6 AM- Exactly one day before my scheduled induction. I woke up to a gush & immediately called the doctor. I was hoping the only doctor I did not like at the office was NOT on doctor duty at the hospital, he answered. GREAT. This was more of a reason for me to stay at home as long as possible so he could get off the clock. He told me to wait until 8, to go into the office and get a labor check.
8 AM- The contractions had been going on for quite some time by now & Dr. Bass, one of my favorites told me I was 2 cm dilated and 50% effaced. The day before I was the same for effacement but only 1 cm. He told me I was in labor but it could be a long one, to head home and labor until the pain was unbearable, then to come back for another check.
3 PM- I spent the morning at my Mom's house (she called into work :)) & my brother, Daniel was in town. It was nice of him to take my mind off labor and read me funny jokes thanks to stumbleupon. The contractions were strong at this point and about 4 minutes apart lasting up to 2 minutes. I thought for sure I was getting close. I drove back to the doctor, laboring. I just had to go, despite my Mom begging me to wait for her to get ready so she could take me.
4 PM- Dr. Rush gave me the unfortunate news that in 7 hours I had made no progress. I was torn. How long was this going to take?!
6 PM- The contractions were strong enough for me to say, "This is it, lets go." We grabbed the camera for one final pregnancy picture at 40 weeks and 5 days. Bittersweet for sure.
By the time I got to the hospital I was 4 CM & my horrid least favorite doctor was off duty :D I got checked in, changed into my gown, and walked the halls for 3 hours until my room was ready.
9 PM- I was in labor for 12 hours at this point & thought it couldn't be that much longer. The hardest part of this hour may have been getting in and out the bathtub. :/
From here until 6 AM was a big blur for me. My contractions were 45 seconds-2 minutes apart lasting up to 2 minutes long and excruciating. I tried so hard not to cry through every single one of them.
6 AM- I was only 5 CM dilated. I thought that couldn't be possible. The pain was so intense, I could not see myself doing this for another 24 hours. My plan for a natural birth went out the window and I opted for the epidural. Bad, bad decision.
The anesthesiologist set everything up and talked me through what was going on. After the epidural was "in place" I asked him if I was supposed to feel my legs. He said some feeling. I told him I had none. I started to have no feeling anywhere from my chest down and at that point it felt like a dream. I could tell the doctor and nurse were frantic, but trying to stay calm. Mine and the baby's heart rate was rapidly dropping & her pulse rate sky rocketed. The oxygen mask went on as the bad epidural that punctured my spine was being taken out. Thank goodness I got the IV at the beginning because if not, I don't know that I would be sitting here right now. They had to put emergency fluids in my IV to get our heart rate's back to normal. I was uncontrollable shaking. My Mom was crying & I will never forget the look on Dan's face as he walked up to me, grabbed my hand and said "Are you ok, babe?" I couldn't even speak. I was scared for my life and my sweet baby girl's.
6 AM-10 AM- Paralyzed. THE scariest four hours of my life as I thought I would never be able to walk again. The anesthesiologist never left the room. He knew he messed up big time.
10 AM- 2 PM- I could feel my legs again!! Praise the Lord. I became instantly happy & this labor started to seem wonderful. Because of the spinal tap, my labor slowed down and at this point I did not care how much pain I would be going through, so pitocin was administered which made this labor 10 times more painful.
2:40 PM- My OB, Dr. Smith came in and checked me, Hallelujah, I was 10 CM. Time to PUSH!!! This was the only point in my labor where I was in control. The nurse expected me to push for 2 hours & I told her that was not going to happen. My Mom on my right, Dan on my left and the squatting bar. It was so nice to let gravity do most of the work as I was in an upright position. The adrenaline kicked in and the nurses were running to call the doctor in. She was crowning as he was literally running in and as I look back I could not tell you if pushing hurt or not. ALL adrenaline.
3:08- Our baby girl, Gabrielle Grace Joy was born. I was hysterical, so was Dan, & my Mom. She was beautiful, we couldn't believe she was here, on my belly. That moment seemed to have lasted forever. She was here. The pain was over and it was time to start building memories. :)
