I figured I better write this out before I forget how it all went down.
The following is rated E for Everyone...
Our baby's due date was March 8th, 2011, but as detailed here and here, in early February we learned that there wasn't a whole lot of amniotic fluid left for our sweet boy. We were teetering on inducing early due to the dry conditions. When we went in for a scheduled ultrasound on February 28th, again with our hospital bags in the car, we learned that although the amniotic fluid 'guadg' still wasn't yet on empty, the obstetrician on duty didn't understan what our doctor was waiting for... The baby was doing well and full term. It was time to get the party started before that situation changed!
I was in disbelief. Before texting my mom I asked the doctor 3 times for confirmation that we weren't leaving without first having a baby. She laughed and told me over and over again that yes, two were checking in but three will be leaving. Tom got the bags from the car and did the paper work to get me admitted. I called my mother and alerted the rest of the troops with this teaser.
In natural labour, the human body goes through a few changes before things really get rolling. In our case, because I was going to be induced, they first needed to help my body ready itself for the coming event. They have things for that, but this is the short story so the details are spared. We spent the remainder of the day playing cribbage, watching "Bringing Baby Home" a Quebec video for new parents (Tom told the nurse that we were 'cramming', she laughed so hard!) and making a few phone calls. We were told to head to bed early in case the initial steps taken that day induced labour during the night. Someone should have reminded me that this was also the last time in a looooong time I would have the opportunity to sleep for 10 hours straight.
I had so many emotions - excited, a bit nervous, anxious, a bit nervous, excited - I blogged from my hospital bed to help sort them out.
I was wondering how in the world I would get to sleep with so much to think about... But God granted me the sleep I desperately needed, even with the screaming labouring woman in the room next to me who arrived too late to get her planned epidural... And I was ale to sleep???? God is good!
In the morning I took a shower and brushed my teeth. I opted for breakfast but they needed to order it so it would take a few minutes... In the mean time they started me on an induction drip (8:00am) at the lowest possible level (we'll call it 1 unit per hour) which was going to be increased every 20 minutes as needed until things got rolling. They informed me it usually takes about 12 hours, so be in for a loooong day.
Immediately after they started the drip, the mild cramps I had the night before intensified. As a 'favor' the doctor on duty (who was finishing her final rounds before heading home) decided to break my water knowing that her colleague may not show up for a few hours and she didn't want me not progressing all that much until after he arrived and broke it...
Immediately after THAT, the intensified mild cramps started getting ugly... Just around this time the nurse upped my drip to 2 units per hour (8:20am). Things started to really get intense and tears started flowing. I wasn't exactly crying, but water was pretty much pouring out of my face. Breakfast arrived but I was in no mood for eating (and THAT says a lot). It was time to start implementing some of those pain management techniques we learned about... Tom was AMAZING. Strong, confident, and so supportive.
We swayed. We implemented counter pressure. I breathed. We coped. And, when we could, we texted our mothers to let them know how things were progressing.
I asked our nurse when I should thinking about using some of the fun stuff, like the whirl pool, to help ease the pain of labour. You see, I wanted to plan my 12 hour day accordingly. She looked at me and said "Now. If you'd like." It was only 9:30am, and I reminded her we may be at this for 12 hours and I wanted to wait as long as I could before using these tricks to help... She looked at me and said that based on the way I was progressing, this probably was not going to take 12 hours.
So in the jet tub I went. It was GLORIOUS! The warmth, vibrating massage, and loud hum drove out most the contraction pains. I was doing it! I was labouring!!
Unfortunately, the nurse then said to me "If you were also thinking of getting an epidural, now's the time."
Crap.
I hadn't even thought of that yet... But now it's all I could think about. Should I? Shouldn't I?? I told Tom that he was going to need a pretty big carrot (reward) to get me out of the tub...
Then the nurse came back to helpfully inform me "... That after you decide, I need time to call him and he needs time to get here."
Oh dear. Now the pressure was on.
I talked to Tom about it (in between contractions, that is) and although I was still coping really well (with his help) I was nervous about what was to come. There's this 'transition' part of labour that everyone talks about being so horrendous... I didn't want that! I had energy still, but was sure this was going to take a few more hours and I doubted I'd have energy left come the pushing part... So I decided to go for it and she made the call. I got out of the tub and headed back to my room.
Another nurse came in to my room and started giving me this awesome pep-talk about how far I'd made it already and that she thought I could do it! Really?!? I started to consider it... Then my original nurse informed me she had already made the call. Crap. I looked up to see a man standing in the doorway of my room. He had a bandana on his head and his arms were crossed. The slightly annoyed look on his face seemed to indicate that he was NOT going to come back - this is your chance, preggo, or you're on your own. Disappointedly, and under pressure, I said let's do it.
I must admit, sitting PERFECTLY still during excruciating contractions is not my cup of tea.
Then it was done, pain medication started and I was told it would take affect within a few contractions. Everyone left, except the nurse. She stayed to check how I was progressing and discovered I needed to get pushing!!
I kid you not, the epi didn't have time to fully take effect before Jonathan was even born.
The nurse called for the doctor and began scurrying around prepping the room for delivery. It was 10:50am. I was in disbelief. What happened to my 12 hour day I was planning? What if I wasn't exactly ready to become a mom?? Why are these people so convinced a baby was going to be arriving soon??!!?
In hindsight, the timing of the epidural was perfect - it took the edge off the pain of delivery but I still had feeling so I knew where/how to push. My nurse coached me through pushing (which is quite exhausting, really) and things - well, the baby, I guess - were moving along rather quickly. The doctor started to direct me on what to do but all I could think about what taking a little break. What's the darn rush about? It's only quarter after eleven!!
At 11:16am, Jonathan emerged from his mother and into this world.
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