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Porter Franklin

Cary and I welcomed Porter Franklin to the world on Saturday January 17, 2008 at 1:48 pm.  He weighed in at 7 lbs 7 oz and was 20 inches long with a head full of black hair like his Daddy. 
  
Everything went well although it was VERY intense.  I had been in early labor since the afternoon of January 14.  I woke up Saturday morning at about 6:30 am and knew that things were beginning to pick up.  I tried to take a shower to help with the contractions only to discover that our pipes had frozen the night before.  So I spent the morning walking around the house holding onto the furniture and working through the contractions as Cary worked on defrosting the pipes. 

When I decided that I could no longer go about my normal routine, I called Leslie and asked her to come over to the house.  We were hanging in there until my water broke and things really kicked into high gear.  I called Leslie and we agreed for her to meet us at the hospital. As soon as Cary heard me call Leslie and tell her about my water he grabbed me and our bags and put us in the car.  The drive to the hospital was pretty much like what you would see in the movies.  I only had about 45 seconds between contractions and Cary was worried we would be delivering on the side of the road.  My eyes were closed most of the drive because I didn't want to see how fast we were going or how many cars he was weaving around.  He told me later that the trip also involved the running of a red light or two.

We didn't have much time once we got to the hospital.  I went from being 3.5 cm dilated and 90% effaced to 9 cm in less then an hour with no break between contractions. I was really amazed at how intense everything was. I kept hoping for a break in between contractions to be able to get myself together and perhaps try some other positions, but that would not be the case.  I don't think I would have been able to get through things if it had not been for the support and encouragement of Cary, Leslie and the nurses.  No one ever asked if I wanted drugs, but kept encouraging me during the whole process. I only pushed for about twenty to thirty minutes as this little guy was really anxious to enter the world. Porter's heart rate dropped a few times so I was rolled on my side a few times.  We found our later it was because the cord was wrapped loosely around his neck. I was given oxygen near the end because things were going so fast I wasn't able to get my breath between the contractions and pushing. 

But I managed to hang in there and do everything naturally as I had hoped. It was all worth it when they laid this amazing child on my chest.

Heather B.

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