Jack's Birth Story

On Wednesday, December 23, I arrived at the hospital a bit before 9 and anxiously waited. I was brought back to a delivery room and saw the nurse for the first time around 9:30am. The Pitocin was started and I saw the doctor a little after 10. He checked me and I was 2.25 centimeters dilated. He broke my water at that time. Jack's dad, Sidney, was there as well as 2 girlfriends of mine, Deanna and Theresa. I was in labor for about 4 hours when the girls went to get lunch. My contractions got a lot stronger and closer together. the nurse came in to check me and I was close to 4 centimeters dilated. She said that it would get a lot worse and that it could be another 6 hours to get to 10 centimeters! I was doing ok and could go longer, but 6 hours?? The contractions were taking a lot out of me and I was afraid I wouldn't have the energy to push when it came time. And because I had been induced and was hooked up to monitors and an IV, I wasn't able to use the tub like I had planned and none of the positions I tried out were working. I asked about getting something other than an epidural but my only option was a drug administered via my IV that would make both me and baby drowsy. His cry wouldn't be as strong at birth and I definitely didn't want that. So I gave in to the epidural.

I was nervous to get the epidural but actually it wasn't bad. I had made the decision to get it and it was already in and working by the time my friends got back from lunch. I'm glad I decided to get it.

I don't remember the time, but I went from 5 centimeters to 8 pretty quickly, then it stalled a bit getting to 10. I think it was between 7:30 and 8 when it was time to start pushing. I expected pushing to be easier. I've heard it feels good to push because your body wants to, but it was exhausting and uncomfortable during the first 20-30 minutes. Then I developed a fever so the nurse had to give me medicine to bring it down. While it worked, I had to stop pushing. I was feeling the contractions and the urge to push despite the epidural, and it was extremely painful to not push. At one point I started crying pretty hard because it was getting painful and very difficult to get through. I had to go for about 25 minutes without pushing. Finally I was able to start pushing again, and this time it was a huge relief. It was getting a lot more intense and I needed to push. I wanted to get it over with, so I really tried to push as hard as I could with each contraction. The doctor came in at one time and when he didn't leave, I knew it was getting close. Sidney and Deanna were holding my legs and could see the head and they were tearing up. I told them they weren't allowed to cry because I would cry and I needed to focus on pushing. Finally the doc said that he would come out with the next contraction. It was all a bit surreal. I felt the head come out and then the rest of him. It is seriously the weirdest thing that I have ever felt. Before I knew it he was out and on my chest. My friend had to tell me to open my eyes and look down. The doctor did say that I was a good pusher and I think I actively pushed for an hour to hour and 1/2. That doesn't include the 25 min. break I had to take.

They quickly took him away to clean and check him while the doctor finished with me. It all happened so fast and it didn't seem real. After much anticipation, I finally got to hold my baby boy and I cried. It's a very intense and emotional experience and not what I expected. You cannot possibly begin to understand what it's like by reading a book or hearing other stories. You have to go through it to truly know.

The hospital stay was overwhelming. I got maybe 2 hours of sleep during the 2 days I was there. I was eager to go home but also nervous. We were released on Christmas morning and home by noon. The first day at home was ok but the second day was much better. He's been sleeping for longer periods and nursing well. I'm just trying to take each day as it comes and enjoy this time at home with him. I can't stop staring at him, kissing him, and snuggling up to him. He's so little and precious and I love him so much!