A Birth Story: Ryker Scott

See this little visitor from heaven?

He's the newest yahoo in our family.

Born to my oldest son David Scott and his beautiful wife, Tisha

in Boise, Idaho.

This is his birth story:

I get the privilege of being invited to attend births as a doula and always always enjoy those exciting, wondrous births--each birth is a complete miracle--but you can imagine my delight at being at the birth of a grandchild! Oh man, it is just the BEST thing ever!

I was especially grateful to be invited by my daughter-in-love, Tisha to attend her labor and delivery of this very-much-prayed-for-child last month.

The due date was originally Halloween--but it came and went like most first baby due dates go and rather than wait for him to be born and go, I decided to just book the trip and {crossing my fingers}

I'd make it for the birth or at least be there to help if he came before I got there!  {Babies are so tricky!}

So I booked the flight and got to spend a couple of days with our sweet kids before they became parents for the first time.

I arrived on Saturday, it was actually Tisha's birthday and we went to a fun little restaurant, Bardenay, in downtown Boise. The weather was great--hard to believe it was November! {A change was coming though as they got record snowfall on Thursday & Friday of that coming week.}  We made a run to Trader Joe's and Whole Foods and drove around the tree-lined ,fall-colored city streets and then headed to their home in Kuna.

Sunday we went to Church--where our sweet Tisha endured many many many many exclamations of "You're STILL pregnant?"  "Aren't you DUE?"  "Are you ever having that baby?"  Tisha just smiled through it all like a Champ.  

Later that day, we went along the riverwalk and took some pictures:

Aren't they so....I don't know. Just lovely.
My son has been so blessed with this sweet woman at his side. We love them both so much.
And they've been so so ready for this baby to come to their home...they've been patiently trying to become parents for years.
Many prayers went heavenward for them.
I can't even tell you how many prayers have been offered, how my own heart has pleaded for their cause. It has been a long journey. to say the least.

So we just enjoyed each other--David Scott and I stayed up way too late in the evenings to catch-up--I haven't had him all to myself since before he got married nearly 7 years ago...and it was so fun! I laughed so hard, I hurt! He is the funniest person I know.  We stayed up talking and sharing music, youtube videos, scriptures, goals, all of it--one topic segueing into another until exhaustion crept in and we had to go to bed.

Tuesday morning we went with Tisha to her last doctor's appt. He placed a foley catheter to get her cervix opened.  I'd only barely heard of a foley catheter and holy smokes! was it great for Tisha!
Worked like a charm.
When we showed up Wednesday morning for the full-induction, she was already 6cm dilated!
We arrived at 6:07am and got started...St. Luke's Regional Medical Center is awesome! It's where I got my training as a Doula years ago--it's a progressive hospital and it shows! The care is evident and the technology is so so spot on for patients.
So while we waited for labor to really get going, we all took turns guessing Baby Boy's weight:
Dr. W: 7.8 oz.
Nurse Natasha: 9.0
David Scott: 8.2
Tisha: 8.5
Gramza: 8.11
Nurse Noreen: 9.2
~~
Around 8:30, Dr. W decided to break waters..it was clear--n' that's always good.
About an hour later, Tisha made the executive decision to get an Epidural ASAP.
Once that was done, I decided to ask the almost-parents a few questions for Baby Ryker;
"What do you want to teach Ryker someday?"
David Scott: "How to field strip an AR-15." {laughs}
"--to love music"  "that we love him no matter what" "to love education & learning" "to love to learn about other cultures".
Most of the time was spent laughing--David Scott scored big time when he married someone who loves to laugh at his humor.

Around 2:15pm Tisha could feel the baby moving down and lots of pressure--which is always a good thing! The Epidural wasn't cutting it, so fortunately for Tisha, the Anesthesiologist on call, was a friend from church--so he got right in and gave her another med that kicked in and did the trick.

About then we all started making guesstimates of what time Baby Ryker would deliver:
Tisha: 3:55pm
David Scott: 4:30pm
Gramza: 5:00pm

First babies can take some time making their way down the birth canal--Tisha was always composed and smiling. I haveta say, she was a model patient. She did all that was suggested to help her body get through labor and delivery, with a smile on her face.  Her only request was pillows. Lots n lots of pillows--probably 6-9--under each shoulder, neck, back and legs...looking like she was laying in a bed of marshmallows.

As the end of her birthing experience was nearing, I wrote down in my doula journal:
"I am reminded of the day David Scott was born: that was a long, hard birth...and here I am, at his wife's side as their firstborn comes into world. Amazing."

Life gives me little gifts once in awhile.  Is it like that for everyone?, I wonder.  these little graces that flow from heaven, sent to wash over us with joy and peace...sometimes we don't see them coming, you know? But they come...and man, does it feel wonderful to witness a miracle. To see that life really is a circle of events that connect us to each other and to Heavenly Father.

So finally it was time to PUSH! My favorite part of labor IS the delivery!
I let our girl know that, while it's common for nurses and doctors to "count" thru the pushing contractions, I've learned that it's not what's best for ME to do as the doula--I whisper in her ear, encouragements to breathe, to relax her face, to let her jaw relax, to focus on where/how to push.
I do not "count"...I support.
That's how it went--David Scott counted and Nurse Noreen counted--I whispered, supported, wiped a warm brow and beck with a cool cloth, and held a leg...we only had to do that for an hour and a half and before we knew it, little boy was born!

The cord was looped around his little neck and under his arm, but once that was taken care of, he let out a nice cry and had a story to tell! SO cute! What was so so cute was Tisha's reaction to it all: she just giggled and laughed--which if you knew Tisha, is exactly a very "Tisha" thing to do.  While David Scott and I got a bit choked up, Tisha just beamed with joy!!
The most beautiful look in the world is that kind of joy in a new mother's face...it is incomparable.
Time of Birth: 5;23pm,  Wgt.: 9lbs. 2oz. {thanks, Jen!}

So here's the latest of our newest joy:

Isn't he just delicious?
Welcome to the world, little Rykes...we've been waiting for you!