Shannon's Story

Benjamin Allen was born on April 15th at 11:23 am. He weighed 8lbs 5 1/2 oz.

After having our daughter 5 years ago we knew that more children were to come. She was an easy birth that lasted only 4 hours with only 45 min. worth of pushing and very little pain. However our birth plan was not followed by the nurses or our doctor. I received an episiotomy (which took MANY months to heal), we were not encourage to breastfeed and I was told over and over that my baby was starving (this is the first 2 days while we're still in the hospital). Now I look back and know that those are small obstacles compared to what some people have gone through, but at the time it was pretty stressful.

We decided we would like another child when our daughter turned 3. Well it wasn't as easy the second time to conceive. It took us 2 years. We were puzzled because we got pregnant the first time in just one month. The day arrived that I told my husband he was to be a father again. He couldn't believe it. Even had me go to the doctor's for a second pregnancy test.

Our doctor this time was very supportive of our birthing plan. We wanted no drugs, no IV, no fetal monitor, no episiotomy, and the right to breastfeed on demand. She agreed to everything, however when the day arrived she was on holidays in California. Well, I certainly wasn't going to wait as he was already 5 days late.

I woke up Tuesday morning at 6am to a loud pop and then gushing of fluid. This had not happened with our daughter. I couldn't believe the amount of water that came out. It was a beautiful sunny morning and warm for April. No contractions yet so I jumped into the shower to get cleaned up. I was very excited and a little scared. How would this go without my wonderful supportive doctor? Would my mother in law arrive in time to take care of our daughter so we could go to the hospital. We live literally 3 min. from the hospital but she had a 45 min. drive and my history is fast delivery. We called her and she could not leave for another 2 hours as she was babysitting her other grandchildren. That was okay for the moment as I hadn't started any contractions yet. I got dressed and cuddled on the couch with my daughter who was watching cartoons oblivious as to what was happening. We talked a bit about the baby coming and she was pretty non-chalant. At 8am my contractions started coming. Every time I had a contraction my water would flow. So up I would go to get cleaned up. I changed my clothes 3 times before I realized there was a pattern here and shouldn't even bother dressing again. I sat on the couch with a pile of towels. Every time I would have a contraction I would hand over the soaked towel to my husband. It was quite messy but we saved the couch. At 8:30 the contractions were close and pretty intense at this point I was pacing and looking out the window anxiously for my Mother in Law. She finally arrived a few min. before 9am.

We rushed to the hospital. They greeted me with a wheelchair which I refused. Sitting was NOT COMFORTABLE. Actually at this point nothing was comfortable. The contractions were much worse than with my daughter. I was feeling week and a bit nautious. My husband was a great support. He talked me through each contraction and let me lean on him as we walked to the birthing room. They did an internal and told me I was 3 cm. What a disappointment! When I arrived at the hospital to have my daughter I was 10 cm. I thought this was going to be a long hard labour. Within 1/2 an hour I was 6 cm and the next 1/2 hour brought me to 9cm. At that point the doctor was ready and so was I. this was much more difficult the second time around. However I only pushed for 1/2 hour and our beautiful son was born. No cutting, no drugs and no IV. The nurses and doctor were wonderful! Ben was quite blue when he was born due to the fact that he was born so quickly. The doctor was very reassuring and told us that he was fine. He was passed around to everyone in the room. What a beautiful boy he was. His father wouldn't give him up. I finally got to hold him and breastfeed. He took to the breast right away and has done well ever since.

My hospital experience was wonderful. We live in a small town called Port Hope east of Toronto. Pop. 12,500. I was the only one in the maternity ward so I was spoiled. By 12:00 I had showered, my room was ready and had been served lunch. My son was spoiled as well. The nurses on duty thought he was adorable so they held him all the time. I never changed a diaper, or bathed him the whole time I was there. At night he slept in the nursery which he had to himself and was only brought in to me to breastfeed.

Our daughter was very disappointed at first when she heard she had a brother. She wanted to send him back. But as soon as she saw him she said "Oh Mommy, he is so cute". She tried changing his name to a girl name for a few days and finally decided that a brother would be okay after all. She now loves him to death, sometimes too much. He's going to be a tough little kid if he survives his sister.

Ben is now 3 1/2 mo. old and we are actually talking about our 3rd child. Children are amazing beings. They can steal your heart away with one smile. We are fortunate to have healthy happy children and we thank God every day for allowing us to be parents