On Friday (May 17) I had to be to the hospital by 8 a.m. Nate went with me because Jim was at work. So mom dropped us off and Jim was to meet us around 10:30.
At 9, the OB came to check on me. I was more ready to be induced on May 14 then I was now. I had no contractions after I was released on May 15 and he was a bit disappointed about that. He had planned on breaking my water but when he did a pelvic, he wasn't able to. I was only dilated to a two. So he ordered a servidil and said he would be back around lunch.
At one, the OB came back. He checked me again and I was still dilated to a two. But he was able to break my water. For some unknown reason, Jim decided he wanted to see this done. Let's just say, he seriously regretted it then and now. The doctor also ordered pit. So at 1:30 that was started.
When my water was broke and I seen Jim's face, I started laughing. My doctor found this amusing and asked what I was laughing at. I wasn't able to talk because I was laughing so hard. So he started picking on me for peeing my pants. Nice doctor.
I was able to get out of bed so we walked the hall. Contractions were starting now and I was getting less then friendly. I don't think it was from the contractions but from being tired. Both emotionally and physically.
My mom came for a visit and I was getting tired of walking so I got back in bed. Contractions were getting stronger but the feeling of my water leaking all over was bothering me. I know I should have kept moving to keep things going. But because the doctor and nursed kept saying we were in for a long night, I was getting discouraged.
Around 5, the doctor checked me again. I was finally dilated to a 4. I had decided that I wanted an epidural when I was allowed to get one. The doctor said that once I was dilated to a good five and contractions were more regular, then I could get one. Then for some reason, he changed his mind. He said he would have the nurses put the call in for one for me.
He also decided to pump the pit up greatly and do internal monitoring. I was able to move and lay as I wanted this way. Plus they could better see what was going on with the baby. It was very uncomfortable having this done.
After that, my contractions starting getting harder. These contractions were so different than the ones I had with Nate. This time, I felt like my pelvis was being pulled apart in two different directions. It was horrible pressure feeling.
I kept feeling like I had to go the bathroom. But when I sat down, it hurt so bad. So I swayed back and forth by the bed. Jim had went outside and my mom was trying to get me to calm down. I was starting to lose it and would tense up with each contraction. Focus points weren't working and I was starting to get scared.
When Jim got back, I had started a chant. I was saying "Come on Mr. epidural man". It must have worked because by six, I had made friends with the man who took my pain away.
I was nervous about the epidural but the nurses really helped me out. They answered all my questions and talked me through it. I only have two complaints about getting the epidural. I had to hunch over for 10 minutes before the needle was inserted. I was getting hot and felt like I would pass out. Then when they "numbed" it, the man didn't even wait 10 second before inserting the epidural needle. Instead of feeling just pressure, I felt pain. It hurt but it was also a very weird feeling.
Within seconds, the contractions were getting less and less painful. Before I knew it, all I felt was pressure. Shortly after that, I didn't even feel pressure. I made it know that I didn't want to be totally numb so I could push when the time came. Well they listened. I could feel my legs but I couldn't feel pain or pressure. I spent my time scratching because my whole body started to itch. I was told this was a side affect.
I was able to catch a nap. I woke up feeling great. I even made a remark that maybe this wouldn't be our last baby. Jim looked a little scared. My mom said I really couldn't be in labor because I didn't look like I was in pain. So I gave a small yell so she would feel better.
Around 7:30, my cousin brought Nate to the hospital to visit me. When it was time to leave, he wouldn't let go of me and was screaming to let him stay. I finally had to have Jim take him to the truck so he could leave because all the talking in the world wasn't doing anything. My mom decided to go home and relax at this time. So while Jim walked Nate outside, the nurse checked me. This was at nine.
I was dilated to a 7. So I asked if I should call my mom back to the hospital. The nurse said yes but said she didn't feel I would be pushing until around 11. But she did call my OB to tell him what was going on. So I called my mom and told her to head back to the hospital. When Jim came into the room, I told him in a few hours, we should have our baby.
At sometime after the epi, the baby's heartbeat started to go down during contractions. So I was put on O2 to help keep it up. I guess it worked because the heartbeat dropping was never talked about again.
When I was getting my epidural, the nurse told me I might get break through pain. She said this was my body's way of letting me know it was time. Well around 9:10, my butt started to hurt. So I let the nurse know. She check me and I was dilated to a 9. She was a little shocked that I progressed so fast. So she started bringing in stuff for the birth.
It was just second later that I said I felt like I had to push. So she checked me again and said only a small lip of my cervix was left. So she hurried even more to get things ready. She was seven months pregnant, but she moved fast.
The OB came in around 9:25 and checked me. I was complete and ready to push. But I was told to pant because the room wasn't ready. So while the doctor got dressed, I panted. I did give in a couple of times and pushed. I couldn't help it. I also started shaking and couldn't stop for several minutes.
The doctor handed gloves to Jim and told him when the head comes out, to put the gloves on so he could cut the cord. The mirror was placed so I could see. My mom and Jim were on the side of me by my feet and everything was ready. I looked in the mirror and all I could see were hemorrhoids. It slipped out and I think the doctor was ready to throw the towel in. My mom and Jim just looked at me in shock.
Finally all was ready and at 9:55, I was told to push when I felt the urge. Since I had just finished with a contraction, I sat there and whistled and twiddled my thumbs. Labor is so hard. LOL
Finally I felt the urge and pushed. The doctor asked Jim and mom if they could see the head. I had my eyes closed but opened them trying to see what they saw. I pushed more and seen the head. The doctor tried stretching me but it wasn't working. I was in a great deal of pain by this point. When the doctor said he would have to cut me because I was tearing, I was relieved. Since the head had crowned, the doctor had to push her head back in so he could cut me.
I had to pant through the next contraction. Then I was able to push. Having the mirror helped me because I pushed with all my might as I seen the head coming out. Next thing I knew, I seen her beautiful face in the mirror. He tried to turn her so he could suck her mouth and nose out but couldn't do it. I thought for sure the cord was wrapped around her neck and asked him. He wouldn't answer me. All he said was push with all my might. I tried but couldn't and said I couldn't. He wouldn't listen and told me to push hard NOW. I remember hearing her trying to cry but couldn't.
I closed my eyes at this point and pushed hard. I don't remember if it was this push or if I pushed more. But one push worked because she was born at 10:01 and placed on my chest. The nurses started to suck her mouth and nose out while rubbing her down. Mom and me were crying and Jim was about too. Jenavieve started sucking on her fingers as soon as she found them.
The nurses said that they needed to take the baby to the warmer in the room. Jim followed the nurse while mom walked between the baby and me. The doctor said he needed to repair my cut. So I watched him repair it since I couldn't see the baby.
Everything was repaired and the doctor cleaned me up. The big talk was how big was the baby. One of the nurses said she bet the baby was 8 pounds 11 ounces. When the baby was weighed, she was 8 pounds 11.8 ounces. The nurse said she thinks the baby peed before getting weighed.
Jim held Jenavieve first. Then I held her and she started nursing. She did great. My mom, the doctor and nurses left the room so the three of us could bond. Jim called Nate to tell him the news and he was so excited. He kept saying YIPPY over and over.
That was about it for the birth story. It was wonderful and while I didn't follow through with the birth plan, I am not upset at all. Everything worked out great and I have a beautiful daughter. She doesn't care if I needed help dealing with the pain. She thinks I'm wonderful no matter what.
