There is a lot that has been going on that I want to blog about (because I have seriously been slacking) but Chloe is almost 2 months old and I haven't written down my labor story yet! I didn't want to forget and I write more on here than in my journal, so I decided to add it. It's probably going to be REALLY long (because I don't want to forget ANYTHING!..and I would make it really long in my journal journal) and mostly just writing...So if you don't want to read it I won't be offended!
On Thursday, Oct. 23 around 3:00 pm I started having pain in my lower abdomen. I was watching Stardust so I was distracted and didn't think too much about it. Around 5 I started thinking about what to make for dinner and got up to start my search. When I stood up I realized it hurt a lot more than when I was sitting.
I kept moving around a lot and by the time Cody came home at 6 I was standing at the oven, bawling my eyes out! I was in so much pain in my abdomen and lower back. It still hadn't really clicked that I was in labor -- everyone always said "When you're in labor you'll KNOW!" --And I didn't know! I called my doctor and they said I could go to the hospital if I wanted to but maybe just wait until the next morning to go in. Then I called my mom. When I told Cody I was going to call her he said, "She's just going to say to go to the hospital!"
But I wanted someone to say that so I would feel justified in going and know that I wasn't a wuss for hurting-I was having a baby!
Cody and I got our stuff together and drove to the hospital in IF. Our nurse started monitoring me and after a few hours said they were going to admit me because I was having a lot of contractions and moving along pretty well.By then I was at a 4 and although Grey's Anatomy was on I didn't really get to watch it because it wasn't my biggest priority at the time. And our room door was open and I didn't want to turn it up really loud (I couldn't hear it at all) because I was scared of other people getting annoyed with me!
I fell asleep around 1 am and when I went to sleep all my contractions stopped! Well, they didn't stop but they got a lot weaker and more sporadic. Around 5 am my nurse told me they were going to either send me home or induce me because everything pretty much stopped. I got up and started walking around and sitting and bouncing on the birthing ball but the contractions didn't really pick up.
Cody and I were both a little worried about inducing - we wanted her to come when she was ready and we didn't want to do anything "wrong" - but at the same time we really, REALLY didn't want to go home without a baby. I just wanted the whole thing to be over already! We said a prayer together and decided to go ahead and be induced.
Soon after I got a new nurse, Stacey. She was so nice and I really liked her a lot more than my first nurse. She was friendly and supportive of everything we wanted to do. At 8 am they induced me.
At first it wasn't bad - just contractions that were about the same as the night before. After about 30 minutes, though, I couldn't take it anymore! The contractions were so, so awful and I would've (honestly) welcomed death. I've NEVER felt like that before! During the contraction I would hyperventilate and right after it was over I would pass out. Cody was right by my side the whole time, holding my hand and talking me through it. He would tell me to open my eyes and look at him but I could only do that a couple times. It helped me more to have them closed and just have everything be black. He told me parts of my body to relax and would always tell me to relax my legs and ankles first. I started to get really frustrated because I always felt like they were relaxed and I didn't know how to relax them more! I wanted him to tell me other parts to relax but when the contraction was over and I would be able to talk-I was out!
I eventually stopped breathing in between contractions and Cody would YELL at me to wake me up to tell me to breath. He asked our nurse why I wasn't breathing and she said it was because I was hyperventilating so my brain wasn't telling my body to breath. I was totally out of it, but I remember barely hearing her and thinking, "I don't think that's ok...I think I'm supposed to be breathing."
After a couple hours, around 10:30 or 11, I asked Cody if he would be mad if I got an epidural. He said ABSOLUTELY not! I kept thinking about what my Amy had said--"When I'm in pain, it's natural for me to want medicine!!!" so we called Stacey in and she said she would let them know I wanted an epidural.
She then came back and said-The anesthesiologist isn't here but will be in about 20 minutes! I made it until he got there and didn't feel a THING! It was the best thing EVER. I was so happy I got one. It was honestly the best choice we made! Afterwards I slept until about 1 pm (So did Cody-he had been up ALL night) and I was so happy to look at the moniter and think-I'm having a contraction right now..HAHA I can't feel it! I'm better than you, stupid contraction!
Cody told me he was so glad I got an epidural because "I know you were in pain, but so was I!" He said it was really hard for him to be ready each time and know what to say and do to help me. He was really stressed and he said I was rolling his knuckles so it hurt! Good thing he didn't tell me that earlier, though! If he had compared his knuckle pain with my pain...It would've been bad news bears.
Stacey came in and told me that since I had gotten the epi I had progressed and was now at a 9! Because I was relaxed my body was able to do it's thing and we were going to have a baby soon! She had me start pushing...But I had absolutely no idea what I was doing. I couldn't feel anything! I kept asking-Am I doing it?
She told me to hold onto the backs of my legs to push but that was so hard because I had to hold up dead weight!
Then she gave me a sheet and she would pull and I would pull at the same time. I felt like that way worked a lot better. She had Cody hold one leg or hold the sheet sometimes, and I was always so worried! Everyone always said the guy shouldn't see anything because it's so awful looking! I kept yelling-Close your eyes! Don't look at me!! I was pretty worried he would have horrible images scarred in his brain. Oh well, he got over it.
Around 2 or so Dr. Merrill, came in. She wasn't our original dr, but she was the one that was there. She kept yelling at me to push harder and push harder. I was getting so mad at her because I didn't know if I was pushing at all! She also had me hold my breath 4 times for 10 seconds. That was hard, too! I can't hold my breath very long and anytime I would start breathing she'd yell at me!
After about 30 minutes, and during the yelling to keep pushing, I had my eyes closed and when I opened them to take another breath, I saw a baby's head! I had NO idea that she had come already! I didn't feel anything. I do kinda wish I could feel her, but I don't regret anything for a second! Two seconds later she was on top of me and Cody cut the cord! I couldn't believe it! Chloe Catheryn was finally here! Her cry was so adorable and I just looked at her with such amazment that she had really been inside of me! They took her to weigh and measure her and clean her up and then brought her back. It was the best experience ever!
didn't look until the nurse said she was finished. Cody got up with her when she was still getting her shots to comfort her and as soon as the nurse backed up I was up there to pick her up. She was SO sad and had SO many tears. It was awful. About two seconds later my mom called and I answered the phone totally bawling. Luckily she's such a great baby and fell asleep as soon as she was in her carseat. She slept for about two more hours when we brought her home and then I fed her and she was so happy! First she spit up a TON (even more than normal!!!) but after that she was all smiles! But look at her poor, little legs. So sad!
