Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Birth Story

While my pregnancy was largely uneventful, my experience with labor and delivery was anything but that.

At 35 weeks and 5 days, I started experiencing some cramping and contractions that landed me in the OB ER overnight for observation. They were able to slow the contractions down and eventually stop them and sent me home. 

Over the next week, I heeded their advice and did not go to the gym (even though I really, really wanted to) scrub my floors, or do anything overly taxing. 

That Wednesday, I had put my daughter down for "rest" and decided to lay down myself for a bit. E called out to me, so I got up to find out what she wanted. Somewhere between her room and mine, I felt a pop! then a gush. 

My water had broken. 

So not what I had planned for my Wednesday afternoon. 

I ran to the bathroom and asked E to get my phone. I called my husband and two friends; one to pick up my daughter and the other to pick me up and drive me to the hospital. My husband was already in the city where the hospital is located so he was going to meet me there. 

We got to the hospital without incident, made it through the OB ER, where they confirmed my water had broken. They wheeled me to labor & delivery where they started the process of prepping me for the c-section. 

At this point the contractions were getting worse. and worse. and worse. By the time they rolled me into the OR I was starting to hyperventilate. In case you were wondering, running a marathon is easier then labor. Just as they were getting me ready for the spinal, the blessed spinal, a nurse popped her head into to say my Dr. had an emergency and I would need to wait. Yea. That was awesome. 

The poor sterile OR nurses could do nothing except stand there and watch me sob hysterically as the back to back contractions took my breath away. Finally, another nurse came in and held my hand, which helped tremendously. 

They wheeled me back into my room, much to the surprise of my husband, and gave me some pain medicine. 45 minutes later they brought me back into the OR, gave me the amazing spinal, and a few minutes later Baby G was born!

After warning us that he might not cry, because he was early and may have lung development issues, I was so thankful to hear that fabulous newborn wail. 

He was, and is, perfectly healthy. There was no reason for him to have to go to the NICU and he was able to go straight to the regular baby nursery. 

He proceeded to spend the next few days eating, sleeping, and pooping. He is a joy. A cuddly and calm little munchkin. He fits perfectly into our family. I can't believe that he hasn't always be here. We are blessed. 


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