Tyler Richard

Sunday morning at 4:30 am on March 26, I woke up to uncomfortable cramps. For the past weeks I had been feeling cramps but not to this extent. Sure enough, I knew that labor was on its way through more indications that morning. However, I didn't quite know when.

At 10:30, I decided to call the dr after not feeling Tyler move that morning. He said that it is common for babies to not move right before labor, but he suggested coming in if it would make me feel better. So, I finally woke Josh up and told him I thought we should head the hospital. As we were heading to the car, I told him several times that I knew they would be sending me home. We stopped at the gas station on the way and hit a bump, and sure enough Tyler moved. Of course. At that point, I debated whether to go to the hospital or not. However, we decided to go anyway.

At 11:15 we reached the hospital, and as I walked through the doors my water broke. However, I wasn't sure that was what was happening! We got admitted and headed up to labor and delivery. They checked all my vitals, and then Dr. Frenduto came in to see if I was dialated. He confirmed that I was 2 cm dialated and that my water had indeed broken! I was officially in labor. Holy cow! I watched Josh laugh as I was in complete shock. I could not believe this was actually it! My shock showed up in my blood pressure since it was a little high! The nurse also detected a slight irregular heartbeat with Tyler. They definitely wanted to monitor it.

The contractions kicked in!

Around 12:00 I was taken to the birthing room. Since Tyler was head down but in a posterior position which makes pushing harder, they wanted me to walk laps around the maternity floor. So, Josh and I headed out to walk for 1 hour, took a break, and then walked another 45 minutes. During this time, we made our phone calls to friends and family. I was feeling contractions, but they weren't unbearable. By the time I came back from walking, my mother was already in my room waiting!

Taylor, Karen, my mom...and ME!

I layed back down for the doctor to measure me again. Still 2 cm. They suggested starting pitocin, a drug to induce labor. The nurse said that I needed to be "in pain!" I hesitated for a moment knowing that it would bring the contractions faster and harder, however the alternative was close to a 24 hour labor. So, I agreed. They started me on the pitocin and within minutes, I felt the contractions intensify. They hurt! Taylor and Karen arrived soon after and helped me through them along with Josh and my mom.

At 6:45 pm, I opted to get an epidural for the pain. Man, was life wonderful after that! I could still feel my legs and toes, and I could move them, but I couldn't feel any of the contractions. I was between 3-4 cm at this time.

Throughout the hours, the doctor checked me a few times. Once, I was at 5cm and then soon after I was up to 8-9 cm!

By 10:30 pm, I started to push. However, I couldn't feel anything to push which made this very difficult. During this time, Tyler's heartbeat was getting harder to monitor and was very irregular. I would push, and then they would have me get in a certain position to get his heartbeat. The doctor sounded concerned and finally said I would have to have a c-section--the one thing I did not want to have!

Tyler Richard LeConey

However, a c-section was medically necessary for the health of both Tyler and myself so plans were under way. I was wheeled into the operating room around 11:45 scared to death and shaking in convulsions. Josh was great and tried to calm me down. During the procedure, I felt a lot of pushing and pulling. It was fairly uncomfortable and I was still a nervous wreck.

At 12:32 am, I heard the screams of Tyler being born. One doctor said, "I see lots of hair." The next thing I knew, I heard the word "red." I turned to Josh and said "did they just say red?!" I never thought from day one he would be born with red hair! He weighed 7 lbs 3 ounces and measured 21 inches long. His apgar scores were 8 and 8.

Proud father

Josh took him to see my mom and Taylor who were waiting in the waiting room as I was stitched up. That part was the worse, and they had to increase my pain medication since I started feeling it.

Everyone agreed that Tyler looked exactly like Josh! He was his clone! I think I sneaked in his nose though!

The first time I held Tyler

Afterwards in recovery, I was able to hold him for the first time while Josh, my mom, and Taylor were nearby. He had bright blue eyes, and he looked right up at me very alert. At that moment, I realized he was mine. I looked at him in awe thinking how amazing it was that he was inside me for 9 months and not even a thought 10 months ago.

Tyler was very pale due to his anemia.

Early the next morning around 5:00 am, the pediatrician came in and told us some upsetting news. Tyler had suffered a maternal to infant hemmorage. This meant that my placenta had a tear in it so Tyler was giving me his blood almost like a transfusion. This left his blood level low and he was born anemic. His oxygen level was also low. He was placed in special care for 5 days. This was devastating news to me, and I made sure that I could be in the hospital until he got better. He was placed under oxygen the first few days until that came up. His iron levels gradually increased throughout the week, and by Friday he was finally ready to come home!

Tyler was loved and prayed for!

During this time I had many visitors including my family, Josh's mother, Taylor, Karen, Meredith, Dana, Erika, Alison, a few coworkers, and my boss. Tyler was loved and prayed for all week long, and Josh and I know that that helped him have a speedy recovery!

It's good to be home.

Tyler is home and doing so great. We give him vitamins for his iron twice a day to ensure he will build it back up. I look at him every time amazed at how he is a part of our family now, and that God blessed Josh and I with such a perfect little being. I always heard that a mother's love is different than anything you will ever feel. Now, I finally understand.