Birth Day

I'm finally ready to sit down and write the birth story.  Figured I better write it down before I forget it. 

On Thursday, June 3rd, Keith and I got up around 3:30am to get ready for the hospital.  We had to be there at 5:30 for the induction to start.  Surprisingly I slept pretty good that night.  I set an alarm for 11:30pm so I could eat a snack because I wasn't allowed to eat after midnight and I knew I would be starving if I didn't.  Keith tortured me with Whataburger on the way to the hospital.  I got to hand him his hashbrowns dipped in ketchup while he drove. :)  We got in the room and I changed into my lovely little gown and they started the IV on me.  I hate needles and I knew this part was going to be bad because I've had an IV before.  The nurse tried to start it in my right arm but it hurt so bad that she stopped and started one on the left.  Fun!  Once the IV was in, they started the pitocin.  Very low at first.  For the first couple of hours I didn't really feel anything.  Dr. B got there around 9ish to break my water.  She said I wouldn't be able to really feel my water breaking and it wouldn't hurt.  She failed to tell me that she had to dig around up there for forever in order to break my water.  I nearly came out of my skin it hurt so bad!  I'm sure she didn't tell me so I wouldn't freak out.   She did say afterwards that the water breaking was one of the worst parts.  Having your water broken and feeling it gush out of you was a very weird sensation.  Every time I would move, I felt like I was peeing on myself.  Getting up to go to the bathroom was great fun since I was hooked up to an IV and since I had to attempt to walk to the bathroom with a towel between my legs, pushing the IV thing.  All the while trying to hide my butt from view.  :)  That was the point that all my modesty just kind of went out the window.  After my water was broken, I started to feel the contractions.  They were pretty bearable at first.  For awhile actually.   Throughout this whole pregnancy, all I thought about was the stupid epidural and how I knew I wanted one, but was so scared to get it because of the big huge needle that they have to use.  Not to mention that it has to be put in your back.  So I waited until I literally could not take the pain anymore before I asked for one.  Now I know that plenty of people go through childbirth without an epidural or some kind of pain relief and I know that women have been doing this forever and have survived, but I got to the point with those contractions that I just couldn't stand it anymore.  They were coming really close together and the pain would literally take my breath away.  I tried to breathe through it but it wasn't happening.  By the time I asked for the epi I was in so much pain but had to wait about 15-20 min for the epi person to get there.  I wanted to kick myself for not asking for it sooner.  The contractions just went from bearable to unbearable really quickly. :)  Even through all the pain I was still so scared to get the epi.  And it didn't even hurt that bad at all.  I had myself all psyched up for nothin!  Once the I got Mr. Epi, all was well with the world again.  My contractions were coming really close together and at a good intensity and I was dilated to a 4.  We were trucking right along.  Just when I thought we were getting somewhere, the nurse had me turn on my left side for a bit.  Now I know that the left side is supposed to be the best for a pregnant person to lie on since it allows blood to flow better or something like that.  I tried to lay on my left side throughout my pregnancy but everytime I would, it would be sooo uncomfortable and just didn't feel right at all.  I could lay on my right side just fine, but the left always gave me problems.  Once I started laying on my left side is when Vince's heart rate started going downhill.  The nurse stopped the pitocin, had me lay on my right side again, and called Dr. B to see what she wanted to do.  This was about 4:30 or so.  Pit stopped and I stopped having contractions.  She had me off of it for about an hour.  His heart rate went back to normal and so they started it again.  My contractions were very wimpy and pretty much stayed that way.  Dr. B. got there around 6 something and checked me again.  Still at a 4 and she said that he had the biggest cone head she had ever felt for only being dilated to a 4.  She kicked everyone out so we could go over our options.  At this point, I pretty much knew what we were going to have to do.  Dr. B. said that if I wanted to try for a vaginal delivery, that she would support that decision.  That we could keep doing this for hours if that is what I wanted.  Well, I didn't come into this delivery with any expectations.  I wasn't opposed to a C-section if that is what needed to be done.  She told me that she thought that even if we did try to labor for longer that we would end up with the same outcome...C-section.  She then said, or we can just do it now and not have to worry about it anymore.  I wanted what was best for Vince so I opted for a C-section.  My pelvic region was just to narrow for poor little Vincey to get through and he was working so hard to get through that he'd given himself a nice little conehead.   Pretty much right away, they whisked me to the OR and had Keith get ready with his scrubs.  It was all very fast and scary.  There is nothing more freaky than being awake while they slice into you!  I could feel them moving me legs and touching me and I could feel pressure, I just couldn't feel anything sharp.  I kept bracing myself for pain even though I knew I wasn't going to have any.  My brain could not process this very well. I was probably the most annoying patient on the planet.  I was very out of it but asked a million questions.   I kept telling them that I coudn't breathe and they kept telling me that since I was able to talk that I was ok.  I was cuckoo!  :)  It only took them about 15 min to get Vince out.  It is very, very crazy to feel something come out of your belly like that.  I felt him being pulled out of my belly.  From the top of my ribs.  He was there and then he wasn't.  CRAZY!  When they showed him to me, he had to biggest conehead ever and he was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen.  I cried like a baby and Keith just kept saying, Oh my God, Oh my God!  :)  Best day of my life by far.  It seemed like it took them forever to sew me back up.  I kept asking them if they were almost done.  Like I said, most annoying patient on the planet.  Finally, they put him in my arms and wheeled me back to my room.  Everyone was standing in the hallway waiting for us.  I was so out of it at this point that I don't really remember alot.  I remember stuff but it was all fuzzy and weird.  All I remember is telling Keith to only let in a few people at a time so I didn't get overwhelmed.  Next thing I know, EVERYONE is in my room.  And there were probably about 15 people there.  Don't get me wrong, I felt very priveleged that all of these people loved us and cared about us enough that they wanted to be there for the birth of our baby.  But it was all so overwhelming with everyone in there at once.  I felt like I couldn't focus on anyone or anything and I'm sure when people tried to talk to me I made no sense whatsoever.  Oh well.  After that they whisked us off to the 2nd floor where we stayed for 3 days until we were discharged.  Three of the longest, craziest days of my life.  Let's just say we were sooo ready to go home that Dr. B wanted us to stay for a 4th day and I wasn't having it.  I couldn't function in the hospital anymore so she let us go home.  We had a couple of really rough nights.  Once we got home, everything was so much better.  Vince ended up losing a whole pound and 3 ounces before he started gaining again.  My milk didn't come in until day 5 and the poor booger was HUNGRY!! :)  Once my milk came in, everything was fine.  This whole breastfeeding thing was definitely not easy!  I see why people just give up and go to formula but breastfeeding was the ONE thing that I did want to work out so we didn't give up.  So there it is.  I left some things out but some things are better left unsaid.   We got our baby boy and that's all that matters.  He's healthy and only cries when he's hungry or wet.  He's the best baby and Keith and I are so enamored with him.  If we could, we would just stare at him all day.  Well, I do, but Keith would too if he could.  Mommy and Daddy love you Vince and we are so lucky to have you in our lives.  We are now a little family of three.  :)

Jen