I asked my colleague Jeff Starck who covers local crime and courts for the Wausau Daily Herald to write his version of their baby boy's birth on Sunday, June 29. He just got back to work this week and shared his beautiful pictures. Enjoy:




Nicole and I went to Aspirus Wausau Hospital Friday June 27 for her to be
induced as she was then nine days past due. Our doctor had given indications
that our son might be a big baby, and thought it was time to bring the
guy into the world since Nicole was not having any contractions.

We arrived at 6 a.m. and Nicole took a pill that was supposed to jump start
the contractions. Two rounds of this failed to work, so at 3 p.m. Nicole was
given Pitocin. It is a common drug used to induce labors that required her to
be hooked up to an IV drip and have her vitals monitored. Sometime after 9
p.m., she started having some contractions, but none that seemed to speed
the birthing process. At 10:30 p.m., the nurses stopped giving her the
medicine and we called it a night.

We stayed at Aspirus and resumed the Pitocin Saturday morning. Finally at 3
p.m., Nicole’s water broke (just after several family member ended their
visit). The contractions came hard and fast and after an hour in a hot
shower, Nicole decided she wanted an epidural. We agreed ahead of time to do
this once the pain started to make her extremely uncomfortable.

She dilated to 9 cm by 9 p.m. and delivery seemed imminent, however she
could not quite get to 10 cm as the doctors wanted. By 11:30 p.m., the doctors
said it was time to consider a cesarean. We agreed and instantly the room was
full of doctors and nurses. At 12:32 a.m., Sunday, Ethan Cameron Starck was born.
He weighed in at 9 lbs, 1 oz and 21 1/4 inches long.

Afterward the doctors said a cesarean was inevitable because of Ethan’s
size. We left the hospital Wednesday afternoon after a five-and-half day
stay. I asked Nicole afterward if she regretted trying the pill prior to the
Pitocin, but she thought it was still worth the try. We both underestimated the
effect the C-section would have on Nicole. It took several days before Nicole could
move around and hold Ethan for more than a few minutes at a time. More than a week
later she is still in pain and has to be reminded not to overdue it.

As a man I can never know what a woman goes through during the birth
process. I am immensely proud of my wife for the way she handled the entire
pregnancy. Though by choice Nicole took the painkillers and by necessity a
cesarean, I give all women credit for going through the birthing process no
matter what options they choose. There is no way I could have done this
(even if it was possible). Jeff


Footnote: We were all anxiously awaiting the news of Ethan's birth and worried when it
took so long for them in the hospital. I have to agree with Jeff's view on childbirth. And yes,
it scares the heck out of me! Carrie

Labels: labor cesarean picotin