Baby #1... Birthstory

Zoe’s Birth Story: July 11, 2007

Zoe was due on July 9, 2007, but everyone was convinced she was coming early since my belly looked like it couldn’t get any bigger!  When July 9 came and went, I got upset.  I was getting so uncomfortable, it was 95 degrees everyday, and I was still working.  July 10, we went to the doctor, and I was hoping they’d induce me that day---nope!  They said they couldn’t induce me till July 16.  AH!  I cried… a lot.  The nurses felt bad as we were leaving—I just couldn’t stop crying--- but we went home and tried to think of things to do to pass the next few days.  Later that day, the doctor called back and said they would try to schedule me for induction on Friday July 13, so that made us feel a little bit better, but it still felt far away because of how uncomfortable I was, plus I started my maternity leave on July 10 and I was upset that every day we waited for Zoe to be born was a wasted day of leave.  It was an emotional night, I also received calls from work and I was upset because I was on leave and didn’t want to be bothered!  We went to bed kind of late, just after midnight, after all the hubbub of the day and decided to see Harry Potter 5 the next day (opening day) to pass some time, also knowing we might not go to a movie again for awhile!!!

3:15am

I got up to go to the bathroom (something that was happening almost every 45 minutes at this point!) and shuffled back to bed.  I lifted one knee onto the bed and WOOSH! a handful of water dropped out!  I ran to the bathroom and stood over the floor calling for Seth, “I think my water broke—can you come smell it t make sure it’s not pee!?”  Being a good sport, Seth smelled it several times over to reassure me it was in fact amniotic fluid.  I wasn’t having any contractions, but then I noticed a small amount of blood, so we called the doctor and she said since I wasn’t having contractions to get to the hospital around 6am.  Seth thought we should try to sleep till then, so I tried, but I just couldn’t.  I was too excited, and I was starting to have mild cramping. 

4am

Called mom and told her my water broke and that we were going to the hospital at 6am.  Se sounded very alert for 4am!  Seth slept.  I got on the computer and emailed some people to tell them “It’s time, we’re going to the hospital!” and also got on my pregnancy message board and told them my water broke and that I’d keep them posted with text messages.  (Eight of us were due in July and it turned out 3 of us had our babies right in a row!  July 11, 12, 13).  Watched the rest of an episode of Days of Our Lives.

5:30am

Ate a scrambled egg and some cranberry juice since I know I wouldn’t be eating anything for a long time.  Just about to leave and had to poop!  (Good thing!)

6:10am

Parked at hospital and walked in with Seth.  Went up to 3^rd floor to check in… on our way a lady on the elevator pushed in front of us and started talking to the check in people about visiting one of the new moms.  We couldn’t believe this woman pushed in front of a woman in labor!!!!

6:20am

Admitted to hospital and put in a triage room.  Looked at by nurse Teresa and cervix checked.  When she checked my cervix she said I was between 1-2 cm, but as she checked me the rest of my water broke and came gushing out.  I couldn’t believe how much there was!  Hooked up to an IV and baby monitor.

7:45am

Taken to private labor and delivery room.  Introduced to Jill Kelley, our L&D nurse—the most amazing nurse ever.  Still no contractions.

8:15am

Given pitocin.  Jill showed me how we might use the bouncy ball during contractions to help move the baby down the birth canal and to ease pain.

9:15am

Contractions starting to heat up.  Amniotic fluid, blood, and urine continually leak out and I am feeling yucky!  Seth sticks by me and helps me every step of the way—through some pretty gross stuff, too!

11:15am

Contractions getting unbearable, begging for an epidural.  Jill checks my cervix and I was 6cm!  She orders the epidural.  They tell me the anesthesiologist has to do someone else first and then he’ll be in to do me.

11:40am

I get the epidural!  Have to stay still while getting it and have a contraction during tat time—awful to stay still!  They tell me I should feel it by noon.

Noon

Feeling the epidural!  Jill checks my cervix and I am 8cm!!!!  Everyone is surprised at how fast this is going, especially since I had to be put on pitocin and I came in barely 2cm, and that it’s my first baby.  Seth & I continue to text friends with updates (now that I’ve had the epidural and feel relaxed) and talk to mom periodically to update her.  The epidural really relaxes me and I take a 30 minute nap.  (Seth still hasn’t left my side for a second!)

1:15pm

Dr. Tobon checks in.  Jill and him tell me we’ll probably start pushing soon.  Jill practices a few pushes techniques with me.  Tug of war, grabbing my ankles and bowing my knees out, grabbing behind my knees, etc.  (The winner in the end ends up being grabbing my ankles and bowing my knees out.)

1:45pm

Jill checks my cervix—10cm!  But… the baby still hasn’t dropped down quite far enough so we’re going to wait a bit.

2:00pm

Time to start pushing!!!  I had no idea how hard this would be or that it was going to take so long!  Pushing became difficult because my epidural was so good.  They eventually had to turn it almost all the way off so I could feel when to push.

3:50pm

I can’t believe I am still pushing.  I am irritated and beyond exhausted.  There are 3 women nurses (Jill, Lorell, Judy) on my right, and Seth and a male nursing student (Cory) on my left, and Dr. Tobon between my legs.  I feel upset with all of them because they aren’t helping me.  Really, I know I have to do this on my own, but I feel like I need help.  I am worried that I just can’t push her out---it’s so hard.  Finally, Dr. Tobon says her head is too big and gives me an episiotomy.  The nurses get right in my face and tell me to push.  I am so happy to have 3 women there—I felt like I needed to be surrounded by women.  I push HARD and scream, “Take her!”  They say, “Stop talking, just push!  Get angry and push this baby out, Emily you can do it!”  I push a few more times, feel like I’m going to break—and then I feel her start to come out.  She feels huge.  I am still told to push, but I feel emotional, so now I am crying and pushing—not an effective combination! 

3:54pm

Beautiful Zoe is born!  I feel… overwhelmed.  An immediate flood of love rushes through me and it’s hard to withstand.  All I want to do is hold Zoe, but I feel like I need to be held, too!  So glad Seth is beside me, and so glad it was just the two of us to share that first moment.  (Well, plus the medical people!)