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My birthing story

So here goes.

I woke up in the middle of the night on Sunday Oct 18th to make one of my frequent pee trips.  When I got back to bed, as soon as I sat on the bed, I felt a gush and immediately said ' OMG I think my water just broke!'  D leapt out of bed (literally), ripped the sheets off the bed and turned on the light.  It was kind of funny actually.  I told him what had happened and that I was pretty sure it was my water since I had JUST came back from peeing and he told me to go upstairs and take a shower, everything was going to be ok.  He was very reassuring and calming the entire time, I know I would have been a wreck if it wasn't for him.  I still felt that I didn't know for sure if it really was time but the leaking never stopped and I finally came to my senses.  We got ready and got in the car and got to the hospital 1 hr later.  Contractions started coming irregularly between 4-7 minutes and felt just like how everyone said, like menstrual cramps.  

Once at the hospital they checked me in, I got up to a room on L & D and they checked me over.  Contractions were still bearable and but irregular so they took me to a room on the antepartum wing so I could labor until I was getting consistent contractions at regular intervals and then I could move on to a birthing room.  Well, my contractions were getting really painful but still remained between the 3-7 minute range.  I needed pain relief and they could see it so instead of making me labor there for a long time they got me into a birthing room and I got my epidural and they gave me some syntocin (same as pitocin) to make my contractions more regular and more intense.  I have to say that the epidural kicked right in (within 5 minutes) and was glorious.  I seriously couldn't have done it without it - I honestly have no idea how some women do it without it!

So a few hours later (there is no concept of time btw, 14 hours FLEW by) they checked me again and I was 6cm dilated but even though the contractions were getting more intense (I could hardly tell) they were still irregular.  They upped my syntocin and let me rest for a couple hours.  At 6pm the doctor came back and checked me again and I was fully dilated!  The head was still at a +1 station though so they wanted to wait a bit for the head to come down more so I had less pushing to do.  At 8pm the doctor came back and I started to push.  By this time I was pretty tired from not being able to eat all day and not eating since supper the night before, only sleeping a few hours the night before and having quick short naps throughout that day.  

When the pushing began my contractions were 1 min apart, then 1 min apart, then a break for 2 mins etc.  They were irregularly regular she called it.  So I'm glad I didn't have to wait until I was regular cause that time would have never come.  

At the start of the pushing, Hudson's head was coming out at an angle (the widest part) and was hitting my pelvic bone.  The doctor tried to twist him as he was coming out but had no luck, he was stubborn and wanted to come out that way.  So our only option was to move to an assisted delivery and she had to use the vacuum.  Once the vacuum was attached, the next push he was out!  D said that the doctor said that if the vacuum hadn't worked so well right away they were probably going to have to do a c-section as I was running out of steam and he was at an angle.  I did tear a bit and they did need to cut me (almost the whole length) but I'll save my recovery story for another day.  Even so, I'm glad it turned out the way it did!

As soon as they put him on me, the first thing I said was 'he's so tiny', lol.  There I was expecting a giant baby and I have the most precious tiny baby.  He gave out one quick cry and then he just opened his eyes and looked from me to D, D to me, and back again, it was the sweetest moment.  

He is a very healthy little boy and although he developed a bit of jaundice his second day, it was more to do with the fact that we couldn't get him to figure out what to do with his tongue when he was eating.  Now at day 5, his jaundice is almost all gone and he's eating lots and I have milk to give.  

It's been a crazy ride so far, and we're only in 5 days, but I can't wait to see what adventures lie ahead for us!

We're home!

It has been the best, longest, and sorest 3 days of my entire life. And I wouldn't change it for the world.

Hudson arrived at 8:51pm on Sunday, October the 18th after 14 hours of labor and 1 hour of pushing. Only 7lbs, 6 oz and 20 3/4 inches long, not such a big baby after all. In fact, as soon as they put him on me the first thing I said was 'he's so tiny!', lol.

He really is the most special and wonderful little guy.  Words can't even start to express my deepest love for him.  All I know is that I am a very lucky momma to have received a gift like him.

Details to follow, I'm going to take a much needed rest :)

It's showtime!

My water broke this morning at 5:30am and contractions started a half hour later on the way to the hospital.
They are irregular but seem to be mostly in the 4-6 mins apart range.

I <3 epidurals btw!!

37 week belly pics

I ran out of time to post these yesterday but here they are, baby isn't going to get much lower until the big day (considering the doc felt his head at yesterday's appt).

In other news, for the past 2 days my body has been in 'self cleaning' mode if you know what I mean.  

It's getting closer....

FULL TERM!

Happy full term to me!  I can't believe that the day has come and in any given day we may have a baby.  Very weird feeling.  The week has been pretty great overall, thanksgiving was a blast with my parents (we're having another supper this weekend with D's family), and I got a lecture from both D and my mom about how I'm doing too much and I need to save up my strength for labor.  D's biggest concern is that I won't have the strength to endure a long labor and will have to end up with a c-section.  I see their point but I don't really see sleep as something I can bank up and use at a later date.  Either way I've been catching up on some TV and movies and playing some flash games on the computer. 
My Dr's appt went well today, she said that my cervix is very low and soft, I'm 75% effaced. She also said that his head was right at my cervix, hence all the round ligament pain cramping I've been having. I'm not dilated at all though but she did say that first your cervix will efface, then comes dilation so my body is definitely getting ready!

How far along? 37 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: 42 pounds as of my Drs appt today.
Maternity clothes? Yes!
Stretch marks? More small ones around the boobs
Sleep: Some days okay, some days bad.  I'm trying to get it when I can.
Best moment this week: Reaching full term!! (and eating a yummy thanksgiving dinner)
Movement: Slowing down but still trying to stretch out lots.
Food cravings: Milk to soothe the ever strong heartburn.
Gender: BOY!!
Labor Signs: 0 cm dilated but 75% effaced
Belly Button in or out? An outie.
What I miss: Nothing too much this week, I'm just trying to enjoy the last few weeks of being pregnant.
What I am looking forward to: Meeting Hudson in real life
Milestone: FULL TERM BABY!!