I had a feeling this would be our last chance to go out as a family of 4, so Michael, Karis, Judah, and I had a special evening. We enjoyed a spicy meal at Torchy's Tacos, then dessert at Hippo Ice, Karis and Judah's favorite dessert spot. Before heading home, I walked a few laps around the porch at Hippo Ice. There are a few things "they" say help bring on labor, and I tried 3 that night: spicy food, walking, you guess the third.
Saturday, August 22nd, 2015
5:40 a.m.
A contraction woke me up. I tried to get some more rest, but I couldn't lay in bed through the contractions, so I began walking around the house and timing the contractions. They decreased to 6 minutes apart pretty quickly.
6:45 a.m.
Michael woke up and asked, "Are you ok?" My reply: "Are you ready to have a baby today?" He called his mom, and she rushed over to hang out at our house until Karis and Judah woke up.
The Car Ride
On the way to the hospital, I called my midwife and gave her the update. We agreed to meet at the hospital at 8:00 am. We were driving from Wharton to The Pavillion for Women in Houston - an hour and 5 minute drive. Michael drove so fast! As usual I was totally fine between contractions, but pretty noisy during the pain. We were just a couple minutes from the hospital when I said, "Uh oh. I feel like I need to poop." I didn't really, but that's the feeling I get right before the baby comes out.
At the Hospital
Michael pulled into the valet area, and I didn't even wait for him. I exited the car, walked as fast as I could to the elevator, and pressed the button. I guess I held the elevator door for him. I had one really strong contraction in the elevator, and I was thankful that we were the only ones in there. At the check-in desk at triage, an officer asked us a bunch of questions, that I don't think I ever answered, because MY WATER BROKE! Right there on the floor! I panicked, because during Karis and Judah's labors, my water didn't break until I started pushing. I knew that Joy was coming NOW. I quit listening to the officer and walked straight to the triage room. A nurse helped me into a hospital gown and told me to get into bed. I told her, "no, I can't!" She said, "You have to so I can check you." I complied. She checked and informed me that we need to get to labor and delivery. (DUH! I wanted to go straight there, but the hospital requires women to go to triage first... DUMB!) A doctor came in to check me. I could see the urgency on her face as she said, "Ok we're going to take you to labor and delivery." I replied, "No! We're having the baby in here." We continued to argue, but I was wheeled to Labor and Delivery anyway... which was downstairs. Nurses pushed my bed as fast as they could, and this was the easiest part of my labor because the wind in my face felt good. Plus, they ran the bed into the wall and a nurse cursed. This made me laugh and feel proud that I wasn't the one cursing.
Delivery
I think I had just one strong contraction in the hallway. I screamed, "No No, I can't do this. I don't want to do this! Michael, what were we thinking!?" Once I was in a room, a doctor came in quickly to help me deliver my baby. There was no time for monitors or IV (yes!). Baby was coming out! Nurses tried to move me from the triage bed onto a delivery bed, but I absolutely refused. Then, I gave a push, and saw my baby's precious little head. This was the moment that my attitude switched from fear and anxiety to excitement and happiness. My smile was huge as I pushed one more time and my baby's body was out. After waiting for 9 months, I finally got to see what she looked like! (I didn't see her profile at her 20 week anatomy ultrasound because she had her arm over her face.) I immediately reached for my tiny, naked baby. She didn't want to nurse, so I just held her close and enjoyed her for a while. Finally, the nurses were able to lift me to the delivery bed. At that point, Baby and I were in our own little world. Until... I had more horrible contractions. I said, "What is this? What's happening?" Someone said, "You have to deliver the after birth." Oh yeah. I forgot about that. The umbilical cord pulsed a while, and then Michael got to cut it. Finally, I felt like I was delivering a twin (after birth), and we were done.
Recovery
While Michael and I ooh'ed and aw'ed over our Baby Girl, a nurse asked, "So, what's this baby's name." Michael announced, "Joy!" I smiled, "Really!?" She was perfect.
Our Joy Magdalene Roberson. Born at 8:08 a.m. She weighed 8 pounds 5 ounces, and she was 20 inches long. I got cleaned up, changed clothes, and then we were moved (again) to recovery. We spent the rest of the day celebrating Joy with lots of visitors. It was a beautiful day!
The Car Ride
On the way to the hospital, I called my midwife and gave her the update. We agreed to meet at the hospital at 8:00 am. We were driving from Wharton to The Pavillion for Women in Houston - an hour and 5 minute drive. Michael drove so fast! As usual I was totally fine between contractions, but pretty noisy during the pain. We were just a couple minutes from the hospital when I said, "Uh oh. I feel like I need to poop." I didn't really, but that's the feeling I get right before the baby comes out.
At the Hospital
Michael pulled into the valet area, and I didn't even wait for him. I exited the car, walked as fast as I could to the elevator, and pressed the button. I guess I held the elevator door for him. I had one really strong contraction in the elevator, and I was thankful that we were the only ones in there. At the check-in desk at triage, an officer asked us a bunch of questions, that I don't think I ever answered, because MY WATER BROKE! Right there on the floor! I panicked, because during Karis and Judah's labors, my water didn't break until I started pushing. I knew that Joy was coming NOW. I quit listening to the officer and walked straight to the triage room. A nurse helped me into a hospital gown and told me to get into bed. I told her, "no, I can't!" She said, "You have to so I can check you." I complied. She checked and informed me that we need to get to labor and delivery. (DUH! I wanted to go straight there, but the hospital requires women to go to triage first... DUMB!) A doctor came in to check me. I could see the urgency on her face as she said, "Ok we're going to take you to labor and delivery." I replied, "No! We're having the baby in here." We continued to argue, but I was wheeled to Labor and Delivery anyway... which was downstairs. Nurses pushed my bed as fast as they could, and this was the easiest part of my labor because the wind in my face felt good. Plus, they ran the bed into the wall and a nurse cursed. This made me laugh and feel proud that I wasn't the one cursing.
Delivery
I think I had just one strong contraction in the hallway. I screamed, "No No, I can't do this. I don't want to do this! Michael, what were we thinking!?" Once I was in a room, a doctor came in quickly to help me deliver my baby. There was no time for monitors or IV (yes!). Baby was coming out! Nurses tried to move me from the triage bed onto a delivery bed, but I absolutely refused. Then, I gave a push, and saw my baby's precious little head. This was the moment that my attitude switched from fear and anxiety to excitement and happiness. My smile was huge as I pushed one more time and my baby's body was out. After waiting for 9 months, I finally got to see what she looked like! (I didn't see her profile at her 20 week anatomy ultrasound because she had her arm over her face.) I immediately reached for my tiny, naked baby. She didn't want to nurse, so I just held her close and enjoyed her for a while. Finally, the nurses were able to lift me to the delivery bed. At that point, Baby and I were in our own little world. Until... I had more horrible contractions. I said, "What is this? What's happening?" Someone said, "You have to deliver the after birth." Oh yeah. I forgot about that. The umbilical cord pulsed a while, and then Michael got to cut it. Finally, I felt like I was delivering a twin (after birth), and we were done.
 |
| Trying to Smile During a Contraction |
Recovery
While Michael and I ooh'ed and aw'ed over our Baby Girl, a nurse asked, "So, what's this baby's name." Michael announced, "Joy!" I smiled, "Really!?" She was perfect.
 |
| Newborn Photo by Shannon Bedo |
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