So here's what happened with my labor...
On Friday (3 days before I went into labor), I went to the doctor who said that I was neither dilated nor effaced. When I asked her for a prediction of when she thought I would have this baby, she said that the only thing she could tell me was that I was definitely not having this baby in the next week and that I would be back for my next doctor's appointment the following Thursday. ....well Tyler and I had other ideas.....
The day before I went into labor, J.D. and I went to Roosevelt Island to go hiking for a few hours. We had a great relaxing time! We ran a few errands. We went for a 30 minute walk in Clarendon. We went home and did some yard work, where I was raking the grass clippings to spread them out (since we should have bagged them because the grass was to long). We went to the gym, where I ran 2 miles on the elliptical, 2 miles on the machine that I refer to as the "ski machine" (it's not really a ski machine though....), and lifted weights for my arms and back. I do remember saying to J.D. at the end of the day that I was pretty tired....although that's honestly not an abnormal amount of activity for us...even being 9 months pregnant. I haven't let it stop me from doing anything!
That night before bed, I finally convinced J.D. that we should pack my hospital bag. J.D. of course that I was just being my crazy and over-prepared self, but was tired of hearing me ask him about it....so we did it.
At 5:15 am, I woke up in bed and felt like I had to pee (for the 6th time that night). I went back to our bed and woke J.D. up, saying that I thought my water had broke and could he come and look. He sat up immediately, obviously very surprised since it was 3 and a half weeks early. We called the doctor, who told us to come to the hospital because they would have to deliver me within 24 hours since the risk of infection goes up after that point. J.D. and I finished packing, emptied the dishwasher, took out the trash, and left for the hospital.
By the time we got to the hospital, it was about 7 am. They took me to triage (a room with 7 beds and curtains around them), where they confirmed that my water did break, I was 2 cm dilated, 80% effaced, his head was really low, and I was having contractions which I didn't even feel yet.
Around 9 am I got up to my private labor and delivery room....still not feeling the contractions. They put me on a monitor and the baby on a monitor as well. His vitals were all perfect the entire time. I could see that I was having contractions, but couldn't feel it at all. Finally around 10:30, I began to feel them, but just as a tightening in my stomach....not pain. Around 11:15 or 11:30, I began to feel some pain which was definitely getting more painful more quickly, but at that point, still nothing I couldn't breathe through. They kept asking me if I wanted an epidural yet. I told them I wanted the doctor to check to make sure I was at least 4 cm dilated so that it didn't slow the labor (something I learned in my childbirth class). Well, as it turned out, I was 5 cm at that point, so I told them that I wanted the epidural.
Unfortunately, I was 4th in line for the epidural at that point, so I had to wait until 12:30 before the anesthesiologist could come. It truly was one of the most painful hours of my life. I can't say enough good things about J.D. during this whole process. He remembered all of the techniques we had learned in class (visualization---telling stories about our favorite times and places in Charlottesville--breathing, different positions, etc.). I honestly don't know what I would have done without him there supporting me the whole time.
I finally got the epidural around 12:30 or 12:45. I had one contraction during the epidural and trying to stay completely still while they stick a very long needle in your back was pretty hard. I remember imagining how much the epidural was going to hurt given the size of the needle....but it hardly hurt at all. I'm not sure whether or not it actually hurt or the contractions just hurt way more so in comparison, the epidural was a piece of cake. Actually, the IV line that they put in my wrist when I first arrived hurt more than the epidural. As soon as I got the epidural (well technically I got part epidural part spinal since they weren't sure it was going to be enough.....I don't really understand this part, but that's what they told me), I felt NO more contractions. I felt no pain at all. I was back to being happy and thinking that my labor was probably going to be at least 5-6 more hours since the doctor told me that it typically takes 1 hour to dilate every centimeter after 4 cm.
J.D. had just gotten off the phone with my dad who was bringing him lunch and my mom who he told not to come to the hospital since it was going to be several more hours before the baby was here. Right after the phone calls, a little before 1 pm, the new doctor came in (since they switched shifts) just to check me. All of a sudden she told me that I was 10 cm and it was time to push. You should have seen the looks on J.D. and my faces.....quite shocked! About 10 minutes and 6 quick pushes later, at 1:14 pm Tyler was born. Again, I still felt nothing....pretty incredible. The nurses kept saying that I could have easily had him with no drugs, but if you ask me, I was thrilled to have the epidural and would DEFINITELY get it again.
I ended up only being on the epidural for about an hour, so my legs weren't numb for very long. After I delivered Ty, I felt very strongly that I wanted us to bond right away ( skin to skin) assuming he was healthy, which he was.
J.D. went over with Ty to have his typical new born tests so that he wouldn't be scared. Ty got an Apgar score of 8-9....great! He looked great, weighing in at 5lbs, 5 oz and a head circumference of 19 inches!
J.D. and I are so happy to have Tyler as a part of our family!
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