The Albaughs : Ryker Roy Albaugh

Ryker Roy Albaugh

Born May 18, 2015 at 2:14 AM

8 lbs 5 oz

21 inches long

Birth Story

Sunday, May 17th I was officially 41 weeks along, one long week overdue. So far I had only felt contractions once, the following Sunday. I was pretty discouraged, but my doctor had scheduled me to be induced on the 18th, so there was a light at the end of the tunnel.

Sunday Morning

Right before church I started feeling a little weird, honestly I felt a little constipated. I remember my Grandma saying she hadn't realized she was going into labor, she had just thought she needed to go to the bathroom. So I started wondering, but didn't get my hopes up. During church I got a call from the hospital, we didn't listen to it till we got to the car. The lady said that I was scheduled to be induced, and to come in at 6:30 that night. Kev and I looked at each other and asked, "did she say tonight?!" We were both sick to our stomach. It finally got real. I called the hospital back to double check. After they found out that I was already dilated to a two, they said to come in at 6:30 Monday morning.

The rest of the afternoon was pretty uneventful, except I was getting more and more uncomfortable. We left to go return our library movies and then decided to go to the park to walk around. The walk was rough, I was feeling more and more contractions. We ended up not even being able to finish. So we headed home where we decided it would probably be a good idea to start timing my contractions. They were about one and a half minutes long and one minute apart. I wasn't sure what to do. I was scared to go to the hospital and have them tell me to go back home. At this point, my mom called me to tell me that she was leaving IF. I told her I thought I was having contractions. She asked how far apart they were and asked if I was in pain. I was now doubled up on the floor whenever I felt a contraction coming. She said we should probably head to the hospital. Kev and I hurried and packed up, me trying to do as much as possible in the short pain-free minute I had. Kev sped to the hospital and I think we got there in record time.

When we got to the hospital I told the nurses that I thought I was in labor. They looked at me, smiled and said "OK, come on back". After I had changed, the nurse explained that for me to be able to stay at the hospital it would depend on how much I progressed in the next hour or if I was extremely dilated. They nurse seemed pretty skeptical. She checked me and said "Uh, honey, you are staying here. You are dilated to an 8! No one comes in at an 8 with their first baby!" I was shocked! And then my heart dropped, I had heard you couldn't have an epidural if you were past a 7. The nurse reassured me that a could - thank goodness! I was in quite a lot of pain.

We waited for about an hour, felt like an eternity, for the Anesthesiologist. When he finally came he started asking questions. He asked when I was due, I said last Sunday. He looked up, over his glasses, and very seriously said, "You mean your overdue?!" He started to push his cart back to the door. "I can't give you an epidural when you are overdue." I just stared at him. Then he started laughing. I was terrified! There was no way I wanted to have this baby with out an epidural, I did not think it was a very funny joke. But he finally gave me the epidural. It wasn't that bad at all, getting an IV hurt worst than the epidural. I was so nervous though! I was shaking really bad and had a death grip on Kev's hand. I loved that epidural!

My mom finally got there around 11ish. The three of us just talked for a couple of hours. We guessed at how big the baby was going to be. My mom guessed 7 lbs and something oz and I said 8 lbs 5 oz. My mom did not think the baby could be that big. A little after 1, the doctor came and broke my water. He was pretty surprised with how clear it was, with me being overdue. Then he announced that I can start pushing in about 30 minutes. It seemed so unreal to me. I actually started shaking again, I don't know if it was because I was nervous or if it was the adrenaline.

The nurse came back in around 1:45 and started having me push. During my rests Kev and my mom started guessing when the baby would come. Kev said 2:30. The nurse piped in and said 2:15. At one point the nurse told me the baby had hair, I was shocked! Especially when she said he had dark hair! A couple minutes later the doctor came in along with two other nurses and got all set up. While I was pushing, Kev suddenly had to go sit down on the couch. I looked over and to my surprise saw both my mom and Kev sitting on the couch with their heads in their hands. I really wish I could have gotten a picture of both of them.

At 2:14 AM Ryker was born. Hearing his cry caused me so many emotions. Kev was able to cut the cord, then I was able to finally hold my baby boy. He was and is perfect.

I'm so grateful that Heavenly Father entrusted Kevin and I with this sweet little boy. Sometimes it is overwhelming to think of the responsibility, as parents, that we have. We love Ryker and are so grateful to be his parents.