We
started out the day with getting up around 3:30 or 4:00 in the
morning to get to the hospital. I was scheduled to be induced early
Wednesday morning. We got there and got checked in and a nice young
nurse is just about to go off duty but had a little time left so she
was going to start my I.V. She began with numbing the vein in my left
arm. Then tried to put the IV in. Oh. My. Goodness. It hurt so bad! I
don't think she even got it at all where it was numbed. She pushed
around and tried to get it in but couldn't. Okay, she tried another
spot. Nope, she couldn't get it in there either. She decided then
that she should get another nurse that for sure could get it in
because she was really good at it. The other nurse came in and
confidently said sure she could get it in. So she tried it a third
time. I think at that point she has trying to get it in my hand.
Couldn't do it. So she tried again. Still a no go. So then they
called in ANOTHER nurse. Thank goodness for her because she got it on
her first try in my right arm. Five sticks! It took forever! The day did NOT start
out well.
So
the pitocin got started and the contractions started to get regular.
We warned the nurses that my previous two babies were born on the bed
with the nurses catching them. So they were very vigilant! I was
about a 1.5 or 2 when I got to the hospital so I was hoping that
things would move pretty quickly and I would have him at least by lunch time. Zethan was born about 4.5 hours after they started the pitocin
with him, so I was thinking that it would be about that again. But of
course this time I was being induced a week early instead of a week
late. So I knew it may take a little longer.
Once
the contractions were getting to be stronger and stronger they
checked me again and I really had not progressed a whole lot. I can't
remember exactly the details. But it had been probably at least 4
hours and I think I only had dilated to a 4 {which was only 2 more cm
from when we got there}. So, I was quite bummed that I was only at a
4 when by that time with my last birth, I was having the baby. The
contractions were getting strong enough that I was having to
consciously breathe through them and concentrate on my breathing. Did
I mention I was extremely bummed to hear I was only at a 4 or 5. Oh,
okay. Well I was. Very dissappointed! I wanted him to have been born
already!!
It
was at this point. That I was thinking “I am not going to make it
all day with these hard contractions. If it took that long to go 2
cm, I'm going to be here all day-I can't do these hard contractions
all day!”
So
I said to Matt, “Can I please get one this time?” Referring to an
epidural. He did not want me to, but how can you argue with a woman
in labor who wants pain relief =) Haha.
So
I told the nurse that I wanted one. She had a very surprised look on
her face. But quickly went about doing whatever it is they do to get
ready for it. The reason she was so surprised is because we had said
at the beginning that I didn't want one. Never have had one. This
will be the 4th time I'm doing this. My babies come
quickly. Yada yada yada.
Well
for whatever reason, I really caved and did not have the mental
strength this time, that it takes to give birth with no blocks.
It
was about that time that my OB came to check on me during his lunch
break and he said he about fell over when he heard they were just
getting ready to start an epidural-since I had never had one before!
{You can know when it is getting painful when I start closing my eyes, breathing through my mouth and not responding to questions, other than a slight nod or shake or the head}
Anyway,
so I didn't really know exactly what to expect since no one thought I
was going to get one, they didn't really walk me through what would
happen ahead of time{bu they did a really great job during the
procedure telling me what to do and what was happening and
everything}. They said one person could be in the room with me while
they get it going. They assumed that Matt, the husband would stay but
needles aren't exactly his thing, so my mom stayed in there with me.
Natalie and Diane (Matt's mom) had also been in the room previously
but they had just stepped out to go get some lunch.
They
went through all the steps to get my back numbed and get the tubing
into my back and everything. It actually was not too bad, I was
having to breathe and really concentrate on relaxing and was having
quite hard contractions and was just trying to really really relax. I
just kept remembering that they said at one point, the best way to
help make sure you don't get those epidural headaches is to stay
still during the procedure. So I was trying very very hard to stay
still. Anyway, they got it in and then had me lie down on my left
side. Then they began doing the little test, where they poke your
stomach and thighs to see where you are numb. Somehow, I was only
getting numb on my right side. So every time I had a contraction, the
pain seemed to be concentrated on the left side of my stomach. It
felt horrible! Way worse than just having a regular contraction all
over. It felt like the baby's head was going to burst through my
stomach on the lower left side! I actually almost thought it was but
knew that that was not possible since that was not even where his
head was!
They
kept telling me to push the button that delivers a little extra shot
of pain medicine into your spine. I did, but it didn't help. So they
upped the level of pain medicine going into my spine but still didn't
help. At that point they told me that the only thing left to do was
to take out the tubing and start over because it was possible that
the tubing just veered off the one side and that is why it was only
getting to the right side. I told them to just forget it because by
then I was feeling A LOT of pressure down south. I told them, “Um I
think that the baby is coming out” They looked and sure enough he
was ready for me to push him out! It took about 4-5 hours to dilate
by 2 cm and then it took just under 1.5 hours to go from a 5 to
having delivered Simon! (I think it was because I was really making
myself relax to get the epidural it just made everything relaxed
enough to dilate quickly. If I would have known it was going to only
be that long when I asked for an epidural- I would not have gotten
one! But I don't regret getting one, although if the chance presents
itself again-I don't think I will get one again.)
{This is when they were trying to get the epidural to work properly. It hurt so bad! Matt is so great in helping me breathe through contractions. He just gets right down in my face and breathes with me and seems to know what I need without me having to say anything. Which I don't. Not talking it a coping mechanism I seem to use during labor.}
Thankfully
my OB was sitting out in his car in the parking garage eating a burger so he was able to
come right away! He actually made it in time for me to start pushing
and be there for the actual birth! I'm not sure how long I actually
had to push but it wasn't too long. It was very strange actually
having to be told to push. And not really being able to feel it.
Somehow, the epidural managed to at least numb the lower part or
maybe it evened out when I rolled onto my back to push. Not really
sure. But I did not like pushing with an epidural. It just seemed so
ineffective. At least it still didn't take too long. And it was nice
for those immediate after birth pains.
Simon
Matthew was born about 1:30 on Wednesday afternoon, weighing 8 lbs
9oz and measuring 21 inches long. We were so very glad to have him in
our arms!
{Matt giving his momma a hug. Everyone was so happy!}
{What a big boy he was!}
{My OB and Matt laughing about something. My OB is really great and seems to always be making us laugh. Even during labor and delivery and right after}
{Seeing/holding Simon for the first time. It was just a really wonderful moment}
{Matt was just so happy to have his son here. I think it is so sweet how emotional he can get seeing his kids for the first time!}
{Simons first bath. He wasn't a fan}
{Daddy holding his sweet baby for the first time}
After
you give birth you have to spend at least 2 hours in the delivery
room before you are transferred to the recovery room. I think we were
there a little bit longer. They were giving the epidural time to wear
off so I could walk. Well, apparently since they kept turning it up
and up and up, my legs were REALLY numb. Especially my right side. So
they had to lift me up into the wheel chair. I could not move me legs
AT ALL. It was definitely not a fun feeling. It was very strange
actually. It took about 8 hours for it to finally wear off enough
that I could walk on my own. Also, my back was obviously a lot more sore where the needle was and my back just seemed quite weak.
But Simon is here now and we just love him to pieces!!!
And a HUGE thank you to my sis-in-law, Natalie! She was there bright and early to help us document our story through pictures! I love having these pictures! Thank you!
