energy, and they smelled good, and I was hungry). I mention this not only for accuracy in the story, but also to point out the differences in this delivery, namely an induction, compared to the others, you know, the ones where the contractions come AND THEN you go to the hospital? Oh, and then Sara took this picture for us, and then we left for the hospital! (Yeah, the twins were basically LIVING at our house for a few days awaiting the time we were to go to the hospital and we'd leave them in charge of our other 2 babies)
On the way to the hospital (again, I mention this only in the name of accuracy) Jesse was on the phone arranging things for the cabinet shop and completely missed the turn to the hospital and went 2 blocks too far and continued on the phone as if nothing had gone awry. I stared at the clock which read 12:14 and then glared at him and when I could take it no longer I said "Get off the phone." He ended his call and we arrived at the hospital.

We got to skip the room that they put you in for an hour to wait and see if you're "progressing" and were whisked immediately to our very own delivery room. Every single thing we needed was already laid out and waiting: my arm bands with my name on them, the appropriate paperwork to initial and sign, all my IV paraphernalia, gown, and a great big IV bag chalk full of pitocin (it almost made my uterus hurt to look at it). The nurses took their time to explain everything to me and to put my IV line in the arm that did not belong to my dominant hand (no one ever asked me that before!). Twenty minutes later the pitocin drip was started at a very low level and I was "checked" to see where we were starting from. One week prior to this I had been at a very definate 2 cm, but the baby's head was still very high, so when this nurse checked I was sure to be at least a 3. My jaw almost dropped when the nurse checking me turned to the other and said "I think she's about a 1/2 cm".
"um..." I said "at my last appointment I was at a 2 so..."
"Well" she said " sometimes they check in the wrong spot."

They check in the wrong spot?! I was confused to say the least. Luckily my Doctor was there within another 20 minutes and checked again. He looked up at the nurse and said "What did you put her down for, 3-ish?"
"uh, no." She said, looking sheepish "We put her down for 1/2"
"Well I uh... I think she's at a 3" He said knowingly with a smile. So with that I was out of the gate, off and running. The contractions started coming, and they were welcomed because I knew with every one the baby was closer and with him came the end of pregnancy! They left us alone pretty much and came back to check a few hours later to find I had only progressed to a 3+. By 5 they were preparing to change shifts and I had at least gotten to a 5 and the baby's head was low enough for the Doctor to break my water. 5:30 the water was broken and the contractions became as intense as I've ever felt. I asked if the anesthesiologist was close and the nurses said he was, but he was working on another patient and might be a few minutes. After a 45 minutes I was completely broken, the contractions were right on top of each other and took all of my energy to get through, I'm not sure how I would have done had Jesse not been holding my knees, Annie rubbing my back, and my mom stroking my hair. The anesthesiologist came at 6:45, almost an hour and a half after my water had been broken, and not a moment too soon. He was quick and efficient and I was pain free in about 20 minutes. In that time I had gone from 5 to a 7 and couldn't have been more relieved. We all relaxed and watched "so you think you can dance" to see who got eliminated (for accuracy people). The nurse checked me close to 9:00 and said "you look pretty good, lets see what happens if we do a test push" I did and she stood up briskly, "I'll call you're doctor, you're ready" He was there within 10 minutes and 2 1/2 contractions later (I only know because I looked at the monitor, I could feel NOTHING!) little Marshall emerged ( 9:32 pm) and they placed him up on my belly. My first thought was: Wow! He is REALLY HEAVY! Indeed he was, 8 pounds 10 ounces and 21 inches long. Almost a full pound heavier than the 7lbs and 11 oz. Cooper and Leila were.
My second thought was: He really does look like a Marshall!

In my recovery room Jesse wrote on the white board "Congratulations Laura and Marshall, you did it!" Indeed we did Marshall, 5 days late, but we did it!