I've been walking a lot lately, because it helps get the baby into position, ready for birth. On Thursday, December 6th I took Karis to the park. Around 2pm I was bouncing with her on some playground equipment, and I felt a strange gush of fluid (sorry if that's TMI, but I want to record the details). After an uncomfortable walk home, I discovered that I lost my mucus plug. About an hour later, I began having regular contractions about 20 minutes apart. By 7pm they were 10 minutes apart, so we called Michael's parents to come pick up Karis.
I fell asleep for about 2 hours and woke up to pretty severe pain. Then, Michael and I spent a few hours trying to catch up on our shows. This was good distraction. By Friday morning, December 7th, at 5am, I said, "I can't take this anymore, we're going to the hospital. Let's go!"
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| Elevator Ride to L&D - I was being silly and sticking out my belly. |
When we arrived, the contractions were still 5-10 minutes apart. I didn't want to check in, because I was already SO uncomfortable. I didn't want to be strapped to machines. It was a little after 6am when the contractions became so severe that I was crying. I walked to the nurses station and the lady on duty looked at me puzzled, "Why are you here?" I responded, "I'm having a baby, and go ahead and get that epidural ready." She was confused because they rarely have unscheduled deliveries.
My dilation was checked in the Labor and Deliver triage. I was at 5 cm. Again, I reminded the nurse, "I need epidural." It took forever to hook up my IV. I was so aggravated. Each contraction was more intense. By 7am I was in so much pain that I was throwing up and passing out. Michael held me up and comforted me through this terrible pain. I was screaming things like, "Where's my epidural? Come help me! Why aren't you coming? Nobody cares!" The nurse said they were getting my room ready.
Finally, they decided to administer the epidural in the triage room. Right as the anesthesiologist was coming through the door, I could feel Judah coming out. The nurse had me get into the bed. I looked at her with the saddest eyes and asked, "I'm not getting an epidural am I?" She just shook her head, "no." Then I screamed, "God no! Somebody just shoot me!" I was rushed down the hallway to the operating room (because there were no labor and delivery rooms ready).
I find it ironic that I had my baby at Christmas time, because I felt like Mother Mary when there was no room for her in the Inn.
The contractions were less intense now, because I was ready to push. I didn't expect this part to be as easy as it was. It was seriously, no work for me. My body just pushed Judah out with each contraction. After the first push, the nurses tried to move me onto a better bed... there was a baby coming out of me, so that wasn't happening. I delivered my son on the triage table. Three more pushes later and he was out!
That was the happiest moment of my life, since the day I married Michael. (This might sound terrible. I should have felt this happy when Karis was born, but I had been in labor for 23 hours, and pushed for 2.5 hours.) That naked little baby was so cute! He nursed right away, and I felt so comfortable with him in my arms. Plus, I was relieved that it was all over.
My dilation was checked in the Labor and Deliver triage. I was at 5 cm. Again, I reminded the nurse, "I need epidural." It took forever to hook up my IV. I was so aggravated. Each contraction was more intense. By 7am I was in so much pain that I was throwing up and passing out. Michael held me up and comforted me through this terrible pain. I was screaming things like, "Where's my epidural? Come help me! Why aren't you coming? Nobody cares!" The nurse said they were getting my room ready.
Finally, they decided to administer the epidural in the triage room. Right as the anesthesiologist was coming through the door, I could feel Judah coming out. The nurse had me get into the bed. I looked at her with the saddest eyes and asked, "I'm not getting an epidural am I?" She just shook her head, "no." Then I screamed, "God no! Somebody just shoot me!" I was rushed down the hallway to the operating room (because there were no labor and delivery rooms ready).
I find it ironic that I had my baby at Christmas time, because I felt like Mother Mary when there was no room for her in the Inn.
The contractions were less intense now, because I was ready to push. I didn't expect this part to be as easy as it was. It was seriously, no work for me. My body just pushed Judah out with each contraction. After the first push, the nurses tried to move me onto a better bed... there was a baby coming out of me, so that wasn't happening. I delivered my son on the triage table. Three more pushes later and he was out!
That was the happiest moment of my life, since the day I married Michael. (This might sound terrible. I should have felt this happy when Karis was born, but I had been in labor for 23 hours, and pushed for 2.5 hours.) That naked little baby was so cute! He nursed right away, and I felt so comfortable with him in my arms. Plus, I was relieved that it was all over.
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| Here he is! Judah Michael December 7, 2012 @ 7:15 am 7 lbs. 14 oz. 20 1/2 inches long |
Michael went with the nurses to clean Judah and do all that junk. Then, my doctor walked through the door. "What happened!?" she said. Judah came before she could get to the hospital.
All cleaned up and FINALLY in a room, Michael and I were enjoying our newborn son. I asked Michael, "So, did my water break?" There were lots of things about that traumatic morning that I could not remember. He said, "Yes, when Judah started coming out, your bag of waters was still in tact. The nurse used the hemostat to help it break."
We enjoyed cuddling with our new son and showing him off to visitors. After one day in the hospital, we were ready to get home to Judah's big sister Karis. I love my family of four!
All cleaned up and FINALLY in a room, Michael and I were enjoying our newborn son. I asked Michael, "So, did my water break?" There were lots of things about that traumatic morning that I could not remember. He said, "Yes, when Judah started coming out, your bag of waters was still in tact. The nurse used the hemostat to help it break."
We enjoyed cuddling with our new son and showing him off to visitors. After one day in the hospital, we were ready to get home to Judah's big sister Karis. I love my family of four!
