21-7-2009 - Birth Story

My mood while writing this blog: Yay!

I've been meaning to post this birth story, but let me tell you -- being a mom is a full-time job! Even with Daddy's help!

We got to the hospital around 5:30 am. The pitocin was started at 8:00. The dr came in to break my water at 8:30. I dialated from 1.5 cm to 2.8 cm in 20 minutes! We figured then it wouldn't be a long process. Boy, were we wrong!

My best friend, Brandy came and then my mom stopped by for a bit. By that time, my contractions were pretty intense. I was trying to hold off on the epidural because I was so scared of getting one. I asked for some stadol and got that. It made me drunk, but took ALL the pain away. Only lasted about an hour and a half before the contractions came back even worse! I couldn't take it anymore by that point. I didn't care what they had to do to get me out of pain! So, I asked for the epidural. It didn't hurt at all. Of course, my contractions were so strong at that point that I probably wouldn't feel anything else. But it made me a brand new person. Even though lidacaine makes me incredibly sick. I threw up 3 times during the labor process.

Finally, I was dialated to 9 cm and fully effaced. It was only like 1:30. Even the nurses thought that the baby would be out before 3:00. Again.... boy, were we wrong! I stayed dialted at 9 cm for 2 hours at which point the dr ordered the pitocin to be started back up again.

THere was another lady in labor as well, and the nurses basically said we were racing each other at this point. Plus, a c-section was going on! It was so hectic! They were understaffed. 2 nurses were supposed to be in the room, and only 1 could be there.

At 5:30 I was ready to go! The nurse came in and all the excitement began! I started pushing! Everyone was in the waiting room. And of course, as the other 2 ladies had their babies, the lulaby went off and everyone thought it was me.

at 6:30 I'm still pushing! Getting nowhere it seemed. The head could be felt, but not seen.

Around 7:00 the dr came in and took over his part. I so did not want a vaccum used, but this baby was NOT coming out without one. So the dr was pulling, and I was pushing and the baby was hanging on in there! Not coming! At one point the vaccum lost suction and almost went flying across the room! I heard a POP and I just screamed! I didn't know what had happened. I scared everyone in the room when I screamed. I mean, this labor stuff was no joke!

I was getting so frustrated! Everyone could see hair, but the head wasn't out.... THe head wasn't out everytime I asked and I felt I was getting nowhere.

The dr finally told me that I was going over the max time allowed for a delivery. We were afraid I was going to have to have a c-section. But my epidural bag was completely empty and I was getting nowhere without it! The contractions were too intense and I couldn't push any more. The dr ordered the anesthesiologist up to give ma a strong dose of lidacaine. Worked like a charm!

THen, I heard a "snip" and aparently I had to get an episiotomy. Dr felt bad since I didn't want one and I also didn't want the vaccum, but it all was needed lol.

Devin Michael was born at 8:11pm.... that's 12 hours of labor and 2 and half hours of active labor! I'm pretty sure my dr hasn't seen that too often. But we were all determined to get him out. He was layed on my chest and I just cried! Brandy even cried! Mike cut the umbilical cord. And then my baby was taken to be cleaned up.

Brandy aparently cried really hard and I missed it... she never cries! And she went out to tell everyone that it went well. My mom came in afterwards while Devin was being cleaned.

Then they gave him back to me... amazing how they stop crying when they hear your voice. Then, the crowd poured in! So many people came to meet him. It was exciting, although I was so sick from the lidacaine that I told them to leave me along for a few minutes. All the support of everyone being there was so nice!

Mike did so well during the whole process. He was definitely a great coach and motivator. At one point when I was about to give up, he told me to "get back in the mosh pit." Haha! He was amazing.

And here we are, a happy family of 3!