The Birth Story of Ford Fitzgerald Dyer

It was Valentine’s day and Mason and I were sitting in my OB/GYN’s office when she said, “If you don’t go into labor today, I want you to check-in to the hospital tomorrow morning to be induced.” This was the last thing that I wanted to hear. From the moment I found out I was pregnant, I started planning my “natural birth” and it didn’t include being induced. Mason and I left that appointment and went on a Valentine’s Day lunch date where I told the waiter that within 24 hours, one way or another, I was having my baby. 

We spent the rest of that day trying to get my body to go into labor on its own. I had my membranes stripped at the appointment and was told that I was 3cm dilated at that time. Despite all my well-intented efforts, my body just wasn’t ready to go for it yet. (And now I know why! Childbirth is GNARLY.) I went to bed that night and actually cried. As I prayed to the Lord, I acknowledged that He already knew Ford’s birth story and I relinquished all the plans that I had made for myself. I knew that ultimately the only thing that mattered was that Ford was born, and born safely.

The next morning, I was still very pregnant and Mason and I headed down to the hospital as discussed the previous day. Through all the birthing classes Mason and I had taken, I had always worried about the drive to the hospital. I pictured myself in active labor, screaming, having contractions, my water possibly breaking in the car, maybe having to call 911 (it was always very dramatic in my head). What I hadn’t pictured, was walking up to the Labor and Delivery counter in a dress and calmly stating, “I’m here to have my baby.”

We checked in to Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla at 8:00am. I was brought to the Labor and Delivery room and I got to meet my nurse and the student nurse working with her. I shared a copy of my written birth plan with her and laughed as I pointed to the part that stated I didn’t want to be induced. My doctor came in shortly after that and had a conversation with me about the induction plan. I asked her if she would be willing to break my bag of waters before starting the Pitocin. After discussing the risks vs. benefits, she agreed and *SPLASH* we were in business. 

My doctor broke my water around 9:30am, and said she would give me a window of 4 hours to see if my labor progressed on its own. Two of my best friends and my mom showed up shortly after that and we started a little dance party in my room so Ford would know what a great time we were having and that he should come out and join us. 

It was about 45 minutes later that I felt my first contraction. Now, I thought I had an idea of what a contraction was going to feel like.

Nope. It’s worse. Much worse. 

I leaned over to Mason and said, “This isn’t fun anymore” and he just laughed (nervously). All throughout my labor, I had to be on the monitor for 20 minutes every hour to make sure Ford was doing okay. As my contractions became more intense and painful, I tried to recall what I had learned in our birthing classes and started using different positions during contractions. Due to Ford’s position, I wasn’t able to use the birthing ball or sit forward onto the bed or table during contractions because his heart rate would go down. I was pretty much limited to standing, sitting in a relaxed position or lying in the bed. 

At 1:30pm my contractions were 2-3 minutes apart and were lasting about 2 minutes. My doctor checked me and I was 6cm dilated. At the beginning of every contraction, I would close my eyes and start to breathe. I had to hum/moan with every exhale to deal with the pain. (I always thought it was funny when labor sounded sexual; I don’t anymore.) In my mind, I pictured myself on the lake that Mason and I had found on our Babymoon road trip to Yosemite. It was beautiful. There I was, sitting in a boat in the middle of the lake. I was looking at all the trees that surrounded the lakes edges. There were yellow flowers along the bank and clear blue skies above me. *Breathe, Breathe, Breathe*

It was about this time that Mason called my doula, Jami, and asked that she meet us at the hospital. She arrived with a smile on her face and said, “It’s baby day.” I was very relieved to see her and know that Mason didn’t have to be my only coach from that point on. He had been doing such a good job coaching me through each contraction, but I knew he was tired and needed a break. I also wanted a break and told him so!

Around 3:00pm, I was sitting on the bed in a relaxed position and different friends and family members were physically supporting me because I was so tired. I didn’t want to move from that spot! I think I sat there for an hour! My contractions at that point were very intense and coming about every 45 seconds. My doctor came in around 4:00pm and was watching Ford on the monitor during one of my contractions; she stated that I needed to get up and move into a different position. As soon as I stood up, I felt like everything happened really fast. 

I remember learning that a woman in transition stage of labor loses all modesty and basically looks/acts insane.

That was me.

I actually told my doula that I couldn’t do it anymore. (Ha! Too Late!) I was 8cm dilated and got into the shower and immediately calmed down; the panic left and I was able to refocus. There was something very soothing about warm water surrounding me during that point. I was standing leaning against the shower wall and I specifically remember feeling Ford rotating in my abdomen as I had a contraction and at about the same time I felt the first urge to push. 

It was 5:00pm and I was 9cm dilated.

The feeling to push is not just a feeling. It takes over and you are no longer in control. It’s as if your body says, “Okay, I got it from here. I know what to do, just follow my cues.” My doctor told me I couldn’t push yet because I wasn’t fully dilated, and that was the most painful part of the experience for me. How do you hold back a baby that wants to be born?

Between 5:00pm and 5:10pm, I changed positions a few times. I screamed a lot. I had a few contractions, and then it was go time. My doctor said I was 10cm dilated. I COULD FINALLY PUSH! I was lying on my side when she told me this and I started pushing right then. I pushed a few times in that position but I wasn’t making very much progress. I then changed positions to lying on my back with my feet up in stirrups. At 5:30pm, he was crowning. 

I am here to tell you, the “ring of fire” is real. During each of my pushes, all I could feel at this point was very intense burning, but I also felt relief in that I was doing what my body needed to do: push. His head came out without too much difficulty, but his shoulders got stuck for a short period. This was the only time during the whole day that I heard stress in my doctor’s voice. She immediately told the nurse to put the head of the bed down and to tilt my pelvis up. During those last pushes, she pushed on my abdomen and simultaneously pulled him out. 

Ford Fitzgerald Dyer was born on February 15th, 2017 at 5:36pm.

He weighed 9lbs, 5oz and was 21in long.

Every bit of him was absolutely perfect and Mason and I were a total emotional mess. I have never felt anything so powerful as the love I felt when they first laid that sweet babe on my chest.

It was the best day of my life. 

All photos were taken by ShannonDawn Photography and cannot be used without permission.