My Birth Story

So on July 7th Brandon and I got ready for the day just thinking it was going to be an ordinary day. We had plans to go to my doctors appointment and then afterwards go grocery shopping because we had like no food. So we went in to the doctors and were really excited to get the ultrasound and see our little boy again! We got to the doctors office and the ultrasound tech said that he looked healthy and that he was about 6 lbs 9 ounces but that that is probably heavier than what he really was. He also said that my fluid levels seemed a little low. So Brandon and I then went into get checked by my doctor. When my doctor came in she told us that my fluid levels were pretty low. Normally there is supposed to be around 10 centimeters of fluid and I was at 6.9 or something. So she then said that typically she likes to induce people at 38 weeks if their fluid levels are as low as mine. So Brandon and I were really taken by surprise with that. We were going to have our baby by the next week. She then checked me and I was 1 cm dilated and about 50% effaced. She told us that we had to go in for a non-stress test 2 times a week and that one of the receptionists would call us with our induce date and time later. So we went home and were pretty much freaking out. We could not believe that we were going to have our baby in a week. (little did we know) We got home and ate lunch while we called our parents and told them the news! Afterwards we decided to just go get the non-stress test done with at the hospital and then go grocery shopping. So we headed to the hospital and got signed in and hooked up to the monitors to see how our little guy was doing. During the test I started having some contractions that were really hurting just because I was laying down and our little boy was smashing my ribs! I thought my rib was going to snap! I thought that the monitors were just simulating contractions to see how the baby dealt with it but the nurse told us that I was really having contractions and they were about 5 minutes apart. The bad news was that when I had contractions our little boys heart rate was dipping kind of low! So the nurse told us that she was going to go call our Doctor and ask her what she wanted to do and that there was a 50/50 chance that we were not going home! She left and called our Doctor. Next thing we know our Doctor came in the room! (Not a good sign) She told us that with his heart rate dropping that he was not cushioned enough with fluid so his cord was probably getting compressed with each contraction. She then said that she was going to go ahead and induce me that night. She said that it would be better than waiting a week and letting it get worse. If we did that then there was a chance of having to have an emergency C-section. So that was it, we were having our baby by the next day. She left and the nurse gave me my gown to change into and then they started on my IV's. The IV was not bad at all. Although they had to do it twice because it started puddling up in my right arm so she did it in my left it still was not bad at all. So after that Brandon left to go get bags packed and to call our families and let them know that news. It was a pretty emotional time. I started bawling once our doctor told us what was going to happen. She said that our baby would be fine and that there should not be any problems and that we should be able to take him home when we leave. Although it was good news it was still scary! Brandon left once I was situated in my room and I watched some T.V until he got back. I was finally able to eat some dinner at about 5 and after dinner they started me on cytotek (or however you spell that). Then at 10:40 they put me on pitocin! My mom and sister Tifany with her boyfriend Chris showed up at 2 in the morning and after chatting for a bit Tif and Chris left to go get some sleep. My mom stayed and helped me and Brandon out. Then at 6:45 in the morning they took my off of pitocin (I was still only dilated to a 2) to see how my contractions went on my own. I might also add that my contractions were hurting but I could handle it with some controlled breathing and trying to focus of relaxing. Along with help from Brandon pushing on my back and my mom massaging me a bit. Then at 8:22 my Doctor showed up and broke my water. Once my water was broken my contractions were definitely harder. They were about 3 minutes apart and when I would have one I would just have to close my eyes and try to breath through it. I was so worn out from being up all night with contractions and not being able to eat since 5 the day before that I was really weak. So I thought that I was ready to have an epidural. Also I had no clue how much longer my labor was going to last and I did not think I could make it 7 more hours or so with the hard contractions I was having and with them getting harder. So I decided to get my epidural! The anesthesiologist came in and got me all ready and with my luck had to poke me 3 times! Each time he went in and told me that I would feel pressure I felt a bad twinge of pain in my back on the left. So After the 2nd time of him poking me and feeling this pain while dealing with difficult contractions I was about ready to call it quits with the epidural and just go naturally. However, he finally got it in after the 3rd try and I had my epidural. Which I then felt like I was going to be sick the entire time of having the epidural. So I Sat there with a cup to throw up in and got a little nap in. The next time they checked me I was at a 5. About an hour later or so at 1:11 I was dilated to an 8-9! So I was finally coming to the home stretch of this labor and I could not wait for it to all be over. Then of coarse when it was about time to push my contractions spread out to 5 minutes apart and they had to up the pitocin again. When it came time to push I only had to push for about a half hour. so by 3:48 I had my little boy. I had to have a little episiotomy but that is okay. I was glad that I could feel the top of my contractions when it was time to push because I had a point to focus on with my pushing which made it easier. It was a lot of work but it was nice to be done. They put him on me when he was out and he really only whimpered he had a very pathetic sounding cry. But, that has changed haha! So overall it was a crazy experience. I was SOOO hungry afterwards that I just wanted to eat! So everyone else held our little guy while I got food and something to drink into me. Next time I don't think that I will be getting an epidural. I really think that I might be able to do it naturally and with the bad experience with my epidural that is the last thing that I want to do with my next one! Anyways that is the story sorry it took so long!