We were so excited that he could be here at any time. But, every morning I'd wake up disappointed that I made it through another day and no baby. Then, our obstetrician told us that he was moving to another state. His last day would be 5 days before my due date. I was so upset. But, he reassured me that I would not make my due date.
The closer we got to my due date, our ob started suggesting that he strip my membranes at 38 or 39 weeks. We told him that we wanted things to progress naturally. He was ok with that. He was just concerned that I wouldn't deliver before he left. At 38 weeks, I was a definite 3 cm dilated and still 50% effaced.
By 38 weeks, I had accepted the fact that I would make my due date and that a stranger was going to deliver my baby. But, I had other things to occupy my thoughts and time. Cameron and Caleb's birthdays were approaching. Cameron was turning 9 on July 17th and Caleb was turning 8 on July 22nd. They were having a pool party on the 17th with a few of their friends. So, 2 days before the party, I finally got the energy to shop. We "power shopped" on the 15th & 16th.
Then, on the 17th, I prayed that I wouldn't go into labor until after the party. I'd hate to leave my mother with 8 kids at a pool party. Well, the party came and went and I once again became disappointed. So, we decided to go walk around the mall. Around 7pm, while walking around the mall, I started having some pretty strong contractions. But, I had been having Braxton Hicks since 20 weeks and really didn't think it was the real thing. We got bored at the mall and drove around for awhile. In the van, I started timing the contractions. They averaged 7 minutes apart. We went home and I ate bologna sandwiches while Daryl called his friend Mike and talked for awhile. My contractions were still averaging 7 minutes apart. But, they weren't very painful.
We called my ob around 10pm. He said to go ahead and come in and they'd see where I was. Cameron and Caleb were spending the night with my mom. We tried calling her so we could drop Bailey off. They weren't home. We called my dad and luckily he was home. We dropped Bailey off at his house and headed for the hospital. The hospital is about 30 minutes away and I was so afraid my contractions would stop on the way there and we'd have to turn around and come home.
When we got to the hospital, we called my mom again and told her where we were and that we would let her know more when we found out. At the hospital, we were sent to the early labor lounge. They hooked me up to monitors to check my contractions. They had slowed down some and were barely registering on the paper. A resident came in a checked me internally. I was now 4 cm dilated, but still only 50% effaced. They decided to keep me. But, I had to go walk for an hour. We called my parents to let them know what was going on. My mom wasn't home again. We called my dad. My mom had dropped Caleb off at his house and she and Cameron were on their way to the hospital. (We gave Cameron and Caleb the option of being present for the delivery. Caleb decided he didn't want to. Cameron wants to be there.)
So, it's now 12:30 am and we are walking around the waiting area and the lobby. My mom and Cameron arrive around 1:00 am. Mom has a headache and tries to sleep on a chair. Cameron walks with us. I can finally go to my room at 1:30 am.
1:30 am I change into a gown, the nurse hooks me up to the monitors and a resident checks me once again. My contractions have sped up slightly, but I'm still only 4 cm dilated and 50% effaced. The nurse tells me I can pretty much do whatever I want. I can walk, sit in the jacuzzi, stay in bed, etc. I choose to stay in bed for a little while, just because I had such a busy day. I want to save my energy for active labor.
3:15 am My contractions are starting to hurt a little bit. I tell the nurse that I want to try the jacuzzi. (My other labors were so short, I never got to try this.) Unfortunately, the jets were so low, they don't reach the part of my belly where the contractions hurt the most. I stay in for about 45 minutes. It just doesn't help much. Luckily, Cameron is asleep and doesn't have to see this.
4:15 am I break down and ask for Nubain. I swore I wouldn't use it this time because I don't like the drowsy effect it causes. Daryl kept asking me if I was "sure" I wanted it because I was so against it in the beginning. But, the contractions are coming so close together that I can't rest in between them. The nurse calls the resident in to check me first. I am finally 6 cm dilated, but still only 50% effaced. I am so disappointed. I have never been in labor this long before. The nurse tells me she was only going to give me a little bit of Nubain. It doesn't help at all.
4:45 am I ask the nurse if it is too late to ask for an epidural. I don't really want one, I just want to hear her say it is too late. To be honest, I'm terrified of epidurals. She calls the resident in again and I am fully dilated and effaced. But, nobody has called my ob yet.
5:00 am I need to push. But, my doctor's not here yet. With every contraction, I have a greater need to push. But, the nurse keeps reminding me to blow through them.
5:15 am My ob arrives!! My mom wakes Cameron up. The nurse tears down the bed and my ob tells me to push with my next contraction. My next contraction comes and he breaks my water. He then tells me not to push. I hear him say there is meconium in the water and to call the NICU. Now I'm wondering if Cameron should leave. But, my next contraction comes and he tells me to push. I push one time and he comes right out. The NICU team intubates him right in the room. Luckily, he didn't swallow or inhale very much.
Since I had placenta accreta with Bailey, the nurses are nice enough to keep Keiran in my room until the placenta is delivered. The placenta comes out with no problems and I don't have any tears or an episiotomy. Daryl goes to the nursery with Keiran. My mom and Cameron go with them to get a height and weight for me.
6:00 am My mom and Cameron come back with a height and weight and I'm already eating breakfast. His apgars are 8 & 9. He weighs 7 lbs 1-3/4 oz and is 20" long. Then, they go home to get some sleep.
Keiran needs to stay in the nursery for awhile to monitor his breathing because of the meconium and Daryl is staying with him the whole time. They bring him to me around 7:00 am. He starts nursing right away.
10:30 am We finally go to our post-partum room.
Dad brings Caleb and Bailey up later this afternoon to check out their new brother. By 5:00 pm, I am ready to go home. My pediatrician has been in to check Keiran and everything is fine. But, he isn't going to be circumcising him until the next morning.
We end up staying 54 hours. That's the only thing I am unhappy about. I don't have stitches or anything else for them to check. But, they check my temperature and blood pressure every hour. I'm not getting any rest.
