Levi John Tanner

Levi John Tanner

Born February 17, 2013 at 6:42AM

Weighing 7 lbs 7 oz, Measuring 20.5 inches

 "Did that really just happen?" That was my thought after this beautiful baby boy was placed on my chest for the first time and I had a second to rest between the agglomeration of questions coming from the nurses.  Since I had come in so quickly and they barely had time to check me in, the normal pre-delivery questions asked in the hospital were now being asked ironically after the baby was born.  

The hours between 12 midnight and 6:45 AM on Sunday the 17th were intense and exhilarating without a dull moment for sure.  With Claire's delivery, I labored with intense contractions at home for about 9 hours, checked into the hospital dilated to a 3, and she didn't make her debut for another 13 hours.  Though I didn't feel a majority of the pain, it was a very long process and I hoped that the second time around would go more quickly.  Part of my plan to help my plan succeed was to labor at home longer than I did with Claire in the hopes that when we did check into the hospital and when I did get the epidural, that my body would be ready for a quicker delivery.  That was my plan at least.  Part of it happened according to plan.  Here's the rest:

 Friday and Saturday I started having random, intermittent contractions--ones that went away when I laid down or drank water. So, I didn't think much of them and apparently they didn't concern me enough to pack our hospital bag...Saturday night we tried to go to bed at a reasonable hour, but the contractions kept coming.  It was around midnight that I accepted the fact that this was IT.  They were random, though increasing in intensity.  After 4 hours of breathing through them on my own and using the helpful tricks I had read about last time around, I woke Nathan to help me through them, still with the intention to labor as long as possible at home before heading to the hospital. At one point, I thought to myself, "My sister is crazy for having all natural births.  As soon as we get to the hospital, I'm getting the epidural.  I know how wonderful it is to have this pain go away--why would you avoid that relief?"  Sorry, Jenn :).  

At around 5AM, I decided to get in the bath, as the contractions were really strong, and I had heard that this technique helped.  It absolutely did. But, I think Heavenly Father was telling me to get out when our hot water ran out (which never happens).  Nathan, by the way, was a superstar during this time.  Like I said, we weren't really ready for a quick dash to the hospital, so the car seats had to be rearranged and put into the car, our hospital bag needed to be packed, etc., and he totally took care of that and way more.  He came back from putting the car seat into the car to me, on the floor, in extreme pain.  

N: "What can I do?"

W: "I don't think I can last much longer.  We have to go to the hospital.  Take Claire somewhere." (Again--awesome lack of planning!)

W: "Oh crap--there goes my water.  Just take Claire somewhere!"

It's 5:45 AM and Nate grabs Claire from her bed where the cute little 2-year-old in her candy cane pajamas and a binkie still in her mouth says, "We're going for a ride!"  She couldn't have been happier, or more confused I'm sure.  Nate runs her to the neighbors, throws Claire at them and says something to the effect of, "Here's Claire--we have to go to the hospital."  

Let's take a moment to give a big shout out to Will and Katie Hilton.  We absolutely could not have done this without them, or Claire would have come to the hospital with us, or we would have delivered at home (both really bad options).  Knowing that Claire was in a safe place and well taken care relieved so much stress and absolutely made it possible for us to deliver Levi.  Bless them.

In the meantime, I'm crawling to the door, praying for Nathan's quick return.  After my water broke, I immediately had the urge to push and I knew that this baby boy was just moments away from breathing some beautiful Silicon Valley air.  In those few minutes while Nathan took Claire to the neighbors, I definitely had the thought of, "Nathan might have to deliver this baby right here on the floor.  He's coming." Scary?  Yes.

Thankfully, that didn't happen.  Nathan came back, we rushed down to the car in between contractions/pushes (I didn't ever pay attention to the parts in the birthing books about how you shouldn't push just because your body tells you to, and how you should definitely wait until a doctor is present. Oops.).  Thank heavens it was now 6AM on a Sunday and no one was on the road.  I can't say that we didn't drive quickly, or that we didn't run any red lights.  I knew that if a cop saw us, he would understand, or follow us to the hospital.  At that point, I couldn't have cared less.

"Was that the turn to the hospital?"

Yes.  Hm. 

Speeding through Stanford, coming around--it's a one-way street (not in our favor) because of the construction.  "Just go!"  We definitely encountered another car, somehow we both made it through.

Hallelujah--the hospital entrance.  There's valet parking, but right now, no valet boys are there--solution?  Ditch the car and hope that it doesn't get stolen or towed.  

Nate runs and gets me a wheelchair and we race inside.  Nate semi-yells, "Where's labor and delivery?"  In my memory it was dramatic, but he probably kept his cool pretty well.  K, so you ask, "You didn't know where to go when you went to the hospital?"  To that I would have to honestly answer "Yes."  Stanford doesn't give your traditional 'hospital tour', but instead there is a virtual one online.  I watched that, but when you're about to birth a baby, clear, logical thinking is completely gone.  Once again, I didn't think I'd find myself in this situation.  Thankfully a lady at the elevator saw us come in, immediately started pushing the #2 on the elevator multiple times, and lead us to labor and delivery.  Bless her.  

At the check-in desk, the nurses barely got my name and birthday before they wheeled me into a room and checked me.  The swarm of nurses was awesome.  

"She's crowning--we need a doctor now!"  

I thought to myself, "Ok, so probably no time for pain medication..."  It was kind of a whirlwind with the intensity of the moment, nurses trying to get as much information as possible, the doctor arriving and calmly telling me to relax and Nate saying, "You're doing great--you can see his head!"  Wow. Was this really happening?

I pushed like one more time, and the doctor said, "Ok, Whitney--on your next push, your baby will be out."  Whoa!  This is so crazy!  

And just like that, he had arrived.  In probably the most intense, exhilarating experience of my life, our perfectly healthy little boy was finally here. I held him and just breathed, then answered a lot more questions about my pregnancy, which now seemed very unimportant.

And that, my friends, is how you deliver a baby 15 minutes after getting to the hospital.  All I could think was, "That was crazy awesome."  I loved having a fast labor and delivery, though next time I won't push it that far.  Many a nurse said something to the effect of, "Next time you should try getting to the hospital a bit sooner!"  Thank you.  

Most of all, I'm so grateful for this little miracle.  I'm so grateful for health.  I'm so grateful for my wonderful husband who has been such a superstar through it all and is at this moment on a bike ride with Claire.  I'm so grateful for the Gospel and that we know that we are children of our Heavenly Father who loves us so much and who entrusts us with His precious spirits and is there to help us because he wants us to succeed in parenting.  I'm so grateful for the emotion of love and its power to completely wrap your heart.  I'm so grateful for our friends and family who have helped and supported us so much.  I feel so so blessed and I know that there are many who don't get to have such experiences as this, and for that I just feel so grateful.  

Thanks, Levi, for teaching me that though we thought our heart was already full of love for people, that it has the capability to increase that love in an instant.