Colton Travis King King

Birth Story

 

Saturday, August 11th seemed to be a day no different than any other.   Instead of waiting around for the arrival of our baby, Sean and I decided to go shopping in Thief River Falls.  We also needed to go to the bank.  I thought that walking might help bring on labor.  Baby was already one week late!  I took a shower, put on make-up and was feeling great!!  I decided to wear my new favorite camo maternity pants.... :-) I went upstairs one last time to get my purse and  before I made it back down the stairs, I felt some leaking... I thought, "Oh, I better get to the bathroom".   This was at about 1:00 pm.  Well, I had lost the mucous plug a couple days earlier, and there seemed to be a little more today.  I hadn't thought much of it previously, because it didn't put me in active labor.  So, I went back upstairs to change and I started leaking again...... "This could be it" I thought.  Sean was beginning to wonder what was taking me so long.  He yelled up the stairs, "Sheila, are you alright?" and I said "Yeah, I think so."  Sean came up and I told him my water had broke.  We knew it would still be awhile before the baby would actually be here and we still needed to run to town.  We went over to Mom's house, by this time everyone knew what was going on because Mallori had shared the exciting news with the whole family!!!!!   The first ones to meet me were my brothers....they said.... "HEY Sheila, did your water break???"  I calmly said "maybe" with a smile :-)  Mom, Mallori and I  started preparing the birthing room.  In the meantime we found out that we could cash the check in Hallock at my family's bank.  Sean and my dad headed off to town.. they also had other things to pick up and groceries to buy.  Mom, Mallori and I just kept on cleaning...and getting things ready.  The other sisters were at a gig in Red Wing, MN, about seven hours away! 

 

I was anxious for Sean to return but knew he wouldn't be more than about two hours.  Since this was my first baby, I wasn't really worried about it coming too fast.   My contractions had started out about 10 minutes apart.  (another reason it didn't seem to be coming very soon)  By the time Sean got home they were three to five minutes apart (around 3:30 pm).  I kept myself busy timing contractions and preparing for the birth.  They gradually grew stronger but were not very close together.  By about six or seven they were 3-4 minutes apart.  I labored on my side on the bed for awhile but my hips were really starting to bother me.  So, I got in my mom's big garden tub.  By 9:00 my contractions were very strong and right on top of one another.  I stayed in the tub through transition.  The hot water really seemed to help me relax. Sean was in the tub with me supporting me, helping me breath and holding my hands.  Mom was sitting next to the tub helping coach my breathing and reminding me to relax and to not tense up. (Thanks MOM)  I remember it really helping a lot to be reminded to breath.  It was very difficult for me to stay focused, but Mom thought that I was doing GREAT.  Sean just kept helping me to breath and encouraging me...... I remember asking, "What time is it?" It was already 11:51 pm.  I could feel the baby's head moving down and  I was now getting the urge to push and Mom thought after breathing through several contractions, that maybe I could try pushing and see how it felt.  So, I tried pushing but didn't feel it was quite time.  I really wanted to wait until the head was crowned to push so I wouldn't wear myself out.   So, I tried shallow panting, that seemed to really help get through the contractions.  The head was in the same spot for quite awhile, and we decided we better try a different position to see if it would encourage the head to come down quicker.  I got on my knees, leaning over the bed and alternated the squatting position.  This really seemed to make the urge to push very strong so I continued pushing from this point.  I noticed on the floor under me, I was bleeding a little.  Sean checked me and could feel the wrinkles of the baby's head.  So, I continued to push and finally we could tell there was some progress.  The baby's head was very close!  My legs started to shake and I could no longer support myself.  My toes were getting numb.  My hips were killing me, and it felt like they were literally spreading apart.  At this point I decided to try sitting.. but I knew with the back pain and sore tail bone, I couldn't sit on the bed very well.  I decided to sit on the floor leaning against the bed in a reclining position.  I was still pushing with each contraction.  Finally, Sean and Mom tell me that the head is bulging and will be crowning soon.   Soon, seemed to be forever..... I asked "is it crowned yet?"  The first time was "No, not yet"  the second time I very anxiously asked Mom again if the baby's head was crowned, she said, "Yes, almost there!"   I think by this time I was a little discouraged and Mom knew it.   She could see the head but it wasn't quite crowned and it kept going back in.  I started feeling the burning sensation and pushed hard, slow and steady with each contraction.  The head finally crowned.  I was getting long breaks between contractions at this point.  I remember wishing that they would come faster so I could just push and get him out...  cause the burning seemed to last forever and it was by far the worst pain I have ever experienced in my life.  I reached down and could feel the baby's head.  That really seemed to encourage me.  Mom also reminded me not to push too fast.. but slow and steady so I wouldn't rip.  Sean and Mom put warm wash cloths on the perinium to help the stretching and also applied pressure to keep from ripping.   I pushed real hard (but slow) with the next contraction.  Finally a couple pushes later the head came out.  A few pushes for the shoulders and they were not coming, so Mom told Sean to reach under one armpit of the baby with a finger and gently pull out the shoulder.  That seemed to do the trick because with the next push our little son came flying out.  It was 2:32 am.  Sean caught him and gently put him on my my chest/stomach.   His head was blueish looking and that was a little alarming.  He didn't cry right away but we knew he was still attached to the placenta and that he was fine.  Mom stimulated him by patting and rubbing him.  He started crying just a few seconds later.  Colton's loud, strong cry was music to our ears!!!  Having my son in my arms for the first time was one of the most wonderful feelings ever.  It was a very emotional time for all of us.  Sean was a very happy Dad.... and he did such a great job.  He stayed so calm through it all... He and Mom sure made a good team!  My sister, Mallori was also a big help.  She helped Mom hold my legs, and operated the video and still cameras after the baby was born. That night after my sisters were done singing they packed up and drove all night to meet their new little nephew, Colton Travis King.  He was 9 lbs. 4.5 oz and 22 inches long.

 

I am thankful to the Lord for such a beautiful healthy baby boy!   Also for my wonderful husband and family who took such great care of me during the labor and all the days following.   We were very thankful to be able to come home to Minnesota to have our first baby.  Just to be able to experience my first birth with my family around was a great blessing.  Most of all we want to thank Jesus for the gift of life!!

Sean and Sheila King

         

    

      Colton

     Travis     

     King was born

     at home on

      August 12, 06 

      2:32 am  He was

      9 lb 4.5 oz and

      22 inches long

 

Click  on "MY Story" for birth story!

Meet my parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles

and my cousin Hannah Renee' who is only three months older than me :-)

 

Like a new born baby, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.  1 Peter 2:2-3

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