Week 40
Max is here!

     We made it all the way to 40 weeks! Despite two weeks of contractions and other signs that Max would be coming soon, as his due date approached it became more and more clear that our little man planned to come later than expected. After gaining 40 lbs and carrying Max lower and lower for the last month, I was more than ready to deliver! At my last appointment on the 27th we decided to schedule an induction for the 29th, Max's official due date. I was hoping I would go into labor naturally before then, but Max was cozy and decided not to budge. My parents came up Thursday and the four of us had a nice pre-delivery lunch at Green Truck Pub. After that, Gabe and I grabbed our bags, took a quick picture before we left the apartment, and headed to the hospital. 
    We arrived at the hospital at 5pm. Once we got checked in and settled in our room, the nurses got the process going. I got an IV and then the nurses placed the induction medication. Within an hour I started having contractions, which became more regular by 10 o'clock. The insert itself was a bit uncomfortable, but I was thrilled to know Max was finally on his way. Gabe rubbed my feet and massaged my head, which helped me get through the strengthening contractions. I was planning on a natural birth, so his attention was a great comfort. Either because of my own excitement or the discomfort, I didn't get much sleep during the night. Max was really active, so the nurses were also in and our of the room adjusting the monitors all night long. I started to get nervous when they noticed some irregularities in the readings, but they reassured us that everything was fine. Somehow I got through the long night by alternating between reading and watching both Chopped reruns and the clock. Gabe managed to get some sleep, which was good because I needed him to have plenty of energy for the day ahead. Finally 7am came, and Pitocin came with it. Woohoo!
     At this point I'd been in labor for 12 hours. Following the administration of the pitocin, my contractions got stronger and closer together. Gabe stepped out for a quick breakfast around 8:30 am and by the time he got back my contractions had gotten stronger enough that I decided I wanted an epidural. The next time the nurses came in I asked for the anesthesiologist, who came around an hour later. Gabe held me close while they inserted the epidural and by 10:30 I was blissfully painless. Around 1pm my doctor came in to check on me and to break my water. I was around 5cm dilated, and she said we would be holding Max by dinner time!  
    Thanks to the epidural and Gabe's attentions, I was in a much better mood. We passed the afternoon reading and watching tv. When the nurses came in to check me around 2pm I was at 6cm. By 4:30 I had progressed all the way to 10cm and we began practice pushing. Gabe held my hand as he and the nurses encouraged me to push Max into the world. After my first push the nurse joked, "Well I can tell you right now that that baby doesn't have much hair!" I nearly burst out laughing because the comment was so unexpected. It was clear that Max was ready to come into the world, so I stopped pushing and waited for my doctor to arrive.  
     Once the room was fully prepped, I started pushing again. I pushed with my contractions for about twenty minutes. Gabe cheered me on the whole time and held my hand as I strained to deliver our little bean. At one point, my doctor told me to reach down to feel the top of Max's head. It was amazing and surreal to know our boy was right there! Only a little later, Gabe told me to look again, and his whole head was out! I had my first glimpse of his little face and after one more push he was born at 5:17 pm! After a quick suctioning, Max made his first cries. Gabe and I looked at each other, amazed that we created this perfect little person. The nurses placed Max on my belly and wiped him off, then Gabe cut his umbilical cord. We were both crying and laughing at the same time. Max was finally here! 
    The next hour flew by. Max latched and fed almost immediately, which was amazing to watch. His instincts and reflexes guided him to the food source, and like he chowed down with gusto. Once Max had fed, I passed him to Gabe who finally got to hold his little boy. I have never seen Gabe look more radiant. When I saw Gabe holding Max for the first time, I knew that my whole world was right there with these two people. Words cannot even express the love I feel for Gabe and our little boy. I'm so grateful for our little family and I'm looking forward to all our adventures together♡

Maximilian Sutherland Hayden was born at 5:17 pm on October 30th, 2015. He weighed 7 lbs and 15 oz and was 21 inches long.