Monday, January 5th 2015 at 4:00AM we woke up to head to the hospital; it was about 28 degrees outside. We had gone out to dinner and a movie the night before trying to hold our anxiety at bay, but that wasn't really successful. I remember thinking as my husband drove us to the hospital that everything was about to change. I was filled with every kind of emotion there was.
When we arrived, the receptionist at the main entrance of the hospital wished us luck and we went up to the second floor, labor and delivery. We checked in at 5:30AM, got out super official wrist bands and got our room. By 7:30 we had filled out all the paper work, been hooked up to all the machines and started the pitocin. This is also when I met my two new best friends Amira, my nurse, and Dr. Bowe, my anesthesiologist. Shortly after we became acquainted, my doctor came in and broke my water. This is not a painful expierence. A little uncomfortable and wet, but not painful.
At first I was just so excited we were finally going to have a baby. I labored for about 4 hours while Miles and I watched TV and he fed me ice chips. After about 4cm I called in my friend Dr. Bowe, sadly she was in a c-section and I labored in pain for about an hour. Just as I was about ready to jump out of the bed and choke someone, she appeared to save the day. Epidurals do not hurt, well they might, but not as bad as active labor. If you are one that had a med free birth, you are a super hero. It wasn't something I was willing to put myself through. After the epidural I tried to sleep for about 2 hours. I say tried because I was constantly being moved. My baby's heart beat was unstable because of the pitocin. After two doctors and two nurses were in my room at the same time, I started to worry a little and sleep wasn't going to happen.
Once baby's heart was more stabilized, they started the petocin again. By this time it was almost 4 o'clock and I was starting to feel a pressure in my right hip. I couldn't get comfortable since I couldn't move my legs very well, so I called in my bff. When she came in to up my epidural, my nurse informed her that I would be pushing soon so she wouldn't give me too much. What?! It's time? My nurse did one last cervical check and told me I was "complete" the word that every labor ing mother longs for!
At that point there was a table brought in that was covered. We were told not touch anything under there since it was sterile, yeah okay let me just jump on out of this bed with numb legs. They also brought in a tiny diaper and a little hat, this is when my husband got excited. It had been almost 12 hours and he doesn't do well with daytime television, he was ready.
My nurse came in for the final time after getting someone to keep an eye on her other patient. She took my bed apart, the bottoms drop off, qand took her place. She was a fantastic coach, I always thought pushing would be like having a horrible bowel movement but it's really like an awkward crunch. Pushing also isn't like the movies, you take breaks in between contractions. After about 5 rounds of pushing, my doctor came in. She had been waiting to deliver my baby and since it was already 5:40, I knew it was generous of her. While she suited up we apparently missed two sets of contractions, I don't know, I didn't feel a thing. Once she was in place I did one more set of pushing and my baby was here. January 5, 2015 at 5:59PM
They placed her on my belly/chest and I stared at her in amazement while my lady parts were being sewn back together. My husband, being well trained, took lots of very appropriate pictures of the first moments of our daughter's life. She stayed in the delivery room with me for an hour. After that her daddy accompanied her to the nursey for her first bath and such. That's when I got to eat for the first time in almost 24 hours.
After I ate they came in to clean me up and clear out the room for the next lady! My new nurse was not nearly as kind and as loving as my day nurse Amira. She came in and ripped the epidural tape off my back, that hurt almost as much as labor, then I tried to walk. That was interesting. They wanted me to try to pee since I had had a catheter, the nurse helped to the toilet and when I went to sit down I fell into the wall. That was awesome! Then I was given the beautiful hospital underwear and wheeled up to my post partum room. I was feeling good and ready for my baby. We said goodbye to all of our visitors for the night and enjoyed out first night as parents.
