The Lilac Project: March 15, 2012

This is how I remember it. I will have to get Scott and my mom to write out their version one of these days. I am sure their memory of this day was somewhat different ;)

Early Labor

On Thursday March 15th, 2012 I woke up about 4:30 am with some mild back pains. I went back to bed knowing that this was the day! I was already 8 days past my due date.
I eventually got up at my normal time, jumped in the shower, and then did my makeup and curled my hair. I knew while doing my hair and makeup that this needed to last and there would not be time to have a "redo."

My mom had been staying with us close to 3 weeks by now, so I told her my symptoms and she knew today was the day. She pulled out my "What to Expect when Expecting" book and dog-eared the pages of active labor.

Since I was 8 days past my due date, my doctor's office called me asking me to come in and do a non-stress test along with check my blood pressure. The last few visits my blood pressure was 140/85 several times. I had done my research and knew I did not have any signs of preeclampsia (no swelling, no sudden weight gain, no headaches, nausea, vision changes, etc.) I was actually feeling great. I think going into the doctor's office for my weekly checkups was giving me extreme anxiety because I would go check my blood pressure daily at CVS and it was always around 108/83. Fortunately, since I was having contractions I told them I wouldn't be coming into the office and I would call the doctor later when I needed her to meet us at the hospital, haha! I don't think they believed that I would be delivering later that day.

My back pains & contractions continued throughout the day, but I continued to work answering emails and phoning in on several conference calls. I even did my mom's nails as well as my own during my lunch break. My mom had graciously spot cleaned the house and helped me prepare multiple meals, it was the least I could do.

Active Labor

Around 4:30pm my contractions became much more intense and closer together. It was all back labor. You haven't felt back pain till you've experienced back labor. It is very intense. At this time I was still working and emailing, but I was now crouching on the floor with my laptop sitting on the couch. Between contractions I emailed, but once a contraction started I would kneel over my inflated yoga/ labor ball or the couch and Scott would rub my back. Once the contraction ended, I was back to working. It helped the time go by for sure. By 5:30 I was done with work and could no longer focus enough so I sent my last email letting my co-workers know I probably would not be at work on Friday and closed the laptop. By that time contractions were really coming on strong.

By 6:45 I decided going to the hospital would be a good idea. I had started to reach the transition stage and the contractions were close and very intense. I still needed to be able to bare the short car ride to the hospital so we packed up and headed over to the hospital. Scott called our doctor and she really didn't think I would be seeing her that night, but he let her know we were headed over to the hospital.

Fortunately, the car ride was short but it was very uncomfortable. I hate when I see people with their feet up on the dashboard of the car. I think it is so disgusting, but I was one of those people! It was more comfortable and helped cushion the ride over bumps and potholes in the road. We didn't run any red lights, but it got close a few times.

When we arrived at the hospital I started to tear up and I became very emotional. My mom and I had driven by the hospital so many times waiting for me to go into delivery, I thought it was never going to happen.

I walked into triage and a heavy-set nurse told me to take my clothes off and put the hospital gown on.
I took one look at that thing and I wasn't about to put it on. Hell no! Bent over the hospital bed, going through a contraction, I begged Scott to go get our bag so I could put my own gown on. The nurse looked at me and totally gave me a "look."

After putting on my own gown, the nurse pulled back the curtain and checked to see how far I was dilated. While "checking" me she surprisingly blurts out "GIRL, you are ready! You are over 9 1/2 cm dilated. I need to call your doctor." She then tries to hook me up to a bunch of monitors and I told her I didn't want to be hooked up and that it was very uncomfortable. She leaves us and closes the curtain behind her and starts to call my doctor. I can hear her calling the doctor (because she is just on the other side of the curtain) and she totally mimics me over the phone "I don't want to be hooked up the the monitors" she tells my doctor. I looked over at Scott and said "she knows we can hear her right??"
After that, she moved us into the room I would deliver the baby at and my mom, dad, and two sisters were finally able to join us in that room. By that time, it was close 7:30-8:00.

Delivery

This is where things get a little blurry.
The nurse started to have me push but my water still had not broken. The doctor finally arrived and she ended up breaking the water for me. She left the room for sometime while I continued to push.... then I became swollen and they had me stop pushing. This was hell. Going through my contractions by this time was more painful than pushing. With every contraction that came on, Scott & my dad helped alleviate the pain by applying pressure on my lower back. After each contraction I was then taking in oxygen through an oxygen tank. I was becoming very weak.

My doctor finally came back in the room. As I was looking at her between my legs, she tells me firmly, "If you don't push this baby out, I am going to reach in pull him out!"
At first I thought she was going to tell me we had to go in for an emergency c-section...so when she finished her sentence I was relieved! I started to push with everything I had in me. With every push, thoughts were racing through my head....what the hell am I doing... how did I get here... should I ask for the drugs now... God help me get through this...
A few times I let out a screech but for the most part there was no yelling or grunting, just the sound of my parents and Scott telling me "Come on! You can do it! You're almost there!"

When several nurses came in, started to get blankets ready, turning the lights up and turning on the baby heat lamps on, I knew I was in the homestretch.

"He has blonde hair!"
"This is it!!!"
"Push harder!"
"Come on, you're doing it!"
"His hand is coming out with his head!" - I am not sure if someone actually said that, but it did happen.

Major is Here

Major was finally born at 11:05pm.
22 inches long.
7 lbs 14.5 ounces

I won't ever forget that feeling of his face pressed to mine for the first time. The way his skin felt, damp and cool. His clean scent. The way he lifted his head up off my chest and looked right at me.
All the pain, the stitches after tearing internally, the discomfort, the stressful weeks that lead up to this moment.

It was all worth it!

It really is amazing how you can go through all of that, the weeks of recovery and look back and tell yourself you'd do it all over again.

He is so sweet and we love him so much.
God willing, I will do this again.