A Birth Story.

Alyssa is 1 month old, so I figure it is past time to post about the night she was born :)

Sunday afternoon after church, around 1:30pm my wonderful, and amazingly sweet doctor stripped my membranes (for the 3rd time), I was 39 weeks and 6 days and about 6cm. Contractions started slowly, but this time each contraction was getting a little stronger...around 5pm I told Dr. T about the frequency of the contractions and she said it was time for me to head on into the hospital...so first I went to the grocery store (because we couldn't come home from the hospital with no bread!!).

Walking around the store I was contracting every 4 minutes and gripping the shopping cart...it was getting to the point I had to stop talking/walking. We came back to the house, put the groceries away and got Emma packed and ready. We drove from hickory to portsmouth, dropped Emma off at church where her grandparents were and then headed to the hospital...it was about 7:30 when I got in the hospital room. Room 2225, same room Emma was born in, and my nephew Alex. The secretary that night that admitted me said "you're still smiling so this can't be it" pssssh...I was just so happy to finally be having this baby!!

So in walks my nurse, my coworker. I get put on the monitor, she waits to see what kind of contraction pattern I'm in...20 minutes later she checks me, a little discouraged at her exam but educated enough to know that it's subjective. My close friend Meganne joins me and my husband, I'm still smiling between contractions and coping very well...we start to walk the halls and my nurse gets the jacuzzi tub ready. I am laughing as we walk the halls...we visit with my sweet coworkers in the nursery and on postpartum. We get back to the room and in the tub I go...so relaxing.

I started to fall asleep a little between contractions while I was in the tub. All of a sudden I FEEL a pop. It was such a strange feeling, I called for my husband and Meganne and as I got out and was drying off...the fluid kept pouring out! After that, there was no more smiling or napping, the pain of the contractions intensified and I knew it was getting real. It was about 9:45 then, back on the monitor and another exam. Dr T called, and she arrived shortly after that...and never left again until after the birth.

So with my amazing husband by my side and holding my hand I labored, and labored. At some point my parents arrived, my sister arrived and my sister in law too. I can't remember what time it was but I believe I was 7cm...I asked for pain medication. 1 hour later I asked for it again...it took the edge off of the pain. Dr T came in and out a few times, I remember her saying how great Alyssa looked and how well everything was going.

I got checked around 1:25ish and was 8-9 by my nurses exam...I was so upset. I just knew I was closer and the pain had taken on a whole new level! I was asking for another dose of pain meds, even knowing I couldn't have anymore hehe The nurse stepped out, went to the desk and called Dr T. In that time I had gotten on my hands and knees for all of 10sec and I could feel the baby drop, and so I screamed I HAVE TO PUSH! I screamed so loud that Dr T heard it through the phone :)

So then my anxiety sets in, more like panic. My husband was amazing and stayed right by my side, without him I couldn't have done it. He said that after I turned over from hands and knees he could already see the top of her head and he was thinking the doctor wouldn't make it even from the call room. I think I was had the panic attack because it all was happening so fast...it was just unreal.

So everything is ready, everyone is there and I start to push...the first set wasn't so great because I had just lost control. But a few more (I think 2 more) and her head was out. Her shoulders weren't coming so easy, my legs went way back and I could feel Dr T trying to help her...I took a deep breath and gathered all my strength and she was all out!! 1:33am! and everyone in portsmouth heard me scream, pretty sure I scared the patient next door and she may have decided to not get her induction that morning and go home, or at least get an epidural.

They placed her on my chest and all I could think was "This is a huge baby!" We had a few minutes of bonding but I was shaking so to the warmer she went...all 9lbs and 7oz!

I got all fixed up, my blood pressure was low and I had had some heavy bleeding...very heavy.

I nursed my big baby for an hour...I felt so dizzy and tired that even holding her seemed hard. She went to the nursery and I got up to try to get a shower. Well I made it to the toilet but then my vision was going and I knew I was about to pass out...so my nurse and husband lowered me to the bathroom floor (glamorous I know). I can't remember how long I was down there, my husband was beside me and my sweet nurse was giving me a bird bath since there was no way I could shower.

I got to my new room, and for what felt like forever I couldn't get up by myself, couldn't stand while holding my own baby and just felt like crap. They told me my hemoglobin had gone from 12 to 8.1, the next time it was drawn it was down to 6.7. 

I had pulled my IV out the night before because I couldn't sleep with it, so in went a new IV and 2units of blood. Eventually I got back to normal, and I'm just so thankful everything went well!

I am especially thankful to Dr T, who wasn't on call and had to be at work the next morning (and it was her sons birthday the 17th!!) but still came in to take care of me...It was such a relief know she was there, she even brought me a pumpkin spice latte the next day! (Monarch Women's Wellness is a great practice with wonderful providers!!)

And to my husband...he was such a great support, I'd be lost without him.