On January 2nd, I was scheduled for an induction since I was not allowed to go to 40 weeks due to the the "gestational diabetes." Brett, my parents, and I left for the hospital at 3:45 p.m. and arrived at Memorial Health University Medical Center by 4:30 p.m. As soon as I was checked in, I was given a big Labor/Delivery room which was nice that had enough room for everyone. The plan was to give me Cervidil (to soften my cervix) at 5:00 p.m. and then induce me with Pitocin the next morning at 6 a.m.
I was already dilated at 2.75 cm and 75% effaced at 5:00 p.m. when they administered the Cervidil. It was very uncomfortable and I was told that I would probably start cramping. 15 minutes later I was really feeling some discomfort, but thought it was just the cramping. Brett and my parents left to go eat dinner since we didn't think anything was going to progress until the next morning. Boy, were we wrong!
At 5:30 p.m. when Brett and my parents had left, the nurse Kerry came in and asked me if I was ok. I told her that I was having some pain that felt like a 5-7. She said I was having contractions, but they were still irregular. She said she would come back in a half hour and check on me. Well at 6 p.m. the contractions were seriously on a pain level of 8-10. I found myself practicing the Lamaze breathing and gripping the side rail of the bed. Kerry came in and checked and I was dilated to 4 cm and 100% effaced. Kerry talked to the doctor and they decided to take the Cervidil out since I was naturally progressing. It looked like I would not be getting induced after all (that made me happy to hear).
Between contractions I would text Brett and let him know what was going on. At about 7:30 p.m. when my new nurse Mary Kate was giving me a narcotic to ease the pain of the contractions, I told him I needed them to come back because I knew things were happening. The drug made me so sleepy that the next thing I remembered, it was 8:30 p.m. and I had an oxygen mask. There wasn't anything wrong with me, but it sure freaked out Brett and my parents when they came back. I was so out of it, that I would wake up during contractions and then fall asleep again. I remember I told everyone that I looked like Bane from Batman, but the rest was a blur.
Between 10-10:30 p.m. they checked me again and I was at 6 cm which qualified me for the epidural that I requested. At this point my parent's left to go get some sleep as I waited for the anesthesiologist. He came at 11:00 p.m. and began the 15 minute process. I had heard some people say that the needle hurts, but I was completely fine. The anesthesiologist was really funny and told me not to jump because it always scares him when it happens. Of course, I jumped which made him jump and we all just laughed. I asked to start with a low dose because I didn't want to be completely numb. I only hit the button once to give me more because I could still feel the pain/pressure. I also want to say that I think the epidural is wonderful! ;)
At 11:30 p.m. I was checked again and was dilated at 8 cm. At that point the doctor on call, Dr. Gallup, came in and broke my water. That was such a weird feeling when she broke my water. Once my water broke, I could definitely feel the pressure of the baby's head. I kept thinking I had to go to the bathroom, but the nurse assured me that it was just the baby's head. Both Brett and I fell asleep until we were both woken up at 12:40 a.m. that it was time for me to start pushing. I was in shock because I wasn't expecting it to be time. Before I began pushing, I began to get a little emotional. I couldn't believe that the baby was going to be here in a few minutes and that I was going to be a mom.
At. 12:50 a.m. I started to push with Brett by my side. I was proud of Brett because he was handling everything like a champ and was even checking things out. I was so surprised he didn't pass out. After 10 minutes and 12 pushes, my baby boy Luke, was out. I could hear his little cries as they cleaned him up and they put him on my stomach. I remember Brett hugged me and told me I did a great job. Brett cut the umbilical cord and then followed the nurse as they took Luke to get checked, etc. Unfortunately for me, I was torn up to a 3rd degree, so I had to get a lot of stitches. As I was getting stitched up, Dr. Gallop and Mary Kate kept telling me that they were super impressed with my labor for a first time. Overall, I was only in labor for 8 hours from 5:00 p.m. until Luke was born at 1:00 a.m.
My favorite part was when they put Luke on me for skin to skin time. It was so precious to hold him and form that bond with my son for that first hour of his life. It is something that I will treasure forever and I am glad Brett was there with me. As I reflect back, I feel very blessed and grateful for such a quick labor and delivery. I am glad that everything worked out and that there were no complications. I am so lucky to have this little baby and be his mother. We love our little Luke!
I loved that Memorial Health baked a birthday cake for Luke!
