Now that you’ve read how much fun I had during my pregnancy I want to share with you just how exciting the labor and birth went.
After the traumatic experience at the specialest, and the results came back that Nolan wasn’t quite ready to come out they gave me two weeks to let his lungs get stronger and then after another couple of tests would make the decision to induce me.
I was excited, to say the least. I had waited so long for this moment to come. After everything I went through with my pregnancy what could possibly go wrong, right? So wrong!
It was December 16th, and I was due at the hospital at 3 pm. My sister-in-law, Misti, decided to drive me due to my husband being at work until 5 o’clock in the morning. We were driving, on our way to Starbucks because, you know, you can’t go into labor without your last coffee! As she went to exit three cars in front of us decided to slam on their breaks. Thanks to Misti’s witty, yet quick thinking she decided it wasn’t best to just slam on her breaks, therefore, she swerved into the shoulder and just keep driving until an opening appeared. This was the most excitement I had until the second Nolan arrived. It’s sad to think that this is one of my fondest memories when it comes to my induction.
We got our coffee, I chugged mine since you aren’t allowed anything to eat or drink while in labor. They checked me in; I loved my day nurse the first day. Her name was Erica and was also pregnant at the time. But the night shift ended up coming way too soon. By the time dayshift left and night shift began I had already had my admission process complete and was ready to get my Cervidil to help the induction go smoother.
The night went on, I ended up having a nurse that seemed to make it her life goal to make me feel like I was the most annoying child she had ever meet. I was always told to get my epidural as soon as they would let me and that’s what I did. I got my epidural at about 3 cm. My entire room was full of family, family lining the room, sitting on the floor all laughing and talking about who knows what. I noticed that my epidural wasn’t quite working the way I thought or read it should. Yes, it took my contractions away but as for my legs and vagina, I had full control. Something I knew wasn’t going to end well. I let the nurse know, and she assured me that everything was ok. I believed her. Around 3 am my favorite nurse came back in to take out my Cervidil due to my contractions coming too fast and too close together. I was already dilated to a 6. Not bad eh, or at least I thought. Except for the fact, nothing happened after that.
Nightshift ended (thank God) I had been up all night, and my “nice” dayshift nurse was back.
It wasn’t until later that morning when given Pitocin that I started to dilate again, and before I knew it the nurse came in and said ok push. I remember saying “wait, what? It’s time? Ummm, ok, let’s do this”. It was time; I was about to meet my baby that has put me through hell. And I couldn’t wait! Or so I thought.
My husband, on the other hand, wasn’t so ready. I mean I knew he got wheezy when around blood but he couldn’t even handle one push. He almost passed out and was shortly after sent out into the hallway to wait. (Not such a great start).
Pushing for a first time mom doesn’t come easy. You can think you’re ready and have prepared for everything and yet it still takes time. At least for most first time moms. I ended up pushing for 1.5 hours, a very long 1.5 hours. It was time for him to show his face when the pain started to show it’s ugly little face. Remember me telling the nurse I could feel everything, yeah, that feeling was still there, and my doctor couldn’t have cared less. Nolan made his arrival, a beautiful 6lbs 14 oz and 19 3/4 inches long. But on his way out he decided to leave me a big surprise. “He ripped you,” the doctor said as she started to stitch me up. “It’s like I’m doing plastic sugary down here” the doctor said. During all this I was screaming my head off. I could feel everything, EVERYTHING! I believe her words were “you have an epidural, stop moving and suck it up” she wouldn’t even give me a local. I needed 28 stitches. 28. What kind of doctor counts her stitches and tells you? After the worst pain of my life was over, the memories left it’s mark I was ready to hold my precious baby.
It was finally over. My baby was precious and all the pain and misery was all worth it. Every last second and I would do it all over again in a heart beat.
On a completely different side note, the doctor I had is no longer in business and had charges filed against her (not by me) for patient negligence and a stack of other infractions.
Make sure to come back for some more birth stories during this week of birth on Erica’s Walk!
