I guess that the birth story really started on Friday morning. When I woke up Friday morning and used the rest room I noticed some blood on the toilet paper. I knew from my previous experiences and my friends' experiences that blood could mean that labor is coming soon or it could mean that nothing will happen for weeks. The control freak in me started to panic a little bit. . . we're supposed to still have more than week to prepare. . . would we really be ready if baby came early?
Saturday was a good day, we spent some time with friends in the evening watching football and eating some yummy pizza. We came home and went to bed on Saturday evening, expecting a normal night. At about 2AM I woke up with contractions that were fairly painful. . . and they were coming about every ten minutes. We had plans to eat breakfast with some dear friends and Brooklyn had a playdate planned afterwards with her kids. I texted Camron and asked if she minded if I sent along an overnight for Brooklyn. . .just in case. She was incredibly generous and eagerly allowed us to have Brooklyn bring along her overnight bag.
Throughout the day on Sunday I continued to have contractions - some 10 minutes apart, some 18 minutes apart, and an occasional 1 hr or 8 minutes apart. Nothing was turning into a reliable pattern and I was googling "Braxton Hicks" . . finding it hard to believe that Braxton Hicks would be so painful. At about 4 PM we decided to pick Brooklyn up as it was clear nothing was happening.
Throughout the evening on Sunday night the contractions became even stronger. Was this it? Sigh. . . . apparently not. Sometime around 3:30 AM the contractions started to spread out and allow me to actually get some sleep. I was now thoroughly convinced that I was going to have to tolerate these painful contractions until my scheduled induction on the 22nd.
On Monday I called the doctor to verify when I should actually head to the hospital. The nurse told me 1) If contractions are 5 - 6 minutes apart. . . 2) if my water breaks. . . or 3) if contractions are so painful that I have to breathe through them. Augh. . . #3 was such a tough call. . . I was having occassional contractions that I was having to breathe through. . but maybe I'm just a wimp!
The contractions spread out by the afternoon, but after dinner were again ten minutes apart. I laid down for bed at about 9PM contemplating how I was going to get through work on Monday with painful contractions every ten minutes.
About an hour after I laid down in bed I started having contractions that seemed like they were on top of eachother. Painful, painful, contractions. After a few 6 - 7 minute apart contractions I told Matt "I think I better call Dr. L to ask if I can be checked at the hospital. I called Dr. Luan who confirmed that getting checked couldn't be a bad idea. . . just to avoid waiting too long and missing the opportunity for an epidural.
Matt called our dear neighbor, Amy, and asked her to take Brooklyn for the evening "just in case". Amy willingly agreed and we dropped Brooklyn and her overnight bag (and school backpack) off with Amy on the way to the hospital. In the fifteen minute drive to the hospital I had several more contractions. . . including one that almost brought me to my knees in the hospital parking lot.
We were taken upstairs to the maternity floor and explained to the nurses that we were just there to be checked to see if we were progressing. Dr. L had told me that if I wasn't progressing I would be sent home since I wasn't yet 39 weeks. .and it was safer for the baby. I told them that last I'd been checked I was at about a 2 1/2 CM. . close to a 3.
As the nurse checked me she said "yeah, you're at an 8 and almost complete with a bulging sack. . . we've gotta get Dr. L here." I looked at her (probably with a little panic) and said "Can I stil have an epidural?". Her response was a rather unreassuring "We'll do our best honey. . . we'll do our best". Suddenly everything started moving very quickly - baby warmers were being turned on, IVs were being started, nurses were repeatedly reassuring me that Dr. L was on the way. Fortunately it didn't feel chaotic, it just felt fast.
When Dr. L arrived he checked me again and gave me a little pep talk about the fact that I was not going to be getting an epidural or any pain medication. Matt tells me that as soon as he said that my entire face went white with fear. I was a huge cheerleader for epidurals after Brooklyn was born and the thought of giving birth without it was just short of terrifying to me. Dr. L then broke my water, and about ten minutes later we were ready to push.
The time I spent pushing was relatively short, but certainly not painless. I could definitely feel every moment and was more than in touch with the pain. Matt laughed as I spent many moments between contractions apologizing for screaming or for nearly breaking down. The nurses were amazing and my doctor was a rockstar. The assured me numerous times how awesome I was doing and how I should be proud.
Barely over an hour after entering the hospital Easton Anthony arrived. Nearly immediately bets were being taken around the delivery room about his size. "He's definitely a big baby. . definitely more than 9 lbs" were the first words from my doctor. The final verdict - 9lbs 7 ozs of big baby. . . 19 1/2 inches long. . . and a general consensus that him coming early was probably a blessing in disguise for me.
The nurses were still astounded that my contractions were a full ten minutes apart (or more) until 9PM on Monday evening.
It's hard to explain how I feel about having giving birth without an epidural. I guess my general feeling is that I feel proud that I got through it . . . and I can look back and smile that Easton has a birth story that is unique. Mostly, I'm grateful that I have an amazing husband who supported me in ways that not many husbands could. . knowing how scared I was. . . he was 100% there for me. . . and I'm grateful for an awesome OB, who knew how much pain our miscarriage last March had left in my heart. . and who has been there for us 100% over the entire duration of my pregnancy with Easton. My doctor is amazing. . . and if we wanted to have more children I would have no other doctor by my side for the journey. His patience and proactivity made an amazing difference in this pregnancy.
I have so much more to share about the first 3 days of Easton's life, but I will save the rest for sharing over the next few days.
My family is amazingly blessed. Matt and I have two beautiful and wonderful kids that I know have big things in store for them. Life is good. . God is good. . . what a beautiful journey we are on.
1 comment:
I loved your story! And you are a champ for the no epidural alone...but then a 9.5 pound baby at that! You definitely have bragging rights on that one! He's adorable and Brooklyn with him is even more adorable. Miss you...maybe one day we will finally live in the same city again. =)
Dani
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