Introducing William Taylor Maxfield

Taylor and I are so happy to finally have our little baby boy here! He has been such a joy and I can honestly say I love him so very very much! We have definitely had our difficulties and becoming parents has a major learning curve to it but I wouldn't change it for the world. My baby boy is such a joy to me :)

We decided to name our little one William and call him Liam. We decided about a week before we actually had him. It is interesting that out of our list of names William was not Taylor or my favorite. We both liked Carter better but we could never say, "we are naming him carter". Finally some one at work told me how they heard a friend name their son William and nickname him Liam. I loved it but still wasn't sold. One night talking to Taylor he told me that he had a strong impression that we were supposed to name him William. I completely agreed! It is so weird how even though it was not our favorite name, it was always on the list and we could never decided on the other names we liked better. I have no idea why we felt we should name him William but I am glad we did.

Liam's birth story is not a very long one. From my first labor pain until I was holding him in my arms was a total of 6hrs. Everyone told me to expect 12hrs, that is normal for a first labor. I told my OB I had a family history of going very quickly but I understood that it was no guarentee that this would be the case for me. I actually told myself that it would be very long so that I wouldn't be disappointed! haha

I woke up on May 7th at 3:30am with my first pain. I thought to myself, wow that didn't feel good. I got up, used the restroom and laid back in bed. Of course my first thought was, "Am I in Labor?" but the pain was not a contraction type pain. My belly wasn't particullarly hard or anything. I laid there for quite a while, kept trying to use the restroom and walk around. The pain never came and went nor was I ever able to "time" the contractions. I just knew it was hurt but even then it wasn't unbareable. Taylor woke up and asked me if I was ok and I told him I might be in labor. I almost got in the shower and got ready but decided not too.

At 4:45am I finally told Taylor that we needed to go to the hospital. I decided even though I really didn't want to be that pregnant lady, the one that goes to the hospital and then is sent home, the pain was real and different then I had felt. So  if I had to I would be that lady, just in case! I didn't want to do this labor thing without an epidural! We left for the hospital shortly after 5am. Taylor drove pretty fast, I think that it was something he really wanted to do, and we hit every green light on the way to LDS hospital.  We arrived at labor and delivery around 5:30am. The pain had definitely gotten worse since we had left the house. I sat on a bench breathing really hard while I waited for Taylor to park. When we got to the L & D desk I had to lean on it to be able to breath.

They checked me in, hooked me up to all the monitors and check to see how I was. At my last Dr. appointment I was dilated to a 3, I was now at a 5! I was super excited/scared when the nurse called on her vocera and said to the desk that I would be staying! Taylor was kind of surprised, he didn't doubt I was in pain but he didn't really think I was in labor. The nurse left to get my IV supplies and antibiotics. I was strep B positive so I had to have 2 doses of penicillin before I could have this baby. By this time I could feel pain and sharp contractions! I would grip the side rail and Taylor's hand and hold on with everything I had. The nurse started my IV and my antibiotics, I asked her for the Anesthesiologist as soon as possible. I was DONE being in pain :)

The anesthesiologist came in soon after. They were busy that night but luckily he was available! He came in and did a fabulous job putting in my epidural. He worked right through a contraction but it was in and done in minutes! I was super happy and impressed :) Almost instantly I felt better! When the 6am nurse came in to help with the epidural I told her I really felt like I needed to use the restroom. Since my epidural was in they no longer allow you to stand but this feeling is a sign that I was getting close to pushing. She checked me again and in about a 35 minute span I had gone from being dilated at a 5 to an 8! She was shocked! The other nurse had told her to do an ultrasound to double check the head position but by the time she checked me she didn't have to do the ultrasound! She told me they wouldn't break my water because they wanted to get as much of the antibiotics in as possible.

At 7 am I was already dilated to a 10 but was told they still wouldn't break my water! They were going to make me do a resting labor, pretty much let the baby get lower and lower until they could absolutely no longer wait. They wanted to start my second dose of penicillin before they baby was born, but they couldn't start it until 9:30! The nurse kept saying, you aren't going to make it and I didn't.

Finally about 9am I told the nurse they pressure was really bad. The doctor came in, Dr. Haakenson, who I had never met before because my OB was out of town. She broke my water and labor began. I had let the epidural lapse a little to long so when I began pushing it did not feel great. I kept trying hit the pain medication button when Taylor finally took it from me and told me it only allows so much. I pushed for 45 minutes when my little one was finally born. Yes I kept saying I didn't think I could do it and they had to put oxygen on me and an internal monitor in for the baby but we made it through. The actual pushing was a lot more difficult then I expected, maybe because my epidural was lighter or maybe because you are never really prepared for something like that, who knows! Taylor was a champ! He held my hand and helped me through so much! When I didn't think I could do it, he kept telling me I could and encouraging me through everything! He got a little sick at the beginning but he did great. He even cut the umbilical cord, which I wasn't sure he was going to do.

When they handed me Liam, right after I looked up at Taylor's face and he was crying. That was one of the best moments of my life! Taylor rarely cries! The only times I can really remember him crying is at our wedding and now the birth of our son! It will always be one of the most precious moments of my life. We had done it, my baby was healthy and my husband and I had just experienced a very spiritual and wonderful thing together! Liam was born on May 7th, 2013 at 9:52. He was 7lbs 3oz (even though the doctor kept telling me he was at least 8lbs) and 20 inches long.

For my first pregnancy and birth I am lucky. My total labor was 6hrs, from first pain to the birth. It could've been about 4 or less if they would've broken my water. They did get the second dose of antibiotics in, about 6minutes before Liam was born :) but it counts. Liam is now over a week old and even though it has been a little bit of a struggle and a huge learning curve, I am so grateful for him in my life and the joy he brings to us.

So I made it through delivery, now I just need to make it through the reflux and gassy baby stage :)

We Love You Liam! Here is a few pictures... :)