natural birth story part I

"that's one bulgy bag of water."

not big on reading? here's the condensed version:

i had a baby, med-free.

want more? got a comfy place to sit?
got a morsel or two to keep your energy up? good. let's begin.

Russ and I went to my 37 week appointment on Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. [As I'm sure you recall, the appointment the week prior to that we learned I was dilated 4 centimeters and 80% effaced. Our doctor said he'd be surprised if Hayes lasted two more weeks in the big house (my uterus.)] We were so anxious to hear if I had progressed further, and Russ said a few times on the way there "I bet you're a 6 now."

He was right. The doctor checked me and confirmed that I was now dilated to a 6. The doctor looked shocked, I tell you, you never get used to that reaction. He and the nurse questioned me about my contractions. I told them, truthfully, I had false labor contractions the night before for a couple hours, and I thought I felt like what might have been a contraction waddling through Old Navy the day before, but I wasn't sure. Everyone says, "you'll know" and I didn't, yet.

The doctor said it was time to get to the hospital. He let me know that I also tested positive for Strep B and that it was imperative I get a treatment of penicillin before the baby was born. He said the treatment takes four hours and at this point we've gotta get down there and get it started. He told us to go home get our gear and to not take more than an hour because-- "that's one bulgy bag of water you've got in there." Three weeks early or not, Hayes was on his way.

Russ and I drove home to get our bags. He gave me a blessing of comfort, stamina, strength, and the will-power to do this according to my goal -- naturally.

<------- we got one last picture and headed out.

At 3:00 we got to the hospital. The admitting nurse stared at me blankly... "So, you're not having contractions, but you're dilated to a 6?" Yeah yeah lady, I know, it's not normal. By 3:00 I had heard PLENTY of non-believers express the utter impossibility of it all.

They monitored my contractions for awhile... they were coming consistently but once again, they're standing there puzzled because I am sitting there smiling, talking, and cracking jokes and shouldn't I bet yelling like an Amazonian woman by now? They FINALLY start my round of penicillin, and tell me that it needs to run its course for 4 hours [4 - 8 p.m.] At this point I am dilated to a 7, and my water is still hanging in there.

getting hooked up // trying to get a baby out the pioneer way

By 8 p.m. the penicillin treatment is done. My contractions are starting to pick up on their own by now, but I had only dilated to an 8 since 4 p.m. I think we all knew this would take all night if I didn't get some pitocin. I know it was probably the worst decision for someone planning a natural delivery. But, every half-hour Nurse Kami came in an upped pitocin until I was at 7mL, which is nuts, I should sue. Then in comes Dr. Wolsey (LOVED HIM) with a crochet hook.

The moment my water broke, I felt what I had been waiting for: a crampy, wringing-out contraction. I had definitely had contractions before, but holy smokes, this is what "you'll just know" about. Time to breathe. For the first hour of full-blown contractions I felt pretty good, I was staying on top of them, resting in between, staying relaxed. Yeah, just wait a sec.
At 9:00 p.m. the nurse checked me and I was now dilated to 9 cm and 90% effaced.

sometime between 9-10 p.m. and 9-10 cm
The second hour of contractions are causing the worst pain I have ever experienced, thirty seconds at a time, each a minute apart. They are coming down on me like waves, every time I get pushed under and can't find enough time to come up for air before the next. I can barely hold my head up in between, I'm so tired. So, Russ holds me.
The baby's oxygen is dropping so they make me wear the mask.
I feel completely defeated.

Russ and my mom are saying "hee hoo hee hoo hee hoo." and I am saying "heehooahheahahoahaouchhh." I say a prayer.
All the sudden, with my trusty coaches' help,
I am able to breathe and relax through the rest of my contractions.

10 p.m.
BANG. Every muscle, bone, and vein in my body tells me it's time to push.
Nurse Kami confirms that I am now at 10 cm then says,
"Dr. Wolsey went home but I just paged him and he'll be right back"
•••
[That's called a cliffhanger, what I just did there.]