Corban's Birth Story

Corban Dean Moore

January 29, 2013

9lb 7oz, 19.75in

I am so grateful God has blessed me with the opportunity to mother three boys. From conception I have known this birth would be different. After having planned 2 births that went awry and then a miscarriage I decided it must be God’s plan for my babies to be born in hospitals. For this reason, for the first time, I sought out a doctor instead of a midwife. When I was only about 7 weeks pregnant I began having cramps and feared losing this baby too. I had not yet found a doctor but called and made an appointment with the first doctor that could see me. I wasn’t sure that this would be my OB but I prayed that he would be compassionate toward my fears of losing another baby. God answered my prayers as only He could. Dr. Allerkamp was extremely compassionate and comforting. Within 24 hours we saw our baby and his precious beating heart on an ultrasound and were assured that Baby was developing perfectly. I was due February 5, 2013!

As the end of my pregnancy neared I began having lots of contractions. I had prayed hard that Corban would come early so that he would not get too big and scare the doctors. After my birth experience with Cameron I wanted to avoid any battles with doctors that I could. Dr. Allerkamp had thus far been open to and even encouraging of a natural birth but he was still a doctor so I was nervous. So when contractions became more regular and stronger I took notice. In the last few weeks of pregnancy, on three different occasions I timed contractions that were 5-7 minutes apart and seemingly “the real thing.” However each time they died out and the day went on. The last time that happened was Sunday afternoon on January 27. We went on to the church’s annual chili cook off where I tried to find some good spicy chili. The next morning I saw my chiropractor for my weekly visit. She did acupressure on me trying to bring the onset of labor. I went on home and went about my regular day. That night I woke up around 1:30 with contractions that felt somehow different than the other episodes. I tried sleeping but I was too excited. I woke Matt up around 2 with my tossing and turning. By 2:30 I sent my parents a text letting them know I was fairly certain this was labor. They left San Antonio by 3AM. Around 3:15 I sent Kelly Brock a text asking her to come over and stay with the boys while we went to the hospital.

Once we arrived I was put into a triage room where they checked to see my progress and our vitals. Corban and I were both doing great. Good blood pressure, good heart rate, etc. However I was only dilated to a 4. The nurse offered for me to walk the halls of the hospital to progress labor. Matt and I walked for about an hour, stopping to breathe through contractions when necessary. The discouraging part was that I was not progressing much. The need to stop and breathe through the contractions was becoming less frequent. My parents arrived from San Antonio and I began to stress about labor stopping. We went back to our triage room to be monitored again. We were still in good health but no progress had been made at all. The nurse offered that we could go home and return when things picked up but that without the use of drugs (which I did NOT want again) there was no need for me to stay in the hospital. So around 6:30 we left for home.

I was incredibly sad and anxious. I called grandparents in from San Antonio and a friend in the middle of the night. I wanted it to be for something!

Connor and Cameron had just woken up when we got home and didn't even seem to notice that we were coming home or that Kelly was there. We tried to take turns resting throughout the morning while entertaining the boys. My contractions never really stopped completely but they were 20 or even 30 minutes apart at times and not as intense as they were in the morning. I used all sorts of home remedies for getting labor going. Last of all was drinking Castor Oil. I tried it around noon I think. Around 1:30 I began having contractions again that were about 10 minutes apart. That lasted until somewhere between 3 and 4 o’clock. I wasn't completely paying attention. I was actually trying to even distract myself so that I wouldn't go crazy timing contractions. I even went to the hardware store with Matt to get some things for the bunk beds he was building. Sometime during that hour though the contractions became more intense and more like every 5 minutes. By 4:15 I was having very regular contractions that required my full focus and were 2-3 minutes apart. My mom was quite concerned that this baby would come very quickly when we decided he was ready and that we needed to be heading out the door. At 4:40 I sent a couple of texts telling people we were headed to the hospital, again. This time I was torn between these intense contractions and my fear that it would all come to a stop again.

We arrived at Metroplex Labor & Delivery again just before 5 pm  My parents took Connor & Cam to the Brock’s house and then came to be with us. This time they did not send me to triage but straight to a delivery room. I was having contractions about every 2 minutes and had to receive an IV with antibiotics to protect the baby from the slim chance he could catch the Group B Strep I was carrying. I had carefully typed up my birth plan, had Dr. Allerkamp sign off on it and put it in my file. It was fairly simple, just let me do things without intervention and as I feel led to do in the moment. An IV was not on my wish list because it limited my movement but it was necessary to protect my baby. I had taken a big stability/exercise ball with me which I thought I might sit on but instead I used it to put my arms and head on as I knelt on the bed. I was checked for progress as they monitored out vitals again. I was between a 7 and 8! I felt so much relief come over me to know that I was really going to have this baby tonight and not in another week or two. I had nurses in and out all during the time I labored asking me different questions and getting the room ready for birth. Around 6:30 the contractions were lasting at least a minute in length, some as long as 90 seconds and were very intense. The nurse called for Dr. Allerkamp who came in and checked me. I was the same, still around 8 cm  He was content to let me continue as is but I asked about breaking my water. I was hoping it would send me into the final stage and let me hold my baby. He agreed it was a good option. It took a few minutes to maneuver between contractions but around 6:40 he broke my water. I rolled back onto my hands and knees to continue laboring when out of nowhere the incredible urge to push was on me. My dad left the room, mom went to get the doctor who had just stepped out and I began to panic. I kept saying to Matt, “I can’t do this!” To which he replied, “you are doing this.” There was no going back. I pushed straight through 3 contractions and delivered Corban Dean Moore at 6:59 pm January 29. I was so panicked and exhausted and ready to be done that I pushed even when I wasn't contracting which caused some damage that I hadn't experienced before. Being on my hands and knees caused my body to use gravity and Corban came very quickly. Ten minutes from the time my water broke to the moment Dr. Allerkamp said, “Happy Birthday!” to be exact. It was the most intense 10 minutes I can remember!

 I heard a nurse say during delivery that he wasn't in the best position for birth, meaning he was slightly turned which can cause a more painful delivery. I think this is why I instinctively wanted to be on hands and knees. It was just what felt right. It allowed for the most space without my body being pressed into a bed, restricting the full space for him to deliver. I had considered lots of positions for delivery but because it all happened so fast that changing positions wasn't even an option in my mind. As a result of laboring and then delivering on my hands & knees my legs were incredibly tired and shaky over the next several hours.

My dad stood in the hall listening to the whole thing and then left shortly thereafter to go get the big brothers. Mom stayed with me and Matt in L&D while I recovered. Dad returned with the big boys and we all got to hug and hold and kiss on Corban for a while. It was so precious seeing my three boys together. Three brothers! What a treasured blessing for me and for them. I can’t wait to see what God has in store for my family.

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10