Welcome Baby Zen

Zen Asher Sauls was born Saturday January 30, 2010 at 2:47 A.M. He weighed in at 9 lbs 20 inches long. He has brown hair and looks alot like Michael. (Pictures are coming.)

Friday morning about 5:20 a.m. I woke up and had bloody show. We sent Nathan off with Nana around 7:00 and then waited. We went to the hospital about 2:00. I was at 3 cm and 80% effaced. After 3 hours I was still the same so the doctor suggested we go home since he knew we were going for a natural vaginal birth. So we agreed and went home. At 8:00 the contractions were really strong and sitting in the tub wasn't helping anymore. Michael was really good to coach me through contractions and apply pressure to counteract the pain but I was still having a hard time relaxing. Michael called our Bradley teacher/Doula (DEB). They decided it was time to go back to the hospital and she would meet us there. I was at 5 cm when we checked back in and Deb was able to help me relax and work through contractions. At midnight the doctor checked me and I was at 8/9 cm and 100% effaced. He broke my water so that the baby's head would settle into the pelvis more and hopefully finish the dilation. at 2:30 I was the same and going through transition so I was getting pretty hysterical. The contractions were double and triple peaking and were very hard! (I had a lot of back labor). But, after the doctor checked me again and threatened to do a c-section if I didn't relax and get things moving within another half-hour, I found a way to relax (sort-of). Anyways, it did the trick, I pushed for about 5-10 min. and after an episiotomy Zen was here. He came out on his side, thus accounting for the back labor.

I am very proud of myself and our birth team including Michael. He was great, even though his arms were hurting the next day. We have a beautiful healthy baby boy born via VBAC and I did it naturally using the Bradley Method- which means no drugs.