The Whole Story

I am telling this for my own journal, so keep that in mind. I went into the doctor on Monday Jan. 11th (at 38 1/2 weeks) and she said I was only at 1 1/2 cm and 50% effaced so I was a bit disappointed since my last 2 pregnancies I was at a 4 by that point. She stripped my membranes and I went home a little bummed. When I got home I talked to Nathaniel about being induced so that way we could plan on having his sister Elizabeth come down from Mesa to help us out with the kids. We set up a time for Friday the 15th, but didn't tell anyone other than family in case they got slammed at the hospital and they had to cancel. On Tuesday I started having a few slightly painful braxton hicks. Wed. I was having contraction that were stronger than the day before and more frequent, but still nothing that caused me to believe it was real. I had about 5 through the night but still just thought it was natures way of paying me back for asking my sister-in-law Christina to wait 3 days after contractions started to have her baby on my birthday. (Which worked by the way.) On Thursday I was having contractions every 10 to 20 minutes all day and they were painful, but not to the point where I thought it was really labor until about 7 that night. They were getting closer together and a little more intense. Elizabeth was set to get here by 9 the next morning since I was going to go in to the hospital at 7:30 for the induction. I didn't figure things would be too intense for me by that time and that way she wouldn't have to get up so early in the morning to drive down. By 1:40 in the morning I knew it was real labor and woke Nathaniel up and told him that I wouldn't be able to wait until 9 in the morning to have him with me at the hospital since the baby was going to be here by then. We gave up on sleep since the contractions were 5-6 minutes apart. I knew it wasn't quite time to leave yet so we waited out in the living room and I rested on the couch while Nathaniel read nearby. By about 4 in the morning we called my friend, Lori, to come and sit with the kids until Elizabeth could get them from her. We got to the hospital by around 4:30 in the morning. I was almost at a 6 and the nurse told me I would be staying and that they had 2 nurses call in sick and that I would have had my induction cancelled due to shortage of staff. Good thing I was in true labor since we had help coming that day. I told them I wanted an epidural and she said she would tell them right away so I could rest a little before the baby came. I was debating whether to get the epidural or not since I have done it both ways and have found benefits with each approach. I was so tired at that point that I decided I wouldn't mind getting it. Well, after they moved me to the delivery room it took them forever to get things moving. After waiting for 2 hours for the epidural and having them tell me repeatedly that he would, "be here any minute, hon" I was getting frustrated. I asked the nurse to check me at about 6:30 and she said, "Oh, hon, you are complete. You have been sitting here so quiet and you're at a 10." I knew it must be pretty close since the contractions were getting harder to relax through and I was relying on Nathaniel more for support and comfort. I always find it relaxes me to have him squeeze my hand really hard during a contraction. He also would put his hand on my shoulder and apply pressure which helped as well. (Weird I know, but hey, you go with what works!) The doctor came in and said I could either have my water broken now and then deliver naturally or I could wait and have the epidural and when that kicked in have my water broken. I decided it wasn't worth getting the epidural when my deliveries have never been more than 10 to 20 minutes of pushing. It seems like a waste to get the epidural since I was already at a 10 and I wouldn't be getting the break I wanted from the contractions. I decided just to do it naturally. The baby was still high so the doctor went upstairs to check on his other patients and said to call him when it was time. I tried a couple of different pushing positions. I tried the normal one, on my left side (which just really hurt), and then they got the bar and had me squat. I didn't know anyone really used that position. I have seen and read about it in the pregnancy books, but always thought it was a little outlandish and that it was only really used in home births since no one was around to see how awkward it was. It is exactly that. I felt so caveman-ish squatting like that. There was a nurse that came in with a paramedic and asked if they could watch the birth. I said, "I would really rather not." I didn't want anyone to see me like that. I was tempted to grant Nathaniel's wish of not having to witness the delivery and let him leave, but I needed his support. I didn't even want him to see me like that. But I was willing to try anything since the baby wasn't descending and I was getting discouraged. After an hour of pushing the baby made a quick shift downward and another push and his head was out. The nurse was the only one in the room with us and you could see the look of panic in her eyes. She said, "I need you to stop pushing. Can you please not push!?" I told her I couldn't stop. She ran for the phone which was only a few steps away and said she needed help NOW and to get the doctor in there. I was still pushing as she was away and hoping that if needed my husband would catch the baby (it would have been a nightmare come true for him). The nurse ran back and told me she needed me to lean back so the baby had room to come out. Nathaniel had to push me backwards since I was not responding to what she had asked. At that point, the head is out and you are in some pretty crazy intense pain and there is nothing you focus on other than getting the rest of the baby out so you can be free of the excruciating pain. After what seemed like a long time (really just a few pushes later) his shoulders were out and I was quietly begging them to "please get him out". I think the doctor came in around this point but he had to get gloves on and what not so he just delivered the placenta. Tanner was born at 7:32 and weighed 8 lbs 3 oz. and was 20 inches long. I love the feeling right after the baby is delivered and you feel the pressure relieved, you finally get to relax, and they lay your new baby on your chest and you finally get to meet the little person you have carried for nine months. It is always this perfect moment when you get to hold them for the first time and you feel like they have been a part of you and your family forever.
The hospital stay was not enjoyable and so I left as soon as I could. That turned out to be Sat. at 11:45. I was happy to be home. It was a little crazy with the other kids trying to see him and hold him. Trying to nurse him was a joke. I couldn't even find his head with the other kids heads in the way kissing him and watching what was going on. I was relieved when Nana called and asked if they could steal the kids for the week. I felt a little guilty pawning them off when it was supposed to be family togetherness time, but I don't know how I could have done it without Nana and Papa and Aunt Nancy's help from Yuma (Nancy was a real trooper since she was due in just a few weeks and possibly delivering any day). You guys saved me!