December 27, 2013
I woke up several times throughout the night, as I had been for the last few weeks. Having to pee every few hours and just feeling my belly contract while trying to get comfortable.
Around 5:57 I had a contraction that was noticeable- noticeable enough to wake me up. When I had a few I started timing them... around every 5 minutes. After a half hour I got up, drank some water and got in the shower. Either they would stop or at least I would be clean when I got out and told Armando we needed to go to the hospital.
In the 20 minute shower I took I had 5 contractions and passed a blood clot... shit.
I got out and got dressed, woke Mondo up and said if he wanted to shower he better hurry because we needed to get to the hospital.
I called my sister Jeni because I knew it might take her a while to get to the hospital, especially if she had to find someone to watch Wes, my nephew.
I waited until Armando and I were in the car to call my mom, I knew she would get anxious and I didn't want her to show up at the hospital before we did... She didn't answer!
I called my dad, the same man who had been texting/calling me several times a day asking if I was ok, Are you in labor? Didn't answer.
These people had been non-stop worrying about missing me going into labor for weeks and now that the moment had arrived they weren't answering their phones... smh.
While checking into labor and delivery my contractions were coming about every 2 minutes- noticeable and consistent but still not anything like I had imagined going into labor would be.
A friend of a friend of ours, Amy, checked us in. Informing us that her favorite delivery room was occupied she kindly moved us down the hall from that lady- she was an induction and had brought her mother, husband and four other children to join her. I will forever be grateful to Amy for keeping those kids away from me that morning :D
When my nurse came in she seemed short with me but competent, I pulled a trick I learned from Armando and started the dialogue to soften her up.
I'm sorry, I didn't get your name??
I'm Christy.
Oh hi Christy! So nice to meet you. This is my husband Armando.
Nice to meet you, go ahead and get changed and I'll come and check you.
Thanks so much Christy, I'll hurry so you can get started.
I have watched my husband do this at restaurants with pissy waiters all the time. Calling them by their name and letting them know that you just want to be helpful and happy makes them change their attitude pretty quick and they will usually go out of their way to be friendly.
A few of the nurses I work with at the surgical center used to work in L&D and asked me to text them when I went in, so I did. One of them asked me who my nurse was and when I told her, she said "Oh good, I know her. She's great. I'll text her and let her know that you work here and to give you the royal treatment"
When Christy came back in to check on me, she was all smiles and asked me how I knew Janalee.
I had a lot of things that I wanted and didn't want- I didn't want to be that pain in the arse patient but I also didn't want to be pushed into things I didn't want.
When she went to start my IV she listened to me about not wanting an 18 gauge in my hand and was able to start it in my wrist, where I knew I had bigger veins. She let me have a heparin-lock instead of hanging fluid and only hooked me up while an antibiotic ran (I was GBS+).
Once I was changed into a gown and she was able to do a cervical check she informed me that I was dilated to a 7 and she was surprised that my water hadn't broken already.
Labor is going to be awesome if I'm already dilated to a 7 and I am just chillin', no real pain... awesome!
Oh how naive...
Jen shows up to the hospital and we sit and chat and talk about how funny it would be if my parents missed the baby because they didn't answer the phone.
We are finally able to get ahold of my parents and they both show up to the hospital. My dad informs me that he doesn't want to see me in pain and is going to be outta there as soon as it gets iffy.
My mom is getting over a cold so she asks for a mask. She looks adorable in her little purple outfit and blue mask.
When Stacie, the midwife, gets there about 10 or so, she checks me as well. Since I'm almost completely effaced and dilated to a 9 she offers to break my water, after she states that "things will go quick" once my water is broken, I agree.
She comes back in around 11:30 and breaks my water- since I was so dilated anyway I didn't even feel it- except for a gush of fluid.
After this the contractions started getting a little more intense, but I was able to breathe through them.
Each one is getting stronger and I'm feeling more and more pressure. I ask Christy to check me and see if I can start pushing yet- things are starting to freakin' hurt!
She says that things are about the same and suggests squatting at the bedside or bracing myself over the edge of the bed. Jennifer makes a statement about how I should have been doing my squats... I believe I may have said something along the lines of "I can't do f#@&*#% squats"... or something like that.
Armando and Christy help me brace myself over the back of the bed and damned if it doesn't help. I'm up on my knees in between each contraction and with each contraction I can go to my knees and use the bed to brace against while I breathe through the contraction.
I get up to the bathroom and empty my bladder, another Christy suggestion, and get back into bed. She calls Stacie into the room because apparently at this time I am making 'pushing' sounds.
All I know is I tell someone to close the door because I can hear Induction Lady's kids running up and down the hall, don't want anyone but Armando touching me- but not during a contraction, and will someone please turn off the sound on their phone?!
They flip me on my back and when I start to push it hurts so bad in my lower back that I have to put a pillow under it. After a few ineffective pushes, Stacie suggests leaning the bed back so I am pushing out, not down.
It hurts so badly to lie flat, Christy suggests that I pull my thighs back towards myself to help... I inform her that I don't think I can do that so she grabs my left and Mondo grabs my right and they pull back with each contraction.
Jeni asks if I want the mirror so I can see the baby, but I'm exerting so much energy into pushing I can't even keep my eyes open during the contractions.
Each contraction gets harder to get through and I start to doubt that I can do this. Each time they say "One more push! He's almost here!" I want to cry out "Liars!!" when I hear no crying afterwards.
After a few more pushes Stacie says that if I get on all fours or my side it might shift the baby. There is no way I want to be ass-up when my son comes into the world- so I agree to go on my side. Christy still holds my left leg and Armando keeps talking to me and encouraging me on my right.
Stacie was right, once I flipped to my side I can feel the baby slide lower and lower with each contraction.
Apparently everyone can see his head, "He has a ton of hair!" they say... "Pull him out by his hair!" I say.
Each contraction is harder and harder go get through, I start sobbing at the end of each one. I can literally feel his head almost coming out, just to slide back when I can't continue the push, "Noooo!"
After an eternity, I get his head pushed out. They call it the ring of fire and there is a very good reason for that I can attest to it. I just thought to myself- I'm crazy- I did this with no drugs and now this child has ripped open my body. Everyone is so excited that the head is out and I'm just relieved that I don't have to push anymore.
Stacies tells me to push again for the body, I sob a little as I ask her "Can't you just pull him out?"
She laughs at me and says, "Sorry sis, You have to push him out"
I feel tremendous joy as I push again and feel his little body and the rest of the amniotic fluid gush out.
After that it was such a blur... I'm back on my back and this beautiful little person is placed on my chest. He is gurgling a little but, Oh my God- he is breathing and alive and here finally. I just stare at him and pray to God that I don't let him slip off of my chest. They let me hold him for a few minutes and then Stacie is having Armando cut the cord.
Once he is free, they take him to the warmer to measure and clean him up. Armando looks at me and I let him know it's ok to go with the baby, I'll be fine.
APGAR scores of 8 and 9
Seven pounds and ten ounces
Twenty and a half inches.
All of this is going on to my left as Stacie sits in between my legs to deliver the placenta. "Did I tear?" I fear the worst as I'm sure my entire body has been ripped in half- "Nope" she says, "Just a small cut on the side of the vaginal wall, but I'm not even going to stitch it. It should heal fine on it's own."
After I deliver the placenta, one more damn push, she says that I'm lucky he came out today. My placenta abrupted sometime during all the pushing and a bit of blood came out with him.
I woke up several times throughout the night, as I had been for the last few weeks. Having to pee every few hours and just feeling my belly contract while trying to get comfortable.
Around 5:57 I had a contraction that was noticeable- noticeable enough to wake me up. When I had a few I started timing them... around every 5 minutes. After a half hour I got up, drank some water and got in the shower. Either they would stop or at least I would be clean when I got out and told Armando we needed to go to the hospital.
In the 20 minute shower I took I had 5 contractions and passed a blood clot... shit.
I got out and got dressed, woke Mondo up and said if he wanted to shower he better hurry because we needed to get to the hospital.
I called my sister Jeni because I knew it might take her a while to get to the hospital, especially if she had to find someone to watch Wes, my nephew.
I waited until Armando and I were in the car to call my mom, I knew she would get anxious and I didn't want her to show up at the hospital before we did... She didn't answer!
I called my dad, the same man who had been texting/calling me several times a day asking if I was ok, Are you in labor? Didn't answer.
These people had been non-stop worrying about missing me going into labor for weeks and now that the moment had arrived they weren't answering their phones... smh.
While checking into labor and delivery my contractions were coming about every 2 minutes- noticeable and consistent but still not anything like I had imagined going into labor would be.
A friend of a friend of ours, Amy, checked us in. Informing us that her favorite delivery room was occupied she kindly moved us down the hall from that lady- she was an induction and had brought her mother, husband and four other children to join her. I will forever be grateful to Amy for keeping those kids away from me that morning :D
When my nurse came in she seemed short with me but competent, I pulled a trick I learned from Armando and started the dialogue to soften her up.
I'm sorry, I didn't get your name??
I'm Christy.
Oh hi Christy! So nice to meet you. This is my husband Armando.
Nice to meet you, go ahead and get changed and I'll come and check you.
Thanks so much Christy, I'll hurry so you can get started.
I have watched my husband do this at restaurants with pissy waiters all the time. Calling them by their name and letting them know that you just want to be helpful and happy makes them change their attitude pretty quick and they will usually go out of their way to be friendly.
A few of the nurses I work with at the surgical center used to work in L&D and asked me to text them when I went in, so I did. One of them asked me who my nurse was and when I told her, she said "Oh good, I know her. She's great. I'll text her and let her know that you work here and to give you the royal treatment"
When Christy came back in to check on me, she was all smiles and asked me how I knew Janalee.
I had a lot of things that I wanted and didn't want- I didn't want to be that pain in the arse patient but I also didn't want to be pushed into things I didn't want.
When she went to start my IV she listened to me about not wanting an 18 gauge in my hand and was able to start it in my wrist, where I knew I had bigger veins. She let me have a heparin-lock instead of hanging fluid and only hooked me up while an antibiotic ran (I was GBS+).
Once I was changed into a gown and she was able to do a cervical check she informed me that I was dilated to a 7 and she was surprised that my water hadn't broken already.
Labor is going to be awesome if I'm already dilated to a 7 and I am just chillin', no real pain... awesome!
Oh how naive...
Jen shows up to the hospital and we sit and chat and talk about how funny it would be if my parents missed the baby because they didn't answer the phone.
We are finally able to get ahold of my parents and they both show up to the hospital. My dad informs me that he doesn't want to see me in pain and is going to be outta there as soon as it gets iffy.
My mom is getting over a cold so she asks for a mask. She looks adorable in her little purple outfit and blue mask.
Poor mom, not really knowing what to do :)
When Stacie, the midwife, gets there about 10 or so, she checks me as well. Since I'm almost completely effaced and dilated to a 9 she offers to break my water, after she states that "things will go quick" once my water is broken, I agree.
Stacie telling me I'm 'Winning' because I'm further
along than her induction next door, yay me!
She comes back in around 11:30 and breaks my water- since I was so dilated anyway I didn't even feel it- except for a gush of fluid.
After this the contractions started getting a little more intense, but I was able to breathe through them.
She says that things are about the same and suggests squatting at the bedside or bracing myself over the edge of the bed. Jennifer makes a statement about how I should have been doing my squats... I believe I may have said something along the lines of "I can't do f#@&*#% squats"... or something like that.
Armando and Christy help me brace myself over the back of the bed and damned if it doesn't help. I'm up on my knees in between each contraction and with each contraction I can go to my knees and use the bed to brace against while I breathe through the contraction.
I get up to the bathroom and empty my bladder, another Christy suggestion, and get back into bed. She calls Stacie into the room because apparently at this time I am making 'pushing' sounds.
All I know is I tell someone to close the door because I can hear Induction Lady's kids running up and down the hall, don't want anyone but Armando touching me- but not during a contraction, and will someone please turn off the sound on their phone?!
They flip me on my back and when I start to push it hurts so bad in my lower back that I have to put a pillow under it. After a few ineffective pushes, Stacie suggests leaning the bed back so I am pushing out, not down.
It hurts so badly to lie flat, Christy suggests that I pull my thighs back towards myself to help... I inform her that I don't think I can do that so she grabs my left and Mondo grabs my right and they pull back with each contraction.
Jeni asks if I want the mirror so I can see the baby, but I'm exerting so much energy into pushing I can't even keep my eyes open during the contractions.
Each contraction gets harder to get through and I start to doubt that I can do this. Each time they say "One more push! He's almost here!" I want to cry out "Liars!!" when I hear no crying afterwards.
After a few more pushes Stacie says that if I get on all fours or my side it might shift the baby. There is no way I want to be ass-up when my son comes into the world- so I agree to go on my side. Christy still holds my left leg and Armando keeps talking to me and encouraging me on my right.
Stacie was right, once I flipped to my side I can feel the baby slide lower and lower with each contraction.
Apparently everyone can see his head, "He has a ton of hair!" they say... "Pull him out by his hair!" I say.
Each contraction is harder and harder go get through, I start sobbing at the end of each one. I can literally feel his head almost coming out, just to slide back when I can't continue the push, "Noooo!"
After an eternity, I get his head pushed out. They call it the ring of fire and there is a very good reason for that I can attest to it. I just thought to myself- I'm crazy- I did this with no drugs and now this child has ripped open my body. Everyone is so excited that the head is out and I'm just relieved that I don't have to push anymore.
Stacies tells me to push again for the body, I sob a little as I ask her "Can't you just pull him out?"
She laughs at me and says, "Sorry sis, You have to push him out"
I feel tremendous joy as I push again and feel his little body and the rest of the amniotic fluid gush out.
After that it was such a blur... I'm back on my back and this beautiful little person is placed on my chest. He is gurgling a little but, Oh my God- he is breathing and alive and here finally. I just stare at him and pray to God that I don't let him slip off of my chest. They let me hold him for a few minutes and then Stacie is having Armando cut the cord.
Thank God!
Once he is free, they take him to the warmer to measure and clean him up. Armando looks at me and I let him know it's ok to go with the baby, I'll be fine.
APGAR scores of 8 and 9
Seven pounds and ten ounces
Twenty and a half inches.
All of this is going on to my left as Stacie sits in between my legs to deliver the placenta. "Did I tear?" I fear the worst as I'm sure my entire body has been ripped in half- "Nope" she says, "Just a small cut on the side of the vaginal wall, but I'm not even going to stitch it. It should heal fine on it's own."
After I deliver the placenta, one more damn push, she says that I'm lucky he came out today. My placenta abrupted sometime during all the pushing and a bit of blood came out with him.
Armando has been with the baby the whole time and I look over as I hear everyone start laughing. While they are measuring him he started to pee... it landed right on Daddy's favorite shoes :)
She asks if the Pitocin drip is ok now, and since I did a ten page paper in school on post-partum hemorrhaging... I agree to the IV. Then my sweet, dear nurse Christy does the most terrible thing in the world and starts stomping on my stomach- total TMI but, I can feel everything in my body gush from between my legs. Through all of the pain from her jumping on my uterus- I fear that I will flood the room with bodily fluids- surely if childbirth didn't kill me this will... but, alas; I am overreacting and I survive.
I get to watch the man I love hold our child, nothing prepares you for this overwhelming rush of emotion.
She asks if the Pitocin drip is ok now, and since I did a ten page paper in school on post-partum hemorrhaging... I agree to the IV. Then my sweet, dear nurse Christy does the most terrible thing in the world and starts stomping on my stomach- total TMI but, I can feel everything in my body gush from between my legs. Through all of the pain from her jumping on my uterus- I fear that I will flood the room with bodily fluids- surely if childbirth didn't kill me this will... but, alas; I am overreacting and I survive.
I get to watch the man I love hold our child, nothing prepares you for this overwhelming rush of emotion.
First family picture, I look like a refugee.
After a few minutes, my dad shoos everyone out of the room so that the three of us can get acquainted and choose a name. Oh yeah, we hadn't decided on a name yet... now seems like a good time.
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