OKAY SO EVERYONE HAS BEEN ASKING HOW MY LABOR AND DELIVERY WAS...SO HERE IT GOES!
On Wednesday Sept. 2nd I was having braxton hicks every 5 min. I didn't think any thing of it, it was just a little uncomfortable. That day I went to the doctor at 4:00 p.m. and she said I would not go into labor because my cervix was too thick. I was bummed so Phil and I went out for pizza and ice cream. I decided that I ate way too much, so we went for a super long walk. During the walk, around 7:00 p.m. I stopped and looked at Phil and said, "I think I am having a contraction!". He laughed and we continued walking. I stopped a few more times during the walk in pain. When we got home I relaxed on the couch with my feet up...being a good pregnant lady:) I took a bath and went up to bed around 9:00. I was still having pain but nothing consistent. At 10:00 p.m. I woke up in pain that was coming and going. The pain that I felt was only in my back. I woke up Phil and we started timing them. The contractions were about 3 min. apart. I called my Midwife and she said to wait to come in until I could no longer walk or talk through the contraction. At this point I was excited and began walking around the house to speed things up. I was becoming more uncomfortable so I used my birthing ball to soothe the pain (which did NOT work). After an hour I was bent over in pain, no longer talking or walking, just moaning through the pain. The contractions were 2 min. apart lasting 60 seconds, and again I only felt pain in my back. Phil and I decided to head to the hospital after Phil made lesson plans and called a sub for his class. Once we got to the hospital they checked me and I was only 2 cm. I thought okay I can do this, so we walked around the hospital for 2 hours (I thought I was going to die because of the pain, again it was only in my back). When I went back to triage, I didn't progress much so they sent me home! I was a little upset with the nurse for telling me that labor was mostly mental...WHAT! Was HE crazy, he had never been through it. At that point I am pretty sure I said some mean things and we left. When we got home at 2:00 a.m. I decided to take a bath. I wanted an all natural birth, so I calmed myself down, and realized that I could handle the pain. The bath helped for like 10 min. Philip and I decided to TRY to get some sleep. He slept I did not! I walked through the pain, I used my birthing ball, I changed positions. Nothing was helping the pain and it was becoming a lot worse. I began timing the contractions again and they were 1 1/2 min. apart lasting 60 seconds. I was getting no relief. I woke Phil up and said okay lets go back to the hospital. At this time it was 7:00 a.m. I was in labor for 12 hours already. Once we got to triage I was checked and was 4 cm. YAY. I was making progress. I called my doula and she was on her way. While waiting in triage the nurse told me I was contracting beautifully. She told me I was getting no relief. I was super tired and needed something. I needed a break, I was getting only 30 seconds in between each contraction. I asked for something, anything. They gave me staydol and I have never felt more loopy. I felt like I just drank a bottle of vodka. Unfortunately I was still able to feel the contractions but it took the edge off. After this wore off my pain shot through the roof. I was crying and telling Phil that I couldn't do it. I was BEGGING for the epidural. I was just too tired and in too much pain. After discussing it with Phil we asked for it. They were unable to give it to me right away so I had to wait 4 more hours. I was in labor 16 hours before I got the epidural. The epidural helped me to relax. I was unable to sleep because I still felt pain, pain I could handle, but it was uncomfortable. I asked the nurse why I was still able to feel some pain and she said maybe I needed another epi. I said no, I figured I was okay. Around 4:30 I was feeling pressure, like a bowling ball was about to shoot through my you know what. My midwife came in and she told me I was 10 cm and I was ready to push. I labored down for a little while and then began practice pushing. Mind you I was in a ton of pain. I changed many positions while pushing. Squatting was my favorite. I was more comfortable and it felt natural. At that point I was thankful my epi was not working and I wasn't numb so I could squat. I remember Phil comforting me. I remember hearing the nurse counting, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. Breathe. Push. For 2 1/2 hours! I knew something was wrong when they gave me oxygen and I heard bells dinging. I prayed for the baby to be safe and I prayed to get him out. After a few comforting words from my mother-in-law and my doula and a lot of praying from me, I was able to push him out. I thought for sure he was never going to come :) At 7:20 p.m. September 3rd, my precious angel was born. I was unable to hold him because there was meconium in my water, he had the umbilical cord wrapped around his neck twice and he needed to be watched by NICU (in my room). Around 8:00 p.m. Philip handed Max to me and I was more in love then I have ever been. Had you asked me a week after delivery if I would have another I would have gladly answered NO! But today I hope Phil and I can create another beautiful life...in like 5 years of course!
Here are more pictures from the birth of Max. Look at Phil's face when I finally pushed Max out...it still brings tears to my eyes!
I wanted a natural birth. Even though I received the epidural I feel like it didn't work like it was supposed to. So in a way I think I got the best of both worlds. I know what labor feels like, I know what pushing feels like, I know what the ring of fire feels like. I know what the epidural feels like...sort of, I was never so numb I couldn't walk. Although I didn't follow my birth plan 100% I ended up with a gorgeous healthy boy and that is all I really cared about in the end.
