On Thuraday 11-3-11 i had my 38 wk appt. All looked great on our weekly bio physical profile ultrasound and then we got to the fun stuff, you know the cervical check and discussing induction.
Dr. H. checked me and told me i was 3-4 centimeters dilated and greater than 50% effacced. He wouldnt tell me the exact number due to me being so thin and him knowing i was not going to make it to my goal date of 11-11-11. I came back home to my couch o' bedrest and relaxed the best i could. I had a million things going on in my head i needed to do before my scheduled induction 8 days later.
I started to notice some contractions about 4:30 that would get my attention but i was able to still go about my daily things. They were about 8-12 minutes apart and lasting about 20-30 seconds. I took a dose of tylenol, drank 2 more bottles of water and took a nap like my co-workers would tell me to do if i called about the contractions.
About 7:15 i notice the contraction have gotten closer coming now 8-10 mins apart and lasting about 30 seconds. I get Hope ready for bed and then take a warm bath and go to bed to wait on Jordan to come home. About 9:30 i notice the contractions are getting a little stronger but still about 8-10 min apart and lasting about 30 seconds.
Jordan gets home about 11 and i take some tylenol pm and try to rest as best i can through the contractions. He comes to bed at about 12:30 and almost the exact time he lays down i have my 1st contraction that takes my breath away and makes me jump out of bed, lean over the side of my bed and sway from side to side through the pain.
I figure i will try another warm bath and pull out my offical contraction timing app and time them. I lay in the tub for about 45 min and time my contractions. At this point they are 2 1/2-3 min apart and lasting about 45 seconds. I get out of the tub to tell Jordan its time to go to the hospital and call my mom to come watch Hope, I now have a overwhelming amount of rectal pressure. I lean over the bed, couch, and sink and sway from side to side waiting on my mom to arrive and stay with Hope.
We arrive at the hospital at 1:42 am and am whisked right away to a room and checked. I am now 4-5 centimeters dilated and in active labor. I turn into avhorrible patient at this time as all i want to do is get a epidural or pain meds of some sort, set on the potty to reduce the pressure and get some pain control. The nurses rush to get my iv started, call out anesthesia, and notify the doctor. Im allowed up again to the bathroom at about 2:00 and the pressure is worse now than its ever been. The nurses get me to go back to bed and check me again at about 2:05 to discover im fully dilated. No time for a epidural, no iv pain meds as they will effect the baby after delivery. I begged every staff member who came in my room for some pain meds. I even told the nursery nurse to tell my nurse that the pedi wouldnt care and its ok if the baby doesnt breathe. I was CRAZY talking through all the pain.
The doctor on call that night Dr. T.C.came out to my delivery and was a stern coach to get me to deliver Glenn. I had a great group of nurses and tech who cheered me on and were by my side from the time i arrived until i was all tucked away after delivery. I dont remember ever feeling the ring of fire most women complain about, i remember alot of pain from all the pressure and not wanting to push because it made the pain/pressure worse. I begged the doctor to use the vacuum and cut an episotomy to get Glenn out because i just couldnt do it. He did end up cutting but i dont remember feeling it, we didnt need the vacuum.
This is not how i pictured my delivery. I was expecting a short, sweet induction on 11-11-11 that would include an epidural, my doctor and the same nurse who was at my birth 27yrs ago and then was at Hope's delivery. If it wasnt for the staff and doctor that early friday morning i dont know how i would have ever accomplished this delivery.
At 2:27 am on 11-4-11 i gave birth to Glenn Michael R. weighing in at 6# 14.6 oz and 20.5 inches long. Our family is complete now and over the moon happy. This little guy has already filled our lives with so much joy,love and happiness. He is only 9 days old but i dont remeber what life was like without him.
