Saturday, May 5, 2012
Saturday morning, after getting out of the shower, I started having stronger contractions than normal. Freaking out this may be the real thing I finished packing my bag and made Tristan do some chores so we could be ready if the time came. The contractions slowed and went back to the regular braxton hicks I have been having all along. Tristan kept asking me if it was time to go to the hospital and my answer was repeatedly, "No". We went to lunch and enjoyed Cinco de Mayo uneventfully.
Monday, May 7, 2012
I woke up Monday morning feeling not so great. I was hoping baby would come over the weekend so I wouldn't have to go to work Monday and I was bummed and a bit disappointed I actually had to go. I worked a full day, nine hours. I was pretty tired and uncomfortable but made it through knowing I would be seeing Dr. Holmes in the morning to get my membranes stripped. When patients asked when my baby was due my answer all day was short and sweet, "Tomorrow". The answer brought on some surprised faces but I was really hoping it would come true. My parents were planning on driving up Thursday but Monday afternoon my mom called announcing she just booked a flight and was coming tomorrow. Perfect timing, I thought. Monday evening was the usual. Dinner and laid on the couch. When it came time to go to bed I was tired but not sleepy. I straightened the house, did the dishes, and even dusted. Tristan and I laid in bed trying to go to sleep with no successes. I
blogged, ranting about how over pregnancy I was feeling, and posted it right before midnight.
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
12:30am
Tristan and I laid in bed talking, restless, wondering what might happen at the mornings doctors appointment. Tristan said, "I can't wait for this whole thing to just be over." Literally, the second he said "over" I felt a "pop" down there and then a small gush. I yelled, "Oh goodness...I think...oh crap..." and ran to the bathroom. I sat on the toilet for about 10 min and came to the conclusion my water broke. I called my parents to let them know what just happened, labor was starting. I didn't really know what to do because I wasn't having strong or painful contractions but I was starting to get shaky, I was very nervous. We called Dr. Holmes, obviously waking him, to ask him what we should do. Out of all the possibilities I did not imagine my water breaking. Dr. Holmes said we could either go to the hospital now and they can hook me up to all the monitors or I could wait a couple hours and then head to the hospital. I did not want to sit at the hospital for hours, especially if I wasn't in pain. So I jumped in the shower, did all last minute packing, tidied up the house and sat around for a bit waiting for the contractions to get stronger. We were using an app on my phone to count and time the contractions. Contractions were not what I imagined. They were not sharp shooting pain like I anticipated but felt like a menstrual cramp that came and went involving my low back and pelvic region. Once contractions were coming about 5-7 minutes apart I decided we should head to the hospital before things got out of control. I didn't want to be one of those ladies in the movies being wheeled into the hospital screaming. I still felt really calm, ready to meet my baby soon.
2:30am
We got in the car and drove the 2 miles down the hill to the hospital. Our labor drill came in handy. We scored front row parking and knew right where to go. We walked in the labor & delivery/after hours door and were met by a security man at the desk. He asked how he could help us and I said we're were headed to the 5th floor. He stood up, peered over his desk, acknowledged the 39 week belly and said, "Oh yep, you guys are good to go," letting us board the elevator.
Outside the labor and delivery doors I picked up the phone and answered the nurse saying, "Hi! I'm in labor." That sounded weird coming out of my mouth. We met her at the front desk to completed quick paperwork and she then took us to our room.
In the labor and delivery room. Last pregnant belly photo.
In the gown...
Once I got changed Holly, the nurse, came in. She was AWESOME. She was easy to talk to and joked with me and Tris. She checked my cervix and determined I was dilated to 5cm and fully effaced. She also did a pH strip test to determine that indeed my water had broke. She strapped the two monitors on my belly. One for contractions and one for the baby's heart rate. She called Dr. Holmes and he wanted to get me started on pitocin. It was a slow night on the floor. The nurses said we were the only ones that had come in for a while. It was perfect because we got extra attention and everyone was able to take their time in the room and talk with us.
3:30am
The contractions were beginning to become stronger. Pain was a 5 on the 10 point scale. Still less painful than running a marathon. I knew with the pitocin coming things were going to start getting crazy, and at that hour I didn't want to experience intense pain. I called for my epidural. The anesthesiologist was asleep in a room down the hallway and was in my room in a couple minutes prepping the injection. I was not nervous for the injection (probably because I see them every day) and he did a fantastic job. The pitocin and epidural were started at the exact same time. I felt like I was ducking out early because I never really experienced the dreaded intense pain of labor but it was nice. I was starving but not allowed to eat the snacks I brought so Tristan fed me flavored ice. Yummy. Holly turned off the lights and Tristan and I sat in peace, talking, and were able to sleep for a bit. I was nervous but still felt calm.
Tristan, sitting, waiting.
5:30am
Two hours later I was fully dilated to 10cm. I always dreaded sitting in the hospital for hours and was glad that things progressed so quickly being a first timer. From water breaking to fully dilated was five hours and at that point we had only been in the hospital for three hours. Holly called Dr. Holmes to let him know and he wanted me to "rest and descend" for an hour. The most ingenious thinking, once you are fully dilated you rest and let your body do the work while contracting slowing moving the baby down the birth canal without having to do so much pushing.
Watching the giant contractions.
6:00am
At the nurse change we sadly said goodbye to Holly and met our new nurse, Emily. Emily was equally as awesome and made my birthing experience perfect.
6:45am
After an hour of "rest and descend" Dr. Holmes arrived. When he checked my progress he could see baby's hair. They asked me if I wanted to use a mirror and I said yes please. It was awesome to see the progress I made with each push and everything else going on. Come time to push my epidural had begun to wear off enabling me to move my ankles and feet and have some control over my legs. I could feel when I needed to push but was not in pain. I always imagined a birth being very chaotic with bright lights, screaming, and people running in and out of the room but mine was quite the opposite. The room was dim with the overhead lights off and only two birthing lights on. It was quiet and calm. Only Dr. Holmes and nurse Emily were there with me and Tristan. I felt calm and peaceful, no longer nervous. With Tristan standing to my left I pushed for about 40 minutes seeing more and more of baby with each contraction. Soon his head appeared followed by the rest of his body.
7:24am
Callen Michael Perdue was born. 7 pounds 14 ounces and 20 inches long. Tristan cut the umbilical cord spraying blood everywhere. Immediately after they placed him on my chest. He was looking at me, straight in the eyes and wrapped his little hand around my finger. A moment I will never forget.
After a few minutes of bonding they weighed and measured him. While they were checking him out Tristan was standing right by him. The nurse asked if we decided on a name. Tristan looked at me and said Callen. Until that point we were divided between Callen and Cameron.
Tristan holding Callen for the first time.
Ten fingers, ten toes, he is perfect. And we love him SO SO much. Callen completes our family.
I finally understand why people have children over again. It was the most amazing experience of my life. Thank you, Heavenly Father, for sending us this perfect spirit.
