It's time for another memory lane post. This time about Daniel's birth. It's been a long time since I've written about it, but I was a lot more coherent during his birth than James'. Sorry if you've heard me recount this many times before.
November 21st came and went 9 years ago with only a few Braxton Hicks contractions. I knew within a weeks time I would have him because my doctor said she wasn't going to let me go over 41 weeks. I went to my final appointment on the 22nd, and she said she could induce me the following morning (the day before Thanksgiving) or we could wait until after the weekend if he hadn't shown up on his own yet.
Knowing my own doctor was on call all day on the 23rd, and that my parents would be able to come see him for Thanksgiving, I opted for an induction on the 23rd. I had to be at the hospital at 6:30 am. I was an emotional wreck that night. I was excited and terrified. Excited to become a mom. Terrified of giving birth.
I couldn't believe it when the nurse showed us to my delivery room. It was the exact room we had seen when we toured the hospital a couple of months before and it's the room I always pictured in my mind when I thought of having him.
There was a lot going on that morning, so I changed into my hospital gown and just chilled until about 8:30 when they finally came in and got the pitocin going in my IV. Not much happened until my doctor came in at 10:30 and offered to break my water. Sure. How bad can that be? Well...she then asked if the resident could break it? It's a learning hospital, so I'm game. HOLY HECK. It wasn't pleasant...and after a few unsuccessful attempts my OB stepped in.
Once my water was broken I started having contractions. They were painful, but not awful. I was still on the fence about getting an epidural. A nurse came in at about 11:30 to ask if I wanted one. I told her I wasn't sure yet and she told me I should probably decide because there were a bunch of women in labor and they might not get to me if I wait too long.
In the end I opted for one. My biggest worry was how it would work with my scoliosis. I had the epidural placed. It was uncomfortable, but tolerable. Then I waited for the magic to kick in. I waited. And waited. And waited some more. When the nurse came back I told her I could still feel everything. She told me it was normal to feel the squeezes of the contractions. I was like, "No. I am not numb at all, and it feels like I'm being stabbed." She confirmed the the epi had failed and called another anesthesiologist in. This one really hurt going in. The nurse held my hand as a swore under my breath.
Then I waited...and waited. They asked me if it was working. I told them my toes were tingling, but I could still feel everything. While I was waiting for the anesthesiologist to come back, the contractions were getting stronger. One of the med students came in to inform me that, "The race is on! There's 8 of you in labor right now! Oh, and you're having some really strong contractions!" Dude...ya think!?
They were able to fix the second epidural and then there was sweet relief. Around 3:30-4, I called the nurse in because I was feeling a little different. The last time they had checked I was around 7cm She checked me and I was at a 10!
They paged my doctor, and told me not to push. I mean...I was numb and didn't know what I was doing, but I was going to try! She was at the other hospital delivering a baby, and my body was content to just chill. Daniel's and my stats were great, so we just waited.
She arrived at 4:30 and the push party began. Literally. There were at least 2 nurses, my doctor and a couple med students. Pushing was my favorite part. I know that sounds weird, but since there was no pain, just pressure, it didn't bother me. My doctor was cracking jokes, and I was joining it between pushes. At one point I said I was starving and wanted a cheeseburger. She told me, "You push this little guy out, and we'll get you a cheeseburger!"
5:46pm, Daniel was born. I remember the first cries. And they let me hold him and do skin to skin the whole time that they worked on me. I just couldn't get over how perfect he was. We did A LOT of bonding that night because he didn't think sleep was needed...but hey, I did get that cheeseburger, along with fries and an apple pie.
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