The Halman Life: Palmer's Birth Story

On Wednesday, April 27, I had a Dr. apt. at 9:50 in the morning. Leo and I sat waiting for an hour before being called back to see Dr. Walsh. Right when we walked back, Dr. Walsh was called out to deliver a baby. Leo was done waiting so I took him to John’s office while I waited on Dr. Walsh to return. Back at my Dr.’s office, I was told Dr. Greene could see me. He did a cervical check and said I was 2 cm dilated and 50% effaced, which is what I was a week earlier. I left feeling sad that there had been no change and just figured our baby boy would come closer to his due date which was a week away. I picked up Leo from John’s office and drove through Chik-fil-A for our lunch. We headed home and both took naps. My mom came over and went with me to pick Isla up. We made a trip to CVS pharmacy and Sonic for a slushe for Isla since she took a nap at school. We came home and played a while until Daddy came home. I was exhausted, had back pain, and didn’t feel like cooking dinner so we just ate leftovers and I just ate a bowl of cereal. John put Isla to sleep and I read to and rocked my baby Leo to sleep. I went to the living room and laid down on the couch at about 8 p.m. That’s when the Braxton Hicks contractions started. I didn’t think much of them because I had been having them on and off for the past 2 ½ weeks. However by 9 they were coming every 8 min. At 10 p.m. came the first painful contraction and then they were coming every 5 min. By 10:15 I knew this was the real thing. John and I scrambled to get everything in the car and ready for my parents to come over to keep Isla and Leo. After a call in to the nurse practitioner where I heard the words, “go on in to the hospital” followed by a “congratulations,” I drove myself to Baptist Beaches while John called my mom and waited for her to come over. At Labor and Delivery, I sat in the side room and went over paper work and got hooked up to the fetal and contraction monitors. I loved hearing our boy’s sweet heartbeat through it all. My contractions weren’t even really painful this time. I just relaxed my body and breathed through each. The nurse checked me and I was 3 cm dilated and 80% effaced. Time to be admitted and moved into our birthing room, Rm. 9!

John made trips out to the car, bringing in everything we had packed. The nurses, in the meantime, tried 3 times to insert my I.V. but failed miserably. The 3^rd time even struck a nerve which is still damaged. Finally, a pro came in and got the job done. The I.V. horror was the most painful part of this labor. After the bags of fluid were administered, the nurse said I could get my epidural. “Really,” I said. I wasn’t even in pain yet but decided to go ahead and get it while I could. It was painless again and I felt all warm and fuzzy afterwards. I was 5 cm dilated at this point and Dr. Walsh came in and broke my water. I had a ton of fluid in my belly! The nurse told us we should try taking a nap but I was too excited to sleep. Even though it was 2 in the morning, I was wide awake. John, on the other hand, passed out on the couch.

For some reason I kept thinking if I fell asleep my contractions would stop like they did every night for the 2 weeks up till this point. I also wanted to keep listening to his heartbeat to make sure he was okay. At 6 a.m. I was checked and complete. The nurses didn’t want me to do any practice pushing because he was already right there and ready to be born. Dr. Walsh came in at 6:30 suited up in her scrubs and I was ready to give birth to our 3^rd baby. I pushed for 8 minutes, 3 sets of contractions. Palmer Stephenson Halman was born on April 28, 2011 at 6:38 a.m. He weighed 8 lbs. 12 oz. and was 20in. long.

After Dr. Morgan suctioned him out and John cut the cord, he was placed on my chest and into my arms. That moment is by far the most special and surreal experiences I think a woman can have. I can’t even put into words or describe the joy I feel in those precious minutes.

I’ve gotten to experience that heavenly moment 3 times and feel beyond blessed to have those memories. I loved feeling my slippery, warm baby for the first time, kissing him all over, seeing what he looked like after 9 months of picturing him, and just holding on to another angel that just moments before was still rolling and kicking around inside of my belly. It’s just amazing, the whole birth experience. I love it! It makes me want a million more babies because I honestly think that’s the closest to heaven you can get to…

Palmer is perfect in every way! “He’s too pretty to be a boy,” says my mom. And I agree. After the nurses were done doing their work on him, he was placed back in my arms and nursed for 1 ½ hours. Such happiness John and I felt, and still feel. Our family grew by 1 and my heart grew a couple extra sizes too.

Gigi, Isla, and Leo were our first visitors. They both had on their big sis and big bro shirts as they quietly and shyly walked over to my bed. Isla was in love right away. I was scared how Leo would react but he showed nothing but love for his new baby brother from the very beginning. He climbed on the bed saying “bebe, bebe” and then proceeded to kiss him on the head. It melted my heart. For the record, he still does this every time he is around Palmer. Isla was the first to hold him and she did great and was very gentle. She gave him her fair share of kisses too.

(My first boy...it's hard to believe we were next door in room 8 just 19 months ago)

(I'm VERY emotional in these next pictures...it's the moment where siblings met and love grew)

I couldn’t have asked for a better labor and delivery and am looking forward to our new life as a family of five. Happy Birthday, Baby Palmer! We love you and can’t wait to start our life with you. You are our miracle!!!

Palmer – after my Dad’s mom, Dorothy Adelaide Palmer Stephenson – after my mom, Patricia Ann Stephenson

(Here are some more pictures of our "P"nut...)