Saturday, September 26, 2009
Monday night, September 14th. Todd was back over the mountain working when I got the word that we wouldn't get the keys to our house today afterall. It'd be tommorrow. I'd had enough and decided to take matters into my own hands (or my brother's). We had just broken into my house (by removing a screen) and was prepping the baby room for paint when all of the power on the north side of Cedar went out. After 3 hours of working as the day light faded, I accepted that the power was not coming back on and headed home dejected. How often does the power go out for 6 plus hours?! I just wanted to look to the sky and shout "Are you kidding me right now?!". I felt my way through the maze of boxes in our dark and cluttered apartment for the phone to have my evening talk with Todd. This would boost my spirits. Hmmm. Remote phones don't work when the power is out! Cell phones don't work in our basement. Through a fit of tears, a sore body, and a deflated spirit, I made my way back to the car (with needy Ty in tow) and drove into town to talk with Todd. Try as I might, I lost it. Completely lost it. I was done. Done with the house. Done worrying about going into labor while Todd was gone. Done trying to properly prepare. Done trying to get things in order at work. DONE.
The next morning, September 15th, I rushed out of bed at 7:30. Anxious to get my keys and get things going. Guess what came rushing with me? Amniotic Fluid. That's right. My water broke. And it was as grand as they make it out to be in the movies. It gave Niagra a run for it's money. Frantically, I made my way through the boxes to the phone, watering the carpet as I went. Dead. Crap. I knew I could get a text out so off I sent "my water broke, come home". I then called up to my sister who came running down in excitement. First, she said, "are you sure you didn't pee your pants?". My body answered her with another downpour. "Okay she said, you've ruptured". Ya think?! They never tell you that this downpour pretty much lasts throughout labor. EW. Jenny then said "Yay! In 24 hours you'll have a baby one way or another". I felt the blood drain from my face. I looked about at the chaos around me. I saw all her things stacked in the hallway bedroom and just closed my eyes. I had to let it all go. It was time to prepare for labor. Todd then called, "Are you serious ?" he asked. Uh, would I joke about that? He then said he just happened to be in a spot on the mt where he had service. Again, like the movies, he radioed to his boss and the gruff and tuff men responded anxiously to get him home. Todd later told me he was about to leave there and wouldn't have service again for a few hours. Phew. His cute boss was driving him off the mountain.
From there, I jumped in the shower to center myself and subsequently hurled my guts out (because I hadn't eaten yet). It seemed only right. When I got out I started packing my bag. I never thought it would go this way but I was strangly calm and at peace with it all. I was ready to meet my baby girl (since she was ready). All the while, Jenny kept calmly asking me if I wanted to head into the hospital. NO! I kept responding. Todd wasn't home yet. When people asked about birth plans I always said I didn't have one. I knew labor was too unpredictable. I had ONE plan. It was to labor at home as long as possible. I knew I could endure the pain much longer in the comfort of my own home. I no longer had that option. My water had broke but I was not contracting. I was now a ticking time bomb essentially. The longer I waited, the less time I would have before my only option became a c-section. Luckily, Todd arrived in record time, showered, and we headed off to the hospital. Jenny had prepped me that since I was going to be a "prime up" (essentially induced), labor would likely be long and "sucky". I was already prepared for that. I know what first time labors are generally like. I read a lot.
Here's how the rest of the labor played out....
11am. They did their admitting and checked me. I was 2cm. Jenny was mostly our nurse but the other one was named Amanda. I went to school with her sister. She was very kind and attentive. When I got there, Dr. Heath was in surgery so we waited for him to get out so he could order pitocin to start labor. I had not had a single contraction. That’s when the nurse came in to put an IV in my hand for the pitocin and to hydrate me. I’ve had plenty of IVs in my day but my was that one the most painful. She could not find a good vein and poked me repeatedly. When it was over, Todd looked like he was going to pass out and my hand was swollen and black and blue. This was a very large annoyance the rest of the labor because I had essentially lost the function of that hand. They had it all taped up and I could not bend my fingers which made laboring through contractions difficult. I had to have help sitting up, sitting down, etc. It was frustrating.
11:30am The pitocin was administered. I almost immediately started feeling contractions. At first, they'd say, "did you feel that? And I'd say "not really". But in no time I started feeling them don't you worry! I started to realize why labor was hard. They were like nothing I’d felt before.
1pm The contractions were coming every 2 minutes and I was feeling pretty uncomfortable. The intensity was surprising to me. They checked me once and I wasn’t changing too much. I was a little discouraged. Dr. Heath came in and joked at how slow things were going saying “guess I’ll be home for dinner huh?”. I missed that it was a joke and then told him not to mess with me. I was expecting things to go slow but I really thought that, due to the strength in the contractions, I was changing. I felt very lethargic during labor. I would labor through a contraction that was 2 minutes apart, and then fall asleep (and snore) until the next one came. Note: this was before the drugs. Jenny joked that I was like one of those weird hippie birthers that are very “zen” during birth. I don’t know why I was like that but I just remember thinking it was weird how serene and tired I felt. The contractions continued in intensity and the nurse kept offering me drugs but I didn’t want anything until I got the epideral.
2:45pm I was 4 cm. The doctor came in and suggested I get the epidural now. He didn’t think it would slow labor. I was not at the point where I couldn’t handle things anymore but I was ready for relief. I hadn’t yelled. I hadn’t cried. I was just ready. So they ordered the epidural.
2:10 Matt Staheli (who did Jenny and my mom’s epidural) came and administered it. I remember hunching over and thinking that I should try to think of anything other than the giant needle that was going into my back. My mom hunched with me and talked me through it as I tried to hold very still while the contractions came and went. It was difficult holding still but aside from that, I felt nothing. I kept wondering when it would hurt when they told me it was over. And then I waited. For about 20 minutes I continued to labor through contractions that felt much stronger. They checked me almost 5 minutes after the epidural and I was at a six. Although the contractions continued for about a half hour, they felt muted and I was so grateful for that. My right side went so numb I couldn’t believe it. I couldn’t even move my leg. My left side was not numb at all. I could kick, flex, and feel everything. This concerned me because I had watched jenny deliver a baby with only one side of her numb. She was in a great deal of pain. I was scared but I also felt so grateful to have any of the pain minimized that I geared up for what may come. That’s when they called the anesthesiologist and he gave me another dose…and then I was numb. I felt almost no pain. I felt the pressure of the contraction coming on and that was it. I was surprised how good I felt and kept saying so. I almost felt guilty. Labor wasn’t supposed to be this easy right? The doctor and my mom and sisters laughed at me when I just kept saying how good I felt. It waso nice to have my mom and sister there. I was nervous at first but there is something comforting about having women care for you. Of course, nothing was as comforting as having Todd by my side. I could see the pain in his eyes watching me suffer and I knew he would take it all on for me. I felt so comforted having him hold my hand and encourage me. I felt his confidence in me and it empowered me. I was checked two more times. The first time I was 7.5 cm and the second I was complete. I remember everyone looking shocked and almost cheering. I just kept thinking, really? It’s only been a few hours.
5pm Dr. Heath came in with his tail between his legs and commented that he really might be home for dinner. I enjoyed that. I then started pushing. I didn't realize pushing is something that takes practice. It’s like nothing your body’s really ever done. Around the third series of pushing, I caught on and felt like I was making progress. I kept asking if I was doing it right. I didn’t want to be one of those whimpy women who make no progress pushing. Everyone kept saying I was doing great and Dr. Heath told me progress at this stage was centimeters at a time. At some point I threw up all over Todd. I got very sick and puked for quite awhile. I remember thinking it was only fitting that I throw up during labor. I was embarrassed because I got puke all over but I was focused on pushing. I asked Dr. Heath how long I had before he would make me have a C-section. He kind of laughed (he’s grown accustomed to my fatalistic questions) and said he won’t let me push for longer than 3 hours. I had my goal in range and started pushing as hard as I could. I would try to get 5 pushes in with each contraction. It seemed like only minutes later that I saw her head poking out (I had a mirror). Dr. Heath told me he saw blond hair and that lit a fire in me. I was ready to meet her. I don’t remember getting tired at all. When an hour had passed, I thought it had only been minutes. I remember feeling somewhat discouraged when I would see the head and then it would disappear when the contraction was over. This only happened a few times. I remember looking, seeing your head, then turning away so that I wouldn’t feel discouraged. Then I glanced back and saw her head completely out. Dr. Heath said he cheated and had pulled her head out. What an amazing sight. Truly. The events from then on are just a blur. Everything happened at once. I felt her shoulders and then saw her miraculous little body, shaking and covered in goop, being placed on my body.
She was born at 6:38pm. 6lbs 6ounces and 19 inches long.
From there, time stood still. In a blurr, everyone gathered around drying her and warming her as she lay on my chest. I hardly noticed. I have no memory of the placenta being delivered. I vaguely recall Todd cutting the cord. My eyes never left her. She was so perfect. She was ours. I glanced from time to time at a proud dad. We were both crying and reveling in this masterpiece we had created. I kept saying “my little sweetheart” “I love you” and “we waited so long for you”. It was the most amazing moment of my life. It is written in my brain. I will never, ever forget it. I held her for a long time. We just took her in. When they asked if I was ready for them to bathe her, I said no. And I kept holding her....
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9 comments:
She's gorgeous. i love her name! Good job my friend.
Congratulations!!! She is just darling. I'm glad everything went well and she is finally here!
Ah! You always make me tear up, and the way you write about your life--I feel like I'm there! I need to come see you and little Lyla! Let me know when you are ready for visitors :)
Todd and Chelsea--we are so happy for the safe arrival of Lyla Jane. Last night, Deb, Angie, Lilli and I looked at the photos on Facebook. When we were finished looking at them, Angie asked when we can go to Aunt Chelsea's and Uncle Todd's. I said I hope soon. Angie loves babies and she wants to meet her new cousin.
Thank you for the whole baby story! I love your blogs like that. I almost feel like I was there. I hope that you are doing well and I am sure that you love being a mom. I am so happy for you. You and Todd did good. She is beautiful! I can't wait to meet her in person!
CONGRATULATIONS! She's a doll! Thanks for sharing your story - it made me remember mine. :) Bringing a baby into this world is TRULY one of the most magical, wonderful, perfect things in this entire world. She's adorable. Welcome, Lyla! :)
She is beautiful! Im so glad you didnt have to have a c-section! And I LOVE her name.
Oh, congratulations Chels - she is a doll! I'm so glad that Todd was able to make it home in record time and that labor went smoothly for you! I can't blame you for relishing in your newborn, it is such a special time when they are sent straight from heaven to you. And watch out...she will grow fast, so enjoy every minute!
Love it! What a great birth story...so glad that everything went well and she is here and happy! You can see in the pictures the love that Todd has for you just by looking at his eyes. I kind of teared up a little......
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