April 23, 2011

Henry Ryan Opeka

April 23, 2011

6.10 am

8lbs. 0oz. 21in.

Perfect in Every Way!

What an amazing day. I went into labor on April 22nd, which happens to be my dad's birthday too! I started feeling labor pains around 6am and finally decided to go in the hospital around 2pm once the contractions were about 4 minutes apart. But I wasn't dilated but to a 1! So we walked around for an hour and then I was dilated to a 3. They admitted me and I progressed in a timely manner throughout the day. By 7cm I was ready for the drugs which came around an hour later. I tried to get him here on my dad's birthday but he was not cooperating. At 3am I started pushing, I pushed for 3 hours and then the doctor offered some help. She got the vacuum out and Henry was out in 10 minutes. 

He was born at 6.10am. 

The whole experience was the most amazing moment in my life. It was difficult and painful but well worth every bit of it. When you see that little head for the first time it is unexplainable. When you get to hold him in your arms for the first time your breath is taken away. I don't think anyone can prepare you for labor and for sure no one can prepare you for the moment you first get to see and hold your child. Words cannot explain the pure joy and excitement you feel in that moment. 

Nothing can quite express how you feel about your partner in that moment either. You look at them and fall for them all over again. Especially when they are as amazingly supportive as mine is. They get you through the most difficult moment in your life with so much support, love and care. Then you see your baby for the first time and you look at your spouse and you can see the love and admiration they have for you in that moment. It's just one of those moments you will never forget. I am not doing it justice with my words but trust me it's better than you could possibly imagine.

Here are a few images from the first hours of Henry's entry into the world. With his DAD, his beautiful Aunts, super young Grandmas & Grandpa and his hearing test.