It started on Easter (April 24th, 2011) around 10 a.m. when I awoke. It began with a little leak which I thought was pee and then it was a more frequent leak which I then called my sister (a nurses assistant and a mother) and she said I should call the doctor. So I call labor and delivery and they said to lay down and drink something for 15 minutes and if I get up and theirs a gush that’s my water but then said if I didn’t feel contractions it wasn’t my water (little did she know I was having contractions and didn’t feel them). I do the lay down thing and a little water came out but not a gush (no more than it had done before) but throughout the day I wore a panty liner (I did that anyways because my mucus plug had been coming out). I had this calm but knowing feeling that I would have little Louis the next day, although I was doubting myself all day thinking it wasn’t my water (I had made up my mind that since most peoples water doesn’t break mine wouldn’t, especially since my mothers and sisters never broke). I had let my husband know that I really think it’s my water that’s been leaking out and I came to that conclusion definitely because I took a nap and when I got up I ran to the bathroom and was just leaking and so I calmly got my stuff together for the hospital and made my husband call my mother in law (I still had doubts that it wasn’t my water so I thought instead of having my husband drive me and then maybe getting sent home and having to get up early for work and a PT test , I’d have my MIL drive me and if it was my water he could come with all the stuff). (Around 8:30 p.m.) Then when she got there I was in the middle of making my birth plan (picking the first link that showed up). And then we were on our way, the whole way there I could feel her anxiousness and I was completely calm. (FLASH BACK!!!) My previous appointment on the 21st I was at 3 centimeters and 60% effaced and baby was head down. Also, she said if I even make it to next week’s appointment (the 29th) then we’d talk induction (she really didn’t think I would make it). Anyways back to the story, I checked in to the ER and labor and delivery came down with a wheel chair for me (and I kindly asked if I didn’t have to sit in it (I was capable of walking so why not) and I walked up there. She had me change into a gown and then she checked my cervix and said I was 3 centimeters and 50% effaced and then tested me to see if it was my water. TO MY SHOCK it was and she left the room to get papers and stuff as I called AJ to get his ass to the hospital and when she came back in I was on the phone ….confirming over and over again that this is no drill and he needs to get here (I sorta got anxious at that point but for the most of the day and labor I was calm as ever and that’s not my personality). She then hooked me up to the machines to hear Louis’ heart beat and all that jazz, then she says oh there’s a contraction (which I did not what so ever feel). Finally, AJ gets there and for a couple hours I just walk around, trying to dilate more and ….gushing, because after she checked my cervix ….. it was like waterfalls from that point on. Well, the OBGYN on duty (which I was scared because I really wanted my OBGYN and she wasn’t on call so I wanted to wait till tomorrow if possible so she could deliver my baby). Was strongly insisting I be put on Pitocin because it had been a while since my water broke and didn’t want to risk an infection so I agreed (but I wanted no drugs at all and do everything natural). After a while I was at a 6 and started feeling some contractions but it was like cramps and I tried to sleep some but let me tell you those beds are so uncomfortable and bad very bad for your back, therefore I was tossing and turning and a nurse came in and said since the monitor keeps losing the babies heart rate they wanted to stick something in his head to keep track and I said NO! (I didn’t want anything unnecessary to be done unless it HAD to) so I said I’ll just stay in one position and did and I was very uncomfortable but my little Louis is totally worth it. Time went by and before I knew it I was around an 8 or 9 and the contractions were HORRIBLE. I learned luckily the DAY before in my birth class breathing techniques and to either focus on something in the room or close your eyes and breathe through and think of something and I thought of my wonderful crazy labs. Lainey how she cuddles in bed like the cutest thing ever and Cosmo how happy he gets when we get home dancing like a crazy boy. (I might have been petting the air like the dogs were there to calm me down). During 9 centimeters I felt so much pressure down there and I had to squeeze and try my best to breathe through that and at that time I gasped for air and with each breath I asked my husband to get the nurse because I needed to push. At a 9 I was telling myself over and over, “I can’t do this, I can’t do this and then I’d throw in that I can do this, I have to, besides it’s too late.” (one of the reasons not to get drugs is because I didn’t want to be confined to the bed (even though with Pitocin you are) and I did not want a catheter). So the nurse came in to tell me to do some practice pushes and I did and she told the other nurse to call my OBGYN (oh it’s the next day so she was at work and I was so happy!!!) During these practice pushes and then on I could not control my screams. I won’t lie, it hurt so very much, but it was what a women’s body is made to do. So when the doctor got there she told me to push through the contractions and I did and while I did I closed my eyes as I did with all the contractions and went crazy. I was yelling (uncontrollably), grabbing a nurses leg because I wasn’t looking what I was grabbing, telling another nurse to put my hair up because I got a burning hot flash, asking for a rag, and pulling a pillow over my face because ….it just plain out hurt. Then with about 9 contractions in I pushed out a beautiful 7 pound 1 ½ ounce, 19 inch boy named Louis. She asked if I wanted to hold him (straight out the womb) and I just held out my hands and then daddy cut the cord which splashed on my leg. Then he was taking to get checked out and such, while the OBGYN finished me up. My legs through the whole labor were shaky, but especially during the delivery and the stitching up. She delivered the placenta which was such a breeze (I thought it would hurt as well) but it actually felt ….what I would call a relief and then she stitched me up and that was not pleasant. I had 1st degree tears and she said she put numbing stuff on but I felt it all and not only that I saw the long “thread” she was stitching with and my legs were so wobbly I thought how is she going to stitch this up safely when I am shivering so much, but she did. Then I got to hold my baby skin to skin for a good while and that was the best moment of the day. Staring into a human you had part in MAKING! that is just an indescribable feeling. Then AJ went with baby to check him out more while I was going to take a wash off shower and try to pee (which is extremely scary after having stitches and giving birth, but I couldn’t so she said if I don’t go the bathroom then I’d have to have a catheter so I made myself do it. And it hurt but giving birth hurts worse. Then we were moved into our recovery room and was getting annoyed because every hour or even thirty minutes passed someone was in the room (I know I know doing their job) but it was so annoying. I was getting confused with the breast feeding (with by then on my 4th nurse and a lactation consultant all telling me different things on how to breastfeed and ….it hurt so badly). I just wanted to get out of there and I did 26 hours after I gave birth. I could not wait to get home with my new family. I also was very and am still (May 6th, 2011) very mobile and am trying to keep being mobile. At our first doctor appointment Louis was 12% under his birth weight so we had to supplement with formula which bummed me out because I felt I wasn’t doing my job well and breast feeding was …way to horrible to me. Although the base lactation consultant came to my house that day and taught me a new way, and a better way to breast feed. Then 2 days later Louis was only 7% under from his birth weight which made me happy. Later, Louis got nipple confusion so I just pump now and supplement what I can’t produce with Organic formula. It sucks that breast feeding was so hard for me and frustrating but we tried and at least he’s still getting some breast milk rather than none. I can’t wait till his 2 week appointment to see if he’s back or past his birth weight!!! That’s my birth story.
Obviously, this was written a while ago but never published, I know its long and very very detailed but I never knew things about birth and if I can inform some soon to be mom of something she didn't know then I think it helps. I wanted to know everything I was going to endure. Louis is a very healthy boy and a chubby monkey. He happens to be in the 95% of his weight and age range. He coo's and melts my heart everyday. I love being a mommy!
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