Douglas is Here!

[truthrowan]

I'm writing this from the hospital. This was an awesome birth experience. t

Sunday at around three in the afternoon Tegrim demanded Mommy lay down with him for a Nap. So I did, and then Jericho came to cuddle us, and we all fell asleep together. When we woke around five, I had a funny feeling, and went to the bathroom. Nothing unusual there, but I was in the living room when I felt wet, and went to the bathroom. My water had broken and leaked, so without telling anyone why I changed clothes from the waist down, and told Jericho to hurry so we could go out to my mothers for dinner. I'd been doing laundry and cleaning on and off all day long, and as we were getting ready I enlisted every one's aid, Jericho, Josh my BIL, and Sherri his GF my close friend, to get some things done on the excuse that bending over hurt. I knew I was in labor, but the contractions were not close enough together nor strong enough to bother timing.

We head out to my moms, but because we are late because of the nap, (got there at 7:15, were supposed to be there at 6:00) she's gone to my sisters. Call her, she comes home, cooks for us (we brought the food, she just grilled it and threw veggies in the microwave) and I tell her to come to the bathroom to talk to me. I tell her to be on standby, that I was fairly certain my water had broken and I was in labor, but I didn't want to tell Jericho because I'd wanted to visit her and he'd worry if he knew. So She's understanding about us being late. Around 9 I tell Jericho we should leave, that I think I'm in labor. My contraction were four minutes apart then, and a minute long. I wanted to stop and grab somethings at the store along the way, but he wouldn't let me. We go home, he makes me wait in the car while he TRIES to follow directions and get everything, but being a male that doesn't go well. Several things (like my toiletries) were left behind. We call the Midwives, they say I can come on in if I want.

We stop for milk for Teg on the way, then go on in. Go to triage. Wait. Wait. Get checked, and yes, my water broke. Move me to an L&D room, and they check me around midnight. I'm 80% effaced, and 5 cm. Do I want anything for the pain, they ask. At first I declined, but then I got REALLY shaky, like shivering so hard the bed creaked. Jericho, bless his heart, got informed why it's NOT a good idea to ask a woman in labor if she is "Okay." repeatedly. I don't know why, I knew he meant well, but it was aggravating. Of COURSE I'm not okay, I'm in labor, it hurts. It may be natural, but that doesn't feel good! So I go ahead and get some Staidol. It turned out to be not enough. Breathed through contractions, made sure both our moms were on standby so they could arrive when I was closer. Had to fuss at him later for talking while I was breathing through contractions. It broke my concentration. Also, No touching. Do not touch my hair or legs. Back is fine, shoulder is fine. Let me lean into you. But do not pet me, I am not a cat. I wasn't mean or bitchy, didn't cuss, but I wasn't my usual nice self. I felt guilty for it. Still do, but he understands.

Around 2:30 they check me again. She said I'm at 9 cm! We were excited. She asks if I need anything else for pain (our nurse Ann was AWESOME!) I figure, if I'm at 9, I can make it without anything else. She wanted to know because the anesthesiologist was on his way to do another, so she didn't want him to come and go and have to come again. About 3:30 she rechecks me. Apparently, she didn't push back far enough. I wasn't at 9. I was at 7, and still showing some cervix. It was okay, she was still an awesome nurse, but at that point, I chose the epidural. It didn't take evenly, and I had to keep shifting so that gravity could make it work in the empty zones, but it wasn't as strong as with Tegrim, and I could still move my legs and feel my feet, but bare the pain. Instead of being completely numb, I could just feel the pressure. Very much preferable.

We'd already called our moms, so we tried to let them know I wasn't that far along after all, but they didn't answer. They both arrived and waited with us, we had a nice chat. My FIL, niece, and brother were out in the waiting room. Ann comes to check on us, and says the girl across the hall is having trouble, so it might be a while before she gets back to me, to call if we need anything.This is like 4:30. She rechecks me before she goes, and I'm at 9 for real this time, with just a little cervix! She says we'll wait to see how that last centimeter and my cervix go, while she tends the other patient. That's fine by us. Turns out it was good our moms came on in!

Around 5:15, Ann comes in and checks me, and I'm at 10 CM and plus two station! She calls the midwife, and while Judy (one of my favorites!) is getting her gown and gloves on, Ann and the baby nurse get the stirrups in place and the bed set for delivery. Then, and Judy isn't even ready, they have me go ahead and start pushing. Two counts of ten oer push, and four pushes later, Douglas is out!  I got to see him come out, and they laid him right on me! Jericho cut the cord, and it was just awesome.

He was born at 5:32 AM, August 17th, his uncle's birthday! He was MUCH smaller than we'd anticipated, only 7lbs 11oz, but 20 and 1/2 inches long! Almost a pound less than Tegrim, but only a quarter of an inch shorter! Blond looking hair, and it looks like his eyes will stay blue. No jaundice so far, or any other problems! I'll add pictures when I can, our memory card was NOT in our camera when we packed it, so we couldn't take any, but our moms did.

Tegrim is fascinated by the baby, and was in the room, though asleep, when he was born. I didn't tear at all, have minimal bleeding and cramping, and feel great. Am Just a little more tired than normal, and trying to get my milk in. All in all, this was a wonderful birth experience, though next time, I think I'll just go straight for the epidural, instead of trying to tough it out. 

Oh, and Jericho says there WILL be a next time, a few years down the road, lol. He says he forgot how wonderful having a newborn is, lol. This from the man who SWORE he was getting fixed, he didn't want to go through this again, suddenly the sickness and mood swings of my pregnancy are worth it.

[MSugarKane]

Aug. 18, 2009 at 7:16 AM

congratulations!

[CHANEYPOOH08]

Aug. 26, 2009 at 5:56 PM

Congrats girlie.