Sunday 7/1/12- didn't feel good, but nothing
Monday 7/2/12- was tired, but still nothing
Tuesday 7/3/12- Felt fine, the only pain I had was my normal pelvic pain from baby Keown's head
Wednesday 7/4/12- was awful. I hurt all day, I would have braxton hicks like crazy and then I would have pain and I laid on the couch ALL day. I even went to bed at 7pm without dinner because I was hurting so bad.
Thursday 7/5/12- I woke up still in pain, and had discussed with my mom and Josh about whether or not I should go in to work. I had a doctors appointment at 9:30a that morning so I decided to just go in and then decide after my appointment about whether or not I would go back in. Josh decided to take me to work that morning and on the way to work at exactly 7:21am I had my first painful contraction so I started timing them. By the time 9:15am came along I was having uncomfortable contractions every 5-7 minutes.
When I got to the doctor, I had to have an NST before I saw the Nurse Practioner. I was in the room with one other pregnant lady, and we were all just chit chatting. The other woman made a comment that my contractions must be painful because they were really strong on the monitor. I told her that I was uncomfortable but not in pain. Next thing I know the NP is in the little NST room with us looking at my monitor and then looks at me and says "yep, we are going to go ahead and send you over!" umm... what? Over where?! Then that's when all the comotion started. They were sending me to the hospital to have a baby! I cried as soon as she told me that. There was instant panic. Can I do this? Am I ready for this?
So before I left the doctors office they did an ultrasound to check my fluid levels. (I thought that this was just protocol, but turns out the doctor on call didn't want me to be sent over because L & D was packed already so they were hoping my fluid levels were low. But no! And they sent me over anyway). After the ultrasound, they gave me an envelope to take with me and sent me on my way.
Josh and I pulled up to the ER and Josh walked me in. He had to move the car so that he wouldn't get towed and I signed in and they took me up to the 13th floor. I was taken to triage and told that the doctor would be with me soon. After checking my blood pressure and asking what seemed like a million questions, and then waiting for what seemed like forever, the doctor came in and I just prayed that he wasn't going to send me home. He decided to keep me there! We were having a baby soon!!
They then walked us to a room. Poor Josh (was carrying all of our bags and such (I definitely overpacked!) and I was responsible for myself.
When we got in the room we met our nurse Amanda C. (Little did I know that I would learn to love this woman). Again we played a million questions, Josh got comfy, they put in my IV and then we just waited. Amanda made sure that we had everything that we needed. Drinks, food (for Josh), blankets pillows, etc. Josh's parents got there about an hour or so after we got to a room. We didn't want a group of people there while we were in triage. We called everyone that we needed too, most importantly my mom so that she could make the trip up from Georgia.
At about 4:00pm I was 5cm and I was HURTING. So, at that point I got the epidural. I was terrified.The thought of someone sticking me in my back, plus all the possible side effects and then they tell me that some people get a headache that could last for 6 weeks... and the there was another contraction... and I thought... I can deal with a headache! After the epidural I felt better almost instantly. I did get a bit nauseous, and one of my eyes went blurry for a few minutes but Amanda lowered my head below my heart and I was fine. I think at that point I actually napped.
About 10 minutes after the epidural, the doctor came in to check me and break my water. Again I was a little nervous about this. But, I had Josh by my side and I knew that everything would be ok. I was expecting it to be painful but it wasn't at all. The rest of the afternoon/evening was pretty easy going. Josh's parents went to the house to let the dog out, then came back. Amanda made sure that Josh was eating because she didn't want him to pass out.
About 9:30p or 9:45p I was checked and had made it to 10cm. Amanda said that we would wait to push though because baby Keown was still really high. I immediately called my mom to see where she was.. no answer. So I called my brother Shawn... no answer. OH NO! I was a bit panicked! Then all of the sudden there was a knock at the door and in came mom and Shawn!! THANK GOODNESS. At 10:00pm Amanda came in and said that it was time to start pushing.
After everyone cleared the room, except Josh, my mom and his mom. I started pushing. Josh was such a trooper and was holding my leg and putting a cool rag on my head when it was time for me to rest. He made sure that when it was time for me to rest that I was taking deep breaths, and he even started watching the monitor and would tell me when another contraction was coming. He coached me thru labor so well. I also had on my other side Amanda. She was great. She not only counted for me but would encourage me to push harder. Then as I was pushing mom and Josh's mom were pushing with me in the peanut gallery. Everytime I would breathe i would hear them breathe! Not too long after I started pushing Amanda had me stop and rest while the doctor came in to set up and a load of nurses came in to care for baby Keown after he/she was born.
Then the pushing started again. Josh was there the whole time. He encouraged me the most. The look in his eyes as the baby got closer and closer will stay with me forever. It was a look of fear, yet excitement. Our baby was about to be here after 40 LONG weeks. And as baby was born I was ready to hear the doctor say what baby was. In my head I just knew baby was a boy and even heard my brain say it's a b... then the doctor says It's a GIRL!! Josh cut the umbilical cord and I just cried. I couldn't do anything else but cry. I had so much joy in my heart and my world was perfect! I have the most wonderful husband in the world, and now we have a baby girl! The joy that I felt at that moment will stay alive in my heart forever. I will feel that joy through long nights, the temper tantrums and the teenage years. She is my baby girl and he is my wonderful husband... my cup runneth over.
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