Milo’s Birth Story

Milo was due on January 3^rd, 2013. That day came and went… I’d been eating dates (shown to promote labor!), taking red raspberry leaf tea, evening primrose oil, long walks, I even proactively tried acupuncture, chiropractor, and lots and lots of hip opening yoga. Nothing. It was a strange sense of déjà vu. Every night we would go to bed and look at each other and say “ok, tonight is the night”. And every morning we’d wake up with a little bit of disappointment with a growing to-do list. Maybe just maybe he was waiting for us to mop the kitchen? Or wait, we needed to finish packing our hospital bag? We finished our 1000 piece puzzle from Christmas, Grammy and Boden were pros with each other and daycare drop off, and all my work was totally wrapped up.

Another week came and went. Still waiting. Early on in the pregnancy I switched from an OB group to our local Midwives group. This was probably the best decision we made. The great thing (among so many things) with the midwives is that they don’t really push you until you hit the 42 week mark for induction. That means, as time was ticking by, I felt slightly less pressure to induce than I did when Boden was born (The doctor started talking induction at 5 days overdue with Boden, and we finally induced at about 10 days over due).

Boden helping me relax

Heading into two weeks overdue with all the signs of impending labor I finally started having contractions on Tuesday Morning (January 15^th) at about 4am. Whoo hoo! Labor had started, and none too soon either (officially 12 days past due). Throughout the morning and early afternoon the contractions stayed between 45 seconds and a minute long every 6-8 minutes. Totally manageable, but I kept waiting for them to get closer together. Even though there was a cold front that came through, Steve and I went out for long walks in the 15 degree snow. Ironically, on facebook we would see the status of friends and family in California complaining about their “cold front”. You know, because they would be in 40 – 50 degree temps. We even saw a wiener dog wearing a coat on our walk. Definitely put things in perspective and offered a good laugh.

Evening came, we ate light and just knew we’d be at the hospital soon. I loved using my office chair/ exercise ball for the contractions and Boden even enjoyed helping me work through them. Steve and I slept on the couch (Steve slept, I labored through the contractions and tried to rest).  We let my Mom sleep in our bed in case we bolted to the hospital. But, by morning we were still at home and both a little frustrated that the contractions weren’t really getting closer together, though the intensity was picking up. So, we made a midwife appointment and kept in touch with our Doula (Lisa). The Midwife checked and I was about 80% effaced and dilated to 6 cm. Oye! At least we were making progress. We also made an acupuncture appointment for noon to see if that could speed things up. After the acupuncture I was feeling totally depleted, a little nauseous and ready to just get things moving (I’d already been in early labor for already 24+ hours). So we called our Doula Lisa and decided to check into the hospital and let our Midwife, Shanti, break my water to get things started.

View from our laboring suite at the hospital (we live one mile West).

I felt relieved to finally be checked into the hospital, and make a cozy little spot for us. The views were amazing (we got a mountain view suite!), and immediately I felt comfortable and prepared to labor. Shanti broke my water at 1pm and my Mom was able to come walk the stairs with us and Lisa after dropping off Boden at daycare.  The first part of labor continued to progress well. I enjoyed bantering with Lisa, Steve and our nurse Nicollete. I quickly dilated to an 8 and everyone felt confident that I’d have Milo in a few hours. But then, things got intense. I stayed at about a 9, and as the contractions intensified I had a lot of doubts about a natural unmedicated birth. The tub was amazing, but I was still nervous about relaxing (every time I relaxed at home I would slow the contractions). A few hours passed and I was still at a 9. My cervix has swollen a little bit and I was emotionally at that “rock and a hard place”. I started asking about my options for an epidural and drugs. We finally settled on a placebo. I requested two Tylenol. (insert laughter here).  But apparently that gave me the help I needed. And with Lisa (again, worth her weight in gold as a birth coach, and helping Steve be amazing). I kept thanking my “team” and what great work they did. Finally it got to the point that I just screamed – “Oh, I know he’s coming, I HAVE TO PUSH”. We quickly waddled over to the bed and 1 and a half pushes later little Milo Edward Fezler entered the world at 7:10pm. Shanti said “Take your Baby Sarah”, and he immediately grabbed my necklace, strong and screaming from the start.  

The whole birth experience compared to the pitocin induction with Boden was totally different. I immediately felt fantastic after Milo was born. Strong and confident and proud at having a natural baby. I didn’t run the low grade fever that I got with Boden, nor did I get the chills or shakes. I felt really physically fantastic. The midwives don’t even take your baby for almost an hour to weigh or document the birth. Almost immediately Boden and my Mom came into the birth room and got to meet our new son. Boden was so excited to see me and come sit next to Mommy, and give his new brother a kiss. He kept saying “Milo came out!”. Boden and I shared some graham crackers and as I walked and got cleaned up Steve and Boden watched as Milo finally was weighed and measured. 21 ½ inches long, and 8 pounds 2 oz. Milo is absolutely perfect. He looks very much like Boden did with only a little bit more chub on his face, and no noticeable clef in his chin.

Boden holding his brother for the first time.

Boden and Milo sat on my lap as we rode in the wheelchair to our recovery room. Steve and I are still over the moon with our new addition, and so thankful that he finally arrived and we were able to have the birth that we dreamed of.

In our hospital room the next day, Boden getting to know Milo.

The whole Fezler Family

Milo's first smile at One week.

Boden still loving his little brother Milo.