Warning: This post is lengthy
Starting at about 17 weeks I was having braxton hicks contractions, and they continued my entire pregnancy. At about 21 weeks we discovered that I had a short cervix so my doctor monitored me, eventually put me on bed rest, and told me I needed to make it to the third trimester. Once I made it to the third trimester I needed to make it to 34 weeks, and once I made it to 34 weeks I was told I could have her any day. I asked her what percent chance I had that I would have her early and she responded that 100% I would have her early. As 38 weeks rolled a round I was getting a little bugged. I was sure I would not go early, but I would go over. For over twenty weeks I have been having these annoying braxton hicks contractions, I was on bed rest for 5 weeks, and I was still pregnant and nothing was changing.
At about 38 1/2 weeks my contractions changed and I felt a lot more pressure on my pelvis. It was a Sunday night and when I went to bed that night I figured I would wake in the night with stronger contractions and I would need to go to the hospital. Well, I slept fine that night and I woke up even more annoyed that now things had changed and yet nothing was happening. I was certain that she would never come. Well, the next few days my contractions were different, but they certainly did not hurt. On Wed. morning I had a doctor's appointment, and explained to him how I was feeling. When he checked me I was 4 cm dilated, 100% effaced, and a +1 station. At that point my doctor said I could have her soon or sit like this for a week, but once my water broke I better hurry to the hospital because I will go fast. My birth with Lucas was really fast so since the talk of preterm labor I had been nervous I would go fast especially since I would have to get Lucas to a babysitter. Anyway, at this point my doctor should have told me to go to the hospital, or I should have gone to the hospital. Unfortunately that is not what happened.
After that I went home and packed my hospital bag, and I was feeling some contractions, nothing too bad but I could feel them. Since Lucas was induced I had no idea what it felt like to be in labor, and all I could remember from my classes was that if you can walk and talk during your contractions and your contractions are irregular you are not in labor. That described me I could walk and talk and they were irregular. So, my mom and I went to the farmers market and to lunch. We timed my contractions and they were ranging from 2- 6 minutes apart and they were a little uncomfortable. The whole time my mom and I were debating whether or not we should go to the hospital. I kept thinking my doctor didn't seemed concerned so maybe these contractions are uncomfortable because he checked me. Finally, my mom called my sister, Meredith, who has had 5 kids and asked her what she thought. She said get to the hospital you are going to have a baby soon, and all I have to say is bless her.
We hopped in the car, called a friend and dropped Lucas off, and we were off to the hospital. When we got to the hospital Ned asked me if we should bring in the bag, and I said no because I figured we would be sent home (I was in denial). I checked in at the triage at about 3:30, and then I went to the bathroom at which point my water broke. Inside I was freaking out because at this point I knew I would not get my epidural. I came out of the bathroom announced that my water broke to the whole waiting room and then told the front desk worker. No one seemed to care especially since I was in the the birth triage and I am sure this happens often, but I was freaking out. They took one other pregnant women before me and I thought I might go crazy. Anyway, they finally took me back, and my contractions were starting to hurt and all I kept talking about was the epidural. I was in the triage room for a bit and I was stressing because no one had even checked me and I knew I needed to be in a delivery room before I would get an epidural. Once the midwife checked me I was 6 cm dilated and I kept talking to her about the epidural and she told me I would do just fine without one.
Once I was in the delivery room the contractions got harder, and thank goodness my mom was there because she coached me through the contractions. When I did the breathing right it really worked, and the contractions were not that bad. Well, pretty quickly the nurse anesthetist was in the room questioning me about all the stuff I need to get the epidural. While she was questioning me I told her I was not getting the epidural and she asked me why and I told her because I was going through transition. At this point I started feeling the need to push and I had not seen a doctor. I started freaking out that no doctor was in the room when a resident finally showed up and checked me. She told me I was at a 10 and I could push whenever I wanted. Shortly the doctor showed up and I could push. Pushing without an epidural is way different with an epidural and it took me a few times to get pushing down. I will say that the contractions were nothing compared to the pain of pushing a baby out. I had never felt pain like that. I am not sure how I got through it at one point I looked at Ned and simply said this hurts really bad which is an understatement. Anyway, Penny was born at 4:33 pm only one hour after I checked in at the triage. Thank goodness for camera phones or we would have no documentation. They laid her on me and my first thought was thank goodness her head is small and secondly I thought when are they going to get her off of me. I was exhausted and I could feel everything that was going on down there so I was in a lot of pain. I just did not feel up to holding her. Once they took her I kept thinking when do I get pain meds. Finally, they gave me morphine which helped a little. Unfortunately it took me an hour to birth the placenta which was harder than birthing Penny.
Once the placenta was passed I finally was able to nurse her, but because of the morphine I could not remember how to do it. The nurse had to hold her on me the first little bit until I could get it together to hold her. Penny was such a champ at nursing and latched right on. Penny's birth was not exactly as I planned, but I am happy that she and I were both healthy. For the last few months the memory of the pain of natural childbirth made me sure I will have an epidural, but as time passes I think I may go natural again. Here are some pics of the pregnancy:
13 weeks
22 Weeks
24 weeks
38 weeks
38 Weeks 6 Days just 45 minutes before Penny was born
