The Birth/Labor Story

Ok so it took a little longer to get on here than I thought, but here we are! FYI if you are one of my newly preggo friends, this is one of those stories I would have read a week ago and thought "OMG I cannot possibly have a baby" so beware...I'm not sparing any details. Quick overview for those who don't want to read my novel (and I don't blame you, this is more for my memory in 3 years when I tell Brian I want to have another baby...) in "labor" for 18 hours but I only count four thanks to modern medicine, Chase was born at 11:01 pm at 7lbs 5 oz and 19.5 inches.

We arrived at the hospital promptly at 5 am after about 4 hours of sleep, both of us bright eyed and ready to go. We started the induction process with a hormone pill that is supposed to dialate the cervix, when they put it in they I was a one. Not really where I wanted to start...7 hours later and another dose I was a 2. Luckily the time was spent sleeping, praying, and watching tv with little discomfort. At 12 they broke my water with the warning that things would start happening and I could get an epi anytime. I was determined to see how far I could get without it, hearing the horror stories of it running out. Over the next couple of hours the contractions continually got stronger and got to the point that one wouldn't finish before the next one started. I'd heard of these double-backed contractions but I had quint-backed contractions. EEK! After a couple of those they came to check me and I was thinking if I'm at an 8 I can totally finish this out but man this sucks.....but I was 2. By the way Brian was super.

EPIDURAL PLEASE!

I had heard horror stories about epi's but I didn't feel a darn thing and had zero complications and it worked fabulously! Once I got the epi they started potosin but Chase didn't handle it very well so they had to keep adjusting the dosage and kept me on oxygen to keep his heart rate up. Until 6:30 I again spent the time sleeping, praying, and watching tv. By then I had not progressed further than a 4 and Chase was facing the wrong way. After a talk with the Dr. we decided that if by 8 nothing else had happened we would go for the C-section. I'm not sure why but after laying there all day I really came to the conclusion I didn't want to have to resort to that, so I prayed really hard and the nurses helped me rotate positions for the next hour. So when they checked me at eight I was thrilled that I was an 8! By the time they got the room ready and the Dr came back it was about time to push. While they were getting the bed ready one of the nurses found a Texas bucket full of brown dirt and with a puzzled look on her face went to move it and Brian stepped right in front of her and just said "NO." I'm sure she thought we were crazy but sure enough little Chase was born over Texas soil, it was the best we could do. I had wanted my mom to take pictures (just of the baby folks) but I couldn't move my right leg because of the epidural so Brian had to hold the right leg and my mom held the left. Then the epidural machine started beeping. Yes folks it was running out. Brian was the first over there and with a look of panic on his face sprinted out of the room, later he said he knew I would kill him if he let the drugs run out and he went to get help. Smart boy. Although the nurse promised I would make it through because he was in a great position they thankfully called the doc anyway. Really it worked out beautifully, I had a few good pushes that I could feel enough to figure out what to do before I got a huge dose of blessed numbing liquid straight in my IV. So we kept pushing. Again Brian was super and I couldn't have asked more of him. Then everyone got excited and said "we see hair! Do you want to see it?!?!?! Do you want to feel it?!?!" H to the no. So we kept pushing. Then they got the vacuum. And we kept pushing. Then everyone started whispering. Oh did I mention I was throwing up in between pushing?

I had enough room across but there was an "issue" with my height. Enter forceps. Now I did my childbirth classes and saw the vacuum so that didn't scare me. But now I know why they don't show you the forceps. Like monster salad spoons shoved up your crotch. My mom was pale as a ghost after that. But the Dr knew her stuff and was able to "manuver" Chase out. Her first comment was he's got a big head! I hit Brian with all my might but it was more like watching my wrist flop over. Chase was totally covered in goop was my first thought and he was really quiet was my second. I was really nervous when I asked if he was ok but he was fine and they promptly threw him on my chest. It wasn't like the movies where the mom pushes out this baby and starts glowing and smiling and tears up as she holds her newly born child as the light shines down from heaven. I took one look at him and said "He's gross." Away he went and I was left to watch the Dr continue sewing. 10 minutes later she's finished and I comment she was down there for a long time. She smiles sweetly and says "Well..." But praise the Lord! I did not feel a single thing from Chase slipping out to the placenta to the stitches. As they were cleaning Chase up a few feet away I start to get the shakes but other than that fine so all the family comes in once I'm taken care of and passes around the baby. It was really fun to watch everyone else light up over this baby. Then after being hooked up to six hundred machines that day with wires and tubes taped every which way and untangling them like 3 times, they stripped me. I kept thinking omg what if something happens to me? Don't you want to moniter me? Now I need to know what my blood pressure is every 15 minutes!!

Then like a brick wall all the pain meds were gone. WHAM! I began to feel every single stitch, I began to swell, and I began to cry like a baby. Family left real quick and I know Brian felt so bad he was so great but he kept saying "But look at the beautiful baby over there, think about Chase, think about how good you did..." I was maybe a little hormonal and I think all that made me cry harder. That was definitely the hardest hour of the whole day. But the nurse was a saint and gave me drugs that sent me into lala land until 4 in the morning. Then I woke up at some point with the room dark and Brian and Chase both sleeping. They had given Chase a bath and put him right next to my bed. And I fell in love.

First picture! And because everyone looks so lovely after giving birth, I have found the worst pciture of myself and the best picture of Brian for you to look at with horror, I know I do but Brian sure does make a handsome daddy!

And two days later...

Chase went home!