Tucker Eli's Birth Story

Did I say at the end of “Round 3” that our family was complete? Well, sometimes…life’s what happens when you’re making other plans. After struggling with secondary infertility and needing fertility medicine to conceive our 3rd baby, I would have never believed you if you told me that we’d have a surprise baby. When the pregnancy test turned positive back in May, I was more than shocked. We had a 4 month-old baby and thought that our family was complete. Well, we thought wrong.

Since baby #4 has surprised us from the start, we shouldn’t have been surprised that he would be the one to make an appearance on his own. After being induced 3 previous times; having a baby decide to come on his own is a pretty neat experience.

Two weeks before my due date, at a routine Dr appointment; the Dr decided to strip my membranes. I knew that it wouldn’t work. It never worked the other 3 times, but we decided to give it a try anyway. That Sunday, another thing happened that had never happened before; I lost my mucous plug. All that week, I continually lost mucous…gobs and gobs of mucous. At my next Dr appointment, I was dilated to 2 and was 80% effaced. We scheduled my induction for the following Monday. I was very familiar with this process. We were set to go!

Baby #4 had other plans. Saturday morning at about 4:30, my contractions started. They were 15 minutes and then 9 minutes apart. We decided to wait it out a while, this was a Cameron baby after all and I didn’t want to get to the hospital only to be sent back home. When the contractions started hurting more, we decided to make the trip on over to the hospital.

We got to OB-triage around 7:30 and they checked me. I was dilated to a 5 and 90% effaced. They decided it was best that they keep me. After being admitted to the birthplace, we decided to walk around to help the contractions become more regular and to help bring the baby’s head down. When my Dr got there, she asked if I’d like to start Pitocin. We agreed that it would help speed things along and gave her the OK. After laboring for another 4 hours, I was wearing down. I asked to have the Dr check me in case the baby’s head had dropped down. If I wasn’t dilated very far, I was considering an epidural. She said that I was at a 6, but that his head was low. I asked if she would break my water. I knew that things would speed up then. After she broke my water, I dilated to a 10 in about 2 minutes. I felt the urge to push and started pushing. It’s not like in the movies. When it’s your 4th child they expect you to know what to do. No holding your legs up, no counting to 10…nothing like that. I pushed when I felt the urge. There was a tiny lip of cervix that was preventing him from coming on down. After pushing for about 30 minutes, the Dr asked the Nurse to set the bed back up to give me a break. The Dr left and I rolled over onto my left side. I still felt the urge to push and after one push I felt him start to come. I told the Nurse, “I think he’s coming.” She looked and said to not push. She called for the Dr. I breathed through 2 contractions, but had to push. After 3 pushes, he came out. I was still on my side and the Dr made it in just in time to catch him. Archie cut the cord and the baby was placed on my chest. Tucker Eli Cameron was born at 1:16pm on Saturday, February 23, 2008. Weighing 8 lbs, 9 oz and 21 ¾ inches long. He had a head full of dark hair and beautiful blue eyes. Dare I say it? Our family is finally complete!