Sophia's Birth Story!!

It's been so long since I have posted an entry but life has just been so crazy since the last time. My little girl finally made her entrance to this world and we have been getting to know her ever since! Here's her birth story!!

           Ever since 35wks, I had been having ALOT of braxton hicks contractions. Some days were ok, others, not so much. We ended going to the hospital at 35, 37 and 38 wks. All were nothing and sent home. The last time we were sent home was March 20th. It was a Saturday and I had been having contractions all day and they were quite uncomfortable. My sides were hurting and they were taking my breath away. I called my mom and talked with her. She said by the sound of my voice, she thought I was in labor, and started packing her bags. Mind you, she lives 3 hours away, so if I was in labor, I wanted her to be the first to know she so could be there and be my support. I called my midwife, Willow, and talked with her and she said that my best bet would be to go to the hospital and get checked out. So, J and I called his mom to come and sit with A while we went to the hospital. The only thought in my mind was "I hope I don't get sent home. I'm getting sick of that." Low and behold, we got sent home with instructions to take it easy and use "comfort measures" to get rest. Yeah, sure.

           Sunday was horrible. I had a shitty night for sleep, but the contractions weren't as bad as they were in the hospital. They weren't going away either, so I spent most of Sunday lounging on the couch with a heating pad on my hips for comfort. I did whatever I could to feel better with hopes in my mind that the pain would just get worse so I could get the pregnancy done and over with. I was ready to have my body back and be comfortable again.

             Monday, March 22nd. I called Amelia out of school that morning because I was still feeling crappy and didn't want to worry about having contractions and needing to go pick up A from school and having to drive in pain. J had an infection in his mouth and the abscess had finally popped, so he came home from work early that day. I had called Willow's office to see if they had received any of my birth records from A (it took me forever to progress from 2 to 3 cm and it was looking like it was gonna take that long this time around as well) Willow ended up answering the phone and we discussed the contractions that I had been having and the fact that they were getting worse again. I told her that I was trying to hold out for our appointment at 3 that afternoon. She asked if I wanted to come in earlier. Knowing they usually had a busy schedule, I asked if she had time to fit me in earlier. She told me that she could do a 12:45pm if I wanted to. I thought "Well, J is home for the day" Sure, I can do that. I got dressed and we headed out, bringing A with us.

           When we got there, it was the same drill. Pee in a cup, weight check, blood pressure check, ect. All were fine. She told me that her office has a strict policy against doing elective inductions and suggested to me to try castor oil. I knew previously that that was one of the methods I didn't want to try, and she knew this, also. I was on the toilet enough as it is and I was feeling miserable enough, as well. Then I thought "What the hell, why not?" I asked her "How do you do it?" She told me would give me a note card with a recipe and that she would really strip my membranes in an effort to get things going. I get in the room and undressed and get on the table/chair thingy. She measured my belly (39) and we heard her heartbeat (151) and I asked her how much she weighed. She estimated about 7 1/2 lbs.

           Before I continue, let me remind you that both J and A are in the room with me, in a corner where neither can see my lady parts.

           Willow put a glove on and went to work. Stripping membranes hurts in general, and this time it REALLY hurt. She could see my face grimace and told me that she was really gonna aggravate it. She told me that I was about 3 cm and then I saw her jump back and she said "...And there's your water!" One of the things that could happen as a result of stripping membranes is accidental breaking of the water, which I was fine with. She handed me a thick pad and said "Sorry!" It took me a minute to sink in and then I looked at J and A and said "Guess what? Baby's gonna be here in 24 hours!" My next thought wasn't "I need to get over to the hospital" or "I should get dressed", it was "I need my phone to call my mom" So now, J and I are both on our phones, calling the people that we needed to call. My mom was at work and said that she was gonna try to work until 6pm and to call her if things get going. I told her that I really wanted her to come now, but accepted her decision. (I was in labor with A for 19 hours) J called his work to let them know and called his mother out of work so she could be there. We left the office and headed over to the hospital. Poor A had no idea what was going on. All she knew was that her little sister was coming and everyone was in a rush.

             I got all checked in and J brought A home to be with his family and to grab our bags and whatnot. I got upstairs and they got me all hooked up. Ma (J's mother) showed up and was all shades of flustered. This was her first grandchild and I think it was her first birth (other then her own). I reassured her that I was ok and had her call John to tell him that I was ok and he didn't need to rush. I wasn't feeling any contractions at all. The nurses wanted me to walk around and get things going. There was construction guys working on the floor fixing the door signs. I told the nurse that I would walk around the room, but I wasn't going out in the hallway until they were gone. Around 2, my mom had called and said that she was on her way. She couldn't get ahold of my dad, but left him a message. Just after that, Willow came into check me. I was a good 3 cms and 90% effaced. She did feel a small bag of water and decided to break that since the water had already broken. Well, it wasn't small at all. I completely soaked the bed and it even went on the floor.We talked about filling the bath tub up and getting the IV started for the pain meds.

           At this point, I was only feeling a few light contractions. I hadn't had anything to eat for lunch because I was gonna eat when we got home from the appointment, so they brought me up some lunch. Willow wanted me to really start walking. The construction guys had left for the day, so I had Ma come with me as I walked up and down the hallways. It wasn't too long after that, that J arrived with everything we needed. He and I started walking up and down the halls while Ma made some phone calls. The contractions started getting worse, but manageable. My choice for pain management was going to be the bath tub and stadol. I didn't want an epidural unless I was getting pitocin or a c-section. It didn't take long for the contractions to stop me in my tracks. I started using the wall as counter pressure, as the contractions were in my back, but that didn't last long. I had to lean over J and have him massage my back. That didn't last long either, standing up, so I went to lay back down in bed. The contractions were getting more intense, but not close together. The nurse came into do the IV and let me tell you, that was hard to keep my hand still during those contractions, but I managed to do it!! Willow came in to check me again at 4pm and said that I was about 5 cms and completely thinned out. The next thing out of my mouth was "Good! Screw the Stadol. I want the epidural!" She asked me if I was sure, and I said "Yes, they are coming too strong, too fast" She said ok, and told me to go to the bathroom first and we would get the anesthesiologist. I started crying. My only thought was that my mom wasn't gonna make it in time for the birth. John called her and I talked with her while in tears. She was only about an hour and a half or so away. The guy came in to give me the epi and I told him that the contractions were about 5 min apart, so I could probably make it with out moving if he waited until I got over one to start it. Well, a contraction came anyways and knowing I couldn't move, I said outloud "Someone talk to me, I don't care what about. I need it to get my mind off the contraction" but it didn't seem like anyone caught the memo so I just started saying anything I could. J then asked me questions and that worked. After the epi was administered, I felt so relieved. I wasn't uncomfortable anymore. I was just REALLY itchy.