Birth: Nailed it!

Hi there, little one!

I always enjoyed hearing my birth story, so I thought I would share yours with you as well.  Here goes...

As you can imagine, I didn't quite know what to expect of the birthing process.  For that reason, I left my decision for pain management completely open.  In my head, I would like to go without drugs or an epidural, but not knowing what kind of pain I was in for, I was not about to proclaim my plan to go it natural. 

During the last month of pregnancy, I didn't really experience false contractions/Braxton Hicks.  I kept waiting for them to come as some kind of sign I was getting close, but they never did.  On the morning of your birth, October 10, 2012, I started feeling contractions on my way to work at about 7:30 a.m.  Since I knew false contractions can also be triggered by dehydration, I started drinking water… lots of water.  However, the contractions were still coming and they felt like they could be the “real thing.”  I already had a schedule OB check up later that morning, so I went to work as usual. 

At my doctor’s appointment, I mentioned the contractions.  He asked how painful they were, and I told him they were noticeable but not debilitating.  I was three centimeters dilated, about one centimeter more than last week.  Since he couldn't know if I had progressed that one centimeter over the last seven days or the last seven minutes, he just told me to head to the hospital if they got stronger and closer together.  While there, we discussed an induction date since he estimated baby was starting to get pretty big.  I could be induced the following morning or wait through the weekend until Monday morning.  Because I didn’t want to be induced, your dad and I decided we would wait until Monday.  He said he would call to confirm and give me the details.

I returned to work a little bummed that I hadn't been told to go straight to the hospital.  However, I was fairly convinced that these were in fact real contractions, so I got busy.  With each contraction, I would focus on my work to get through it.  Apparently, the work was a good distraction and I didn’t show the pain I was in.  I started timing the contractions, and sure enough, they were getting closer and closer together. 

Though I intended to get my work for the day completed as to not leave it for Jodie or Brandie, around 4:00 it was obvious to me that I wasn't going to make it.  I called your daddy and let him know that we needed to go soon.  I calmly walked down the hall, clocked out, and said my goodbyes.  People still didn’t realize that I was in labor, telling me that they would see me tomorrow.  Because we had taken separate cars, I drove home with your daddy following me in rush hour traffic.  Once we got home, we grabbed the pre-packed bags and headed to the hospital. 

Once at the hospital, around 5:30 p.m., we headed to the fourth floor to the labor and delivery desk.  We asked, “Is this where we check in?”  The receptionist responded, “Check in for what?”  I guess she didn’t realize I was in labor either.  After a long list of questions to answer, I finally got taken to a room.  There, the nurses asked a million more questions at leisure, from health history to whether or not I brought a phone charger.  They even asked if there was a possibility I was pregnant.  I think they forgot to take that one out of the Labor and Delivery triage list. 

The nurse asked me how I intend to handle pain management.  I told her that I would let her know if I changed my mind, but if I could do it without medications, I would.  She smirked and spoke to me like I was a child, “Ok, sweetie.”  I suppose they hear that a lot.  

They finally got around to checking me… down there.  Her exact words: “I was expecting a 3 or a 4, but hunny, you are at 8 cm! You need to do this for a livin'! You look great!" 

Needless to say, they started asking those questions a little more rapidly. Family started rolling in: Grandmama, Grandpops, Uncle Nate, Aunt Brittany, Papa, Mimi, Uncle Darren, M’Kenna, and Aunt Brenna were all there.  The doctor got there about 20 minutes after they checked me.  He said that he had called my work number to confirm Monday’s induction appointment and Jodie told him I went to the hospital.  When in the hospital room with me, he asked if I wanted him to break my water to get things progressing a little quicker. I said sure. I kicked family out of the room, fully expecting for them to come back in right after for a little while, but once he broke my water, the difference in my contractions were night and day.  They came so hard and I felt the urge to push so bad, but you weren’t so convinced you wanted to come out yet.  You stayed pretty high.  Since I was in such pain, I decided not to allow family back in the room.  I felt ready to have a baby.  I kept telling the nurse I wanted to push, but she kept telling me to wait, that baby wasn't moved down yet.

Your heart rate started plummeting between contractions (which was weird) so they put me on oxygen and had me roll on my side.  I kept telling them to check, that I was ready to push.  When they finally did and had me test push, sure enough I was right.  

The pushing process was intense.  I pushed so hard that sometimes I would nearly passout and I clinched my puke bag the whole time (though I never threw up, thank goodness). I saw stars at times and got really lightheaded.  The blood vessels in my face and shoulders popped, so I looked REALLY creepy afterwards.  There were complications during delivery, and they kept telling me with urgency "we got to get this baby out" so I think that's the only reason I kept going. I could hear your heart rate monitor and at times it was slower than mine, so I knew something was wrong; when they said "Push," I just did.  The room was suddenly filled with nine medical professionals waiting to take care of you.  I tried not to think about it or get scared; I just closed my eyes and concentrated on getting you out.  Pain didn't seem to be an issue.  I was just doing what I knew had to be done.

An hour of pushing later (I think), you were out.  You were born at 9:51 p.m.  I knew then that you rocked because you let me get a good night sleep, contractions started when I got up in the morning, and you were out by bedtime!  ;)

Funny story:  When you were crowning and Dr. Snead could see you had a full head of hair, between contractions he gave you a faux-hawk.  Dr. Snead is a funny guy!  

When you came out, you didn't cry.  I don’t really think my heart beat either.  I was just waiting for you to take that first big breath.  I think I nearly held my breath with you.  It took over two minutes for the doctors and nurses to get you to take a breath: the scariest two minutes of my life.  Even though they finally got you crying some, they had to whisk you away to NICU for about 4-5 hours.  You were born at 9:51 p.m. but I didn't get to hold you until around 3 a.m. 

By the time you were returned from NICU, all family members had gone.  It was just you, me, and daddy.  I held you in my arms and suddenly I realized how perfect you are, how perfect my life is.  God gave me a wonderful husband and now a beautiful, healthy baby girl.  Does it get any sweeter than that?  

I love you, baby girl!

Mommy