Sunday I had quite a lot of contractions through out the afternoon/early evening. But they were not regular or constant. So even though I was having quite a few an hour they were sporadic. I figured they were not going to do anything. Then before bed they died down. I actually got a decent nights rest (I think that was a gift from God). Then Monday morning I woke up at about 6:40 with a very strong contraction and then though, oh crap I just peed my pants! I had felt like I was on the verge of doing this several times before when I had a full bladder and a strong contraction would hit, but had yet to do it! I figured it had finally just happened. I get up, go to the bathroom and then when I stand up I peed my pants again! At this point I was annoyed. I said to Brent, who was in the shower getting ready for work, this is ridiculous. First I'm having contractions all the time and have to pee every 5 minutes, now I'm having strong contractions all the time and have lost all control of myself! Ugh! I go back to the toilet and wipe myself and notice that it was a little slimy. All of the sudden my heart jumps.....could my water have just broken? I don't know. It wasn't a big gush. But there is a little bloody show.....humm. What to do? CALL MOM!!!! The whole time I'm thinking of my friend who just days before in conversation had said she has no idea how people don't know when their water has broken I quote "How could you not know? Terina you had better not do that!" But Mom confirms what I had already suspected. Just for the record if I had given myself 2 more minutes I would have figured it out on my own!
It hits this is the big day! Brent thinks we should jump in the car and head to the hospital right now. I say.....it can take hours for labor to progress, especially with a first, I'm going to take a shower and eat some breakfast, and pack a bag! I get in the shower and notice the contractions are really getting strong, and close. By time I'm done with a quick shower it was very clear I was not one of those people that has plenty of time to get to the hospital! They were coming very close and strong. I was going to time them but decided not to waste time counting when I'd already had 4 contractions in 12 minutes! I'm putting on clothes Brent is trying to pack a bag, asking me what I need, I can't remember! I can't think. The contractions were demanding all attention! Finally Brent decides that we are not that far from the hospital, if we forget something important he can come home or someone can bring it! I whole heatedly agree! We jump in the car and are off! I was also grateful the night before we had decided that Brent should start driving himself to work that week instead of taking the van pool. Other wise he would have already been gone to work!
By time we are at the hospital I can't walk during contractions and have to sit one out in half in half out of the car! We get checked in, get wrist bands, paper work is filled out. I'm wondering why there is so much paper work when I had filled all of that out before online so I wouldn't have do this very thing, sit in pain doing paper work! Which was very difficult since I was in so much pain I couldn't focus enough to give my name, address, date of birth, etc. Thank goodness for Brent!
Finally the paper work is all done and they get us back to triage. My first question is when I can get an epidural! Now for the record I had thought long and hard about doing this naturally. I decided to get an epidural just a week earlier. But truth be told if I had decided to try natural, my first question still would have been about an epidural! It was more pain then I had ever imagined, and it was just the beginning of what I was going to experience! My hat goes off to every woman who has every had natural child birth! I was dying! It was about 8 when we got to triage and by that point I had dilated to a 4. No wonder I was in so much pain I had gone from 1 to 4 cm in 90 min!
They got me into a delivery room and got me all attached to IVs and such. The pain, was practically indescribable! I was begging for an epidural! But apparently since I had gestational diabetes the anesthesiologist wanted to run some blood work to make sure it was safe. That took a very VERY VERY long time! I was nauseous from the pain, even threw up in my mouth a little a couple times. I couldn't breath! I was trying so hard to stay focused and breath but I was just hyperventilating. I heard my self saying I can't do this! Which I had always laughed at the women on the baby shows on TV who say that! Of course you can do it! Women have been doing this since the dawning of time! Silly lady. And I had just said that! So even in my delusion I amended my statement and said I can't do this with out an epidural! LOL I was literally writhing in pain on the bed! I felt like I was on the verge of a melt down! They finally gave me some Demerol. Which I really wish I hadn't had to get. It is an IV pain killer and made me so sleepy! The pain was still so bad even after the drugs it only took the edge off! The contractions were coming so close, one on top of the other and were so strong I felt like I wasn't getting a break in between them to rest and catch my breath. I said to Brent I'm so not strong and tough!! FINALLY after 90 minutes around 10:00 the anesthesiologist came to give me an epidural! I don't know if I've ever been so happy to see another human being in my entire life! I was finally able to rest and breath!! They checked me and I was at 6+ cm maybe 7! I couldn't believe how fast I was progressing! I just thought no wonder I was in such pain! After getting an epidural I just slept!
It was only 12:30 before I was to 9.5 cm. The Dr. was with someone else so the nurse decided that since I couldn't feel anything to just let my body labor on it's own and move the baby down so I wouldn't have to push as much. Sounded good to me. Then about the time they were ready for me to push I felt awful! I had not eaten anything all day and had gestational diabetes. They checked my blood sugar and it was very low. I told them and knew that unless I ate something, even just juice I wouldn't have the energy to do this! So they switched my IV to something with sugar in it to bring my levels up. That took about an hour. Finally at 3:45 I started to push. I didn't realized how exhausting that would be! So tiring! My little guy decided to come out slightly sideways. His head came out transverse. The Dr. tried to turn him but he just turned right back. At that moment I was SO grateful for an epidural! No doubt that would have been excruciating with out one! So I had to push him out the hard way! Which is why it took so long! I pushed for 90 min! I had to get a small episiotomy, the Dr. apologized, and again I was grateful to be numb! Although part of the epidural had worn off by this point and I was starting to feel things again. This was actually a good thing! I could feel when contractions came, I knew when I needed to push but it only hurt a little! It was pretty perfect! It's true what they say the second he was born all the pain was gone! Not that I was feeling a lot of pain at that point but what little I was feeling completely disappeared! I was so overwhelmed with joy I couldn't stop the tears! He was so perfect! He looked like an alien but a perfect alien! LOL
Because he was early they gave him his own nurse to monitor him. By the end of the second day he was doing so good they transferred his care over to my nurse! We came home two days later and are doing great! Recovery is painful! But getting better! Nursing is going good. Also a little painful! Hello girls! Hello milk! Hopefully my body gets the supply and demand message and stops making so much milk here soon! Little Croix is a great eater! He is doing all his new born jobs like a champ! Eat, sleep, pee, poop, make adorable faces to entertain Mom & Dad, doing them all beautifully! I get lost just staring at his perfect face!
Brent was so perfect through everything! He was a wonderful helper and coach! He helped me to focus and breath when I thought I was going to die. Held my jello leg up for me, did a great job of communicating with everyone. He was perfect! He has also been so perfect since we got home! He helps in every way he can, makes sure I take naps. Has run to the store several times for things we needed, like diapers as soon as we got home, yeah that was on the list of things I was going to do! He even gave me strict instructions that at night I'm not to get out of bed unless it's to pee! He's been amazing! I love him so much!!!! I fall in love with him a little more ever time I see him gently care for our little angel Croix!
To see more pics of Croix go to our online photo album
Oh and someone asked how to pronounce his name it's like troy with a k. Like the Virgin Island St. Croix
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I did manage to snap a picture of the beautiful bouquet they had! Sunflowers, my favorite!
