So, taking care of an infant is a lot of work.
Shocking, right?!
I really thought in between feeding and changing I would have some time to myself during the napping.
I was wrong.
At least for now.
So I will do my best to keep the blog a float, but I have a feeling my posts are going to be much fewer for the rest of the summer!
My water broke at about 11:30pm
I was in my hospital room at 12:30am
I delivered at 5:20am
I am glad it went fast, but it definitely wasn’t what I had expected.
I suppose I should start from the beginning.
I tried to write the short of it, but it ended up being really long.
So, here is the long of it.
Our Birth Story
It’s Thursday night, Steve and I had just gotten home from
dinner and trivia at the local Pub with my family.
dinner and trivia at the local Pub with my family.
I was working on a drawing
that I wanted to get done for a while. ( Post on that later)
that I wanted to get done for a while. ( Post on that later)
While I am cleaning up, I realize Bentley had peed all over the basement floor .
I got some paper towels and bent
down to clean it up when I heard a pop.
down to clean it up when I heard a pop.
I assumed it was my hip….and you know what they say about assuming…
It makes an ass out of you and me, or it means you are about to give birth.
I stood
back up and like a child in the kiddy pool,the flood gates released.
back up and like a child in the kiddy pool,the flood gates released.
Naturally, I’m thinking I peed my pants ( because that happens so often?!)
In retrospect it really made more sense that it was my water breaking, but at the time that didn’t seem as likely.
I
head upstairs to where Steve is and tell him what happened.
head upstairs to where Steve is and tell him what happened.
I figured I had
a weak bladder from pregnancy or something.
a weak bladder from pregnancy or something.
As I am standing there though, I can feel
more water running down my leg, and I have absolutely no control over it.
more water running down my leg, and I have absolutely no control over it.
Steve pointed out that it was probably my water
and not pee.
and not pee.
Which made me feel better about myself, but I wasn’t sure if I believed him
because I always imagined it as more of a gush, like you see in the movies.
because I always imagined it as more of a gush, like you see in the movies.
We
call the Dr. and she tells us to head into the hospital and they will check
me out.
call the Dr. and she tells us to head into the hospital and they will check
me out.
When we get to the hospital they don’t bother checking me to see how
far along I am.
far along I am.
Since it’s my first baby they assured me I wouldn’t likely
be having it for another 12 hours or so.
be having it for another 12 hours or so.
(Oh how wrong they could be.)
They confirm my water had broke and
admit me.
admit me.
. We don’t bother calling everyone yet, since it’s late at night and the baby won’t be here till the next day some time anyway.
About an hour later I am finally out of Triage and in my
room when contractions start,but I don’t realize that is what they are.
room when contractions start,but I don’t realize that is what they are.
I just think I am anxious and uncomfortable.
(Apparently I have a much higher tolerance for pain than I previously thought)
Our nurse encourages us to call my friend Anna who is also our Doula and tell her to come to the hospital.
I try sitting on my Yoga Ball, it doesn’t help much.
So I get in the jetted
tub in my room hoping the water will give me some relief.
tub in my room hoping the water will give me some relief.
My contractions
continue and are happening pretty frequently, but no one seems to be
alarmed.
continue and are happening pretty frequently, but no one seems to be
alarmed.
At this point I am thinking, “Wow, this REALLY hurts and it’s only been a few hours. What are the next 10 hours going to be like?!”
So I tell the nurse I want to start my Epidural.
In order to do that though, I have to make my way back to the bed.
By now I can’t really have a whole
conversation with anyone to explain what is going on in my body!
conversation with anyone to explain what is going on in my body!
The contractions are taking my breath away and I feel like passing out.
Steve is coaching me through the contractions as I attempt to get up out of the tub, dry
off and make my way back to the bed.
off and make my way back to the bed.
Moving those 12 feet took me about 15-20
min because I have to keep stopping for contractions.
min because I have to keep stopping for contractions.
Still, no one is
alarmed… so Steve and I assume this is the normal course of labor and are glad I am about
to get drugs!
alarmed… so Steve and I assume this is the normal course of labor and are glad I am about
to get drugs!
Anna shows up and takes over coaching me.
I get into the bed and the next contraction makes me scream
out loud and curl up into a ball.
out loud and curl up into a ball.
The nurse is all ” Whoa, what
was that!? That sounded like more than a contraction!”
was that!? That sounded like more than a contraction!”
I’m all ” It
hurts! It hurts! Something is happening!!!!”
hurts! It hurts! Something is happening!!!!”
So, she checks me and Surprise, I am 9 cm and she can see
Clark’s head!
Clark’s head!
(Insert WTF moment right here.)
Now it is too late for me to get an epidural.
The nurse
says, if I can hold off pushing ( which is pretty much impossible, because my
body seems to have a mind of its own right now) they can get me the epidural but I need to finish my IV and then it
will take about 20 min for it all to kick in.
says, if I can hold off pushing ( which is pretty much impossible, because my
body seems to have a mind of its own right now) they can get me the epidural but I need to finish my IV and then it
will take about 20 min for it all to kick in.
OR
I can just start pushing
and “get it over with.”
and “get it over with.”
I am in as close to what I can describe as
“shock.”
“shock.”
Not only am I
dealing with contractions that I never planned on dealing with, now I am trying to mentally process what is about to happen and also trying to make a
sane decision.
dealing with contractions that I never planned on dealing with, now I am trying to mentally process what is about to happen and also trying to make a
sane decision.
I remember just laying there in absolute confusion looking at
Steve and then at the nurse and then at Steve
in a panic, not knowing what to do or say.
Steve and then at the nurse and then at Steve
in a panic, not knowing what to do or say.
Steve and Anna kept
telling me “ You can do this, just push, get him out, you will feel
better.”
telling me “ You can do this, just push, get him out, you will feel
better.”
I wanted to believe them but I
felt so confused.
felt so confused.
I had a really hard time deciding what I needed to do.
I
decided to push.
decided to push.
I really felt like I didn’t have another option.
Clark was coming and there was no way I could lay there and take more
contractions like the ones I was having and wait for my epidural.
contractions like the ones I was having and wait for my epidural.
I was so frustrated
though, because this wasn’t my original plan.
though, because this wasn’t my original plan.
This wasn’t how I had imagined it
going in my head.
going in my head.
They told me we would have hours before I delivered.
We
brought a movie to watch, I packed snacks, my mom was supposed to be there!!
brought a movie to watch, I packed snacks, my mom was supposed to be there!!
Now, I am minutes away from having a baby? Naturally? Right now?!
Pushing started, it was the worst pain I have ever felt and
I thought I was going to die.
I thought I was going to die.
I remember thinking, “ I wish they could just knock me out
so I don’t have to do this and wake me up when it’s over”
so I don’t have to do this and wake me up when it’s over”
I do not consider
myself a strong person, mentally or physically.
myself a strong person, mentally or physically.
I have a low pain tolerance.
( Although I have tattoos
and piercings somehow)
and piercings somehow)
I am not competitive.
( I am totes okay with throwing in the towel)
I can be insecure.
(I doubt myself a lot)
And lastly,
I am kinda lazy when I want to be
(I don’t like to do it if it’s really hard)
All of those traits definitely don’t scream, “ I ‘m ready to
push out this baby!”
push out this baby!”
( Also, I want my
Mom!!)
Mom!!)
After about 10-15 minutes
Clark is born at 5:20 am Friday
morning.
morning.
Exactly one week early.
Steve helped deliver him and cut the cord.
Clark didn’t
scream or cry, he just made a few noises and looked around.
scream or cry, he just made a few noises and looked around.
After they took him
over to the table to get wiped off, he rolled himself over and put his hand on
the side of the changing table and pushed himself up and lifted his head.
over to the table to get wiped off, he rolled himself over and put his hand on
the side of the changing table and pushed himself up and lifted his head.
As if
he wanted to look around the room and see what was going on.
he wanted to look around the room and see what was going on.
Everyone was
amazed by his strength!
amazed by his strength!
I felt so relieved to be done with the hardest thing I have ever done.
Then the Dr. tells me, “ Oh yeah, it’s not over yet, you need
to deliver the placenta”
to deliver the placenta”
Which took probably another 20 minutes and was also
pretty painful.
pretty painful.
No one tells you about that part.
They had to message my stomach and tug on the cord because it
didn’t just detach on it’s own like it normally does I guess.
didn’t just detach on it’s own like it normally does I guess.
Sorry if that’s all TMI.
You asked for it.
The happy grandmas
If I learned anything after two births, it's that labor is so crazy and unpredictable. And also? We CAN deliver our babies without the drugs. I had two failed epidurals and essentially delivered both of my babies naturally and crap – it's the hardest thing ever. But, at least I know I'm strong enough. Good job Mama! And that's so awesome that your labor was short like that!! It really is uncommon for the first to go quickly like that! Go YOU!
You are such an amazing woman! Love you
You are such an amazing woman! Love you
Great story, beautiful family. You. Rock.
Awesome birth story! I am shocked that at 9cm they would still offer you an epidural. Glad you decided to just go for it, and only 10-15 minutes of pushing? I am jealous! Clark is adorable, and you look gorgeous!
I love how you had an accidental natural birth! I thought I would use gas but at our old school hospital it's just a shitty gas tank on wheels with a huge plastic mask and I said "No Thank you!" to that. So, I feel your pain.
Wonderful story! Adorable son!