| Luke's Birth Story Our sweet baby boy was born June 4, 2004 at 8:24pm. He weighed 8 lbs. 1 oz. and was 20 inches long. Early on Friday morning, about 3am I awoke to mild contractions that got progressively stronger but not longer or closer together. I called Gregg home from working night shift (for the second time that week!) because the contractions were getting harder to deal with on my own. By 7am they were pretty painful but still not longer or closer together. They were very irregular, sometimes 3 minutes apart but ranging up to 15 minutes apart, lasting 40-60 seconds. I was getting frustrated because I didn't know whether or not it was "real" labor. By 9am the contractions had become very painful and I needed my doula. After calling Kelly, we agreed to meet at the hospital to be checked out. My best friend also met us there along with Kelly's backup, Lynn. I was monitored for about 15 minutes and then while waiting for the doctor to arrive from another hospital, we walked the halls. Gregg slept while I was well cared for by my circle of women, I felt so supported! The doctor on call arrived around noon and checked me. To our complete disbelief I was only 1-2 centimeters and only 50% effaced! This was after hours of painful contractions and 4 previous pregnancies! I was truly crushed, the contractions hurt like late stage labor did with my last baby, how could I not be more dilated? The only thing I could figure was that they were still not regular in length or in time apart so I didn't want to end up with Pitocin augmentation. We decided to leave and get some lunch and then see. We all left and had lunch in the hospital cafeteria. I really did not want to eat but everyone insisted I do to keep up my strength. I was feeling nauseous and in very serious pain. I could not keep still or quiet and was very embarrassed to be in public that way. We then walked around the hospital for awhile and by 3pm we decided things had to have progressed more so went back to L&D to be checked again. We had to wait for the doctor to return from the other hospital again so after a short bit of monitoring we walked some more. When Dr. M. arrived I was only 3 cm dilated and 80% effaced! That was it! I wanted to go home, despite the amount of pain I was in. It was about 5pm when we left. Once we got home, Gregg took care of dinner for the kids. Our oldest son had taken care of them all day and needed a break. I changed into a thin comfy gown and went to bed. I was so tired but hurting so much I didn't think I would sleep, just rest between contractions. They seemed to slow down when I was in bed and were only coming every 15 minutes or so. Kelly stayed with us, Lynn had a class to attend and thought she could meet us back at the hospital later or at our house if we were still home. By 7:30 I was having a very hard time working through the contractions. Kelly was at my side the whole time as was Gregg. In retrospect, we should have known what was happening because like my last birth I had 3 classic signs of transition; I was nauseous, shaking from being cold between contractions but burning hot during them, and I was saying "I can't DO THIS!!!" over and over. At 8pm I used the bathroom for the millionth time and immediately said, "We have to go NOW!" I was blowing through the contractions to avoid pushing! It happened so fast. Kelly threw a robe on me and helped me down the stairs while Gregg got himself ready to go. I could barely make it to the truck, I really needed to push! We live about 10-15 minutes from the hospital but I was very worried we were not going to make it in time. Kelly told Gregg to not let me make "that sound" meaning my grunting, moaning sound. She followed us in her car and Gregg drove as fast as safely possible. I just kept crying out "I can't, it's coming NOW!" in this possessed kind of voice. Thankfully the contractions were still several minutes apart, giving me a break in between. About 3 blocks from the parking garage of the hospital I could not hold it anymore and started biting Gregg's thumb to keep from pushing! Poor guy. We pulled up to the entrance ramp to the hospital. The setup there is interesting, there is a long (about ¼ mile) ramp you have to walk up to get to the lobby. For those who can't walk that far, there is an attendant with a golf cart to transport people from top to bottom. Thankfully when we pulled up, the golf cart was at the bottom. If we had had to wait for it, Luke would have been born right there! Gregg left the truck in the no parking zone and we took off up the ramp in the golf cart. At the top was a lone wheelchair, must have been God's hand because again, I could not wait. Gregg helped me into the chair and took off running through the hospital. We caught an elevator and ran to L&D. Kelly was close behind. At this point I am just barely hanging on, there is a hoard of nurses running along beside us to the room. Someone grabbed a doctor and followed us to the room. I didn't want to get on the bed but Gregg got me up there. The doctor checked me (still in my own gown and robe) and said, "Well, there's the head!" The bag of water was bulging out so she just gave it a pinch, it broke and his head slid right out. I didn't even push for it. Then I gave one huge push and his body slid out! The doctor handed him right to me, he didn't need any suctioning at all. He pinked up immediately and didn't cry at all. We made it to the room at 8:22 and he was born 2 minutes later, talk about cutting it close! Luke Joseph is nursing well and is so sweet! |