More....

The exact day we turned 36 weeks I spent the day complaining to anyon who would listen that I was ready for the baby to come out. I had an ultrasound the day before that put the baby's weight at about 6lbs 12 oz- which sounded ready to me. I also got a group B strep test but didn't have an internal exam as the midwife said it was still a little too early (haha.. guess which midwife was on call when I went into labor...) At 6:50 pm I was onthe phone with a friend talking about how bad I wanted the baby out when I heard a little "pop" and was instantly soaked through my pants and into the couch. I was convinced the baby was pushing on my bladder forcing me to urinate because I've heard so many other people say they've had it happen to them.... however, when it was still leaking out of me later I decided to call the midwives and my husband.... husband rushed home and frantically packed a bag and got the carseat in the car while I put away laundry and made our bed.... I was pretty convinced there was no way my baby was really coming 4 weeks early and that once we got to the hospital we were just going to be sent back home.... well not only did they not send me home but I started having contractions as soon as I got there.... the contractions lasted through the night but in the morning when the midwife came to check me i was only 1 cm dialated and my contractions had slowed WAY down... i was then put on pitocin and the contractions immediately became very intense... i was also given an IV of penicilian since it was still too early to get the results of my group b strep test.... Now, I had mad out a birthplan that was all no-pain relief, no medicine, labor-in-the-water, natural childbirth that I was convinced would be my blueprint for the perfect birth... HA! no such luck, the IV's prevented me from using the tub and my baby's heartbeat slowed everytime I moved from my left side.... the pitocin got my contractions going really strong so I was convinced that when I was checked 3 hours later I would have some good news regarding my progress.... no such luck- all those stupid contractions and I hadn't dialated anymore AT ALL... the nurse pointed out that they usaully look for good strong contractions to be in the 60-80 range and mine were coming in as high as 120-130... I was crying, vomiting and getting absolutely nowhere so 16 hours into labor while only 2-3 cm dialated I opted for some pain relief and was given stadol which knocked me out cold for about 45 minutes although, I could still feel the contractions... The stadol wore off quickly and when i learned I still wasn't getting anywhere I finally asked for an epidural.... instantly I went from what felt like being murdered to this overwhelming sense of calm.... it was still another 12-13 hours before I was fully dialated but I was no longer suffering... at about 1am I started to feel my contractions again and was vomiting up stomach bile... apparently this is a good sign that it was time to push so the nurse confirmed I was at last fully dialated and within 2 pushes my husband could see the baby's head.... i was not playing, i was so ready to get that baby out.... i pushed through 5 contractions and baby was out, i got to watch in a mirror as hubby pulled the baby out and cut the cord..... Jestin Michael weighed in at a healthy 7lbs 1.8 oz and I finally got to get some sleep!