Birth Story: Part II

From Part I:

...Doctor directed me to "Head on into the Hospital." Best.Words.I.Could.Ever.Receive. Pure joy and excitement....Anxious...Elated.... But, how long would it take for this baby to be here, and in my arms?....

(continued) After stuffing the last bit of baby goods into our bags and getting my very pregnant self into the car, we realized how long this night just might be. Sleep? Wasn't on the agenda. Although I got about an hour ish of sleep before my water broke, the hubby did not even get a wink of shuteye. So.. a quick stop for coffee was definitely in the cards for us before we got to the hospital. This "in labor" momma stood in Ma's donuts (a local coffee shop) while the husband got a coffee and donut. Our last little coffee date as just husband and wife, at 12:30 in the morning. If that doesn't spell romantic, I don't know what does. And 3 college aged very burly boys in line ahead of us, ordering every breakfast sandwich on the menu. HELLO PEOPLE. This girl is IN LABOR. Move it along.

Upon arriving at the hospital we quickly remembered learning in Childbirth Class that we would have to enter through the Emergency Room, since it was so late. The woman at the desk questioned if I had yet spoken to a nurse or if someone told me to come to the hospital. "Yes ma'am, I have. I am IN labor. Now could I please go up to the 7th floor?" was all I could mutter. A very silly ride in a wheelchair "per hospital protocol" and we were there. The beloved birthing center.

12:50am. "Well, you're definitely in LABOR." Best news ever, from the overnight nurse. The same nurse who led our 6 week Birthing Class. The same nurse who told us that she would not allow any women to have their baby in the toilet. Why thank you. I was really worried about that. Soon after officially being admitted, I was moved into what would be MY room. #703. The room I would labor in, deliver my baby boy in, recover in, and spend the next 48 hours in. Did I mention I could not be happier at this very moment? It's true. The moment I had been waiting for, for the past 9 months, was going to be here before we knew it.

 

Due to the extreme heat wave we were experiencing outside and the very pregnant woman that I was, I decided that room #703 would be the icebox of the hospital. I demanded that the husband turn the AC on full blast, and not above 60 degrees. Pretty sure the nurses only came in our room when they desperately needed to. Cold, it was. Just what the Doctor ordered!

A very cold hubby wearing my bath robe!
 

Now it was time for the IV. "Chase, you're about to deliver a baby, it won't be that bad." Yes, I thought this would be the hardest part for me. IV's..yuck! Took 2 seconds and it was done. Phew, got through that. No sooner than recovering from my IV stick, I was being asked if I had a birth plan. Yes, yes I do. Number ONE and most important, baby boy on my chest right after he is delivered, so that he could feed asap. Height and weight can wait a few minutes. Number 2, no epidural until I am at LEAST 5 centimeters dialated (I was told that the epidural could slow down labor. That would be horrible). Number 3, baby will stay with us in our room for the duration of our hospital stay. Also, we decided that it would just be me and the hubs in the room during labor and delivery. We didn't think it was necessary for anyone else to be there. We made the baby, we can deliver the baby. Very simple. Let's do this!



Momma and Baby's Heartrate and Contractions!

Around 2am the contractions started. And boy, did they ever. I can do this. Just BREATHE. After a while of contracting, a nurse asked me if I wanted to get in the bathtub. Hmm..something I had not given any thought about. It couldn't hurt, right? (no pun intended) So, in the tub I went, with lots of hands helping me. All I could do was shiver and focus on how cold the water was, that I couldn't really get through my contractions very easily. Trying to breathe when your entire body is freezing, was not working out very well. Time to dry off and get back on the bed. Next question, did I want to try laboring on the birthing ball? I'm not extremely coordinated, but sure. So bounce and ROCK I did. That is what my comfy spot was. Bent over rocking back and forth. Unfortunately every time I leaned forward in fetal position, the baby's monitor that was on my stomach stopped reading his heartrate. This was not okay for the nurses. Per their request, or maybe it was demand, I needed to stay laying back in the bed. Worst position ever. It made the contractions feel 50 times worse. Ok, they are becoming a bit unbearable I thought. No sooner than thinking that, did the nurse ask if I wanted some pain relief. Yes. Please. Let's start with some morphine. Sounds good to me. Welp, that didn't do much. Did it calm me down and take the edge of a LITTLE bit? Yes. Did it make the contractions go away and suddenly feel like I was pain free? Not a chance. So, let's continue on with this.....

Part III: BABY

Coming later this week... Stay tuned :)

 

All ready for Baby Boy
 

A very uncomfortable momma. Soon to have a baby!!!!!!