For those of you who like labor and delivery stories, this post is for you.
Almost a week before I gave birth, I had my last doctor's appointment. I was already considered a day past my due date, so my doctor ended up scheduling an induction date for me as well. Initially, we decided on Wednesday, June 28, which I thought was alright because if I was induced, I knew the baby would come on a even day of the month which would follow the family tradition of being born on an even day of the month, but because I wouldn't have a nurse or something rather, they decided to make my induction date June 27. I didn't like that date at all.
My mother-in-law arrived in town the day of my last O.B. appointment, and it was such a blessing that Frederick decided to wait until after she arrived to be born. Since she had to fly from the States to Canada, we weren't really sure when she should come because babies decide to come whenever they want. But we hoped that this little guy would be late like his brother was, and I have to say that being okay with a late baby this time was a relief except I REALLY didn't want to be induced again. I was close to calling up my doctor and asking, "Can we move this induction day to another day... like later in the week?" At the same time, I was kind of afraid to give birth later in the week because I had an ultrasound appointment the same day as my last O.B. appointment, and they estimated the baby to be 9 lbs 6 oz. I wasn't willing to be induced but at the same time I wasn't willing to give vaginal birth to a 9 1/2 lb baby. So here I was, in limbo, waiting for a baby to arrive now his grandma was in town.
So during that time, I scrubbed the floor, walked around with Tycho, exercised, drank red raspberry leaf tea, ate spicy Indian food hoping the baby would make his debut on his own.
On Sunday evening, our wonderful friends dropped off the fresh pork products we were able to get from mutual friends of ours. To show appreciation for this delivery, I made some bread to give to them only it wasn't ready in time for them to take it home. So I told my friends I'd deliver the bread to them the following day hoping that I'd be in labor and not really deliver the bread (!). Alas, while I had a few contractions that woke me up from my sleep, I wasn't in active labor, and in fact, I thought they were just some heavy duty Braxton Hicks. So I delivered the bread.
My mother-in-law, Tycho, and I delivered the bread, and during that time we were visiting with our friends, I kept having irregular waves of pain that would take some of my focus to get through, but when they went away while I was shopping after delivering the bread, I thought, "Well, that's too bad, I guess I'll go on with my day." I didn't tell anyone about these contractions initially because, frankly, I didn't want to alarm anyone or pressure myself any further. Not having the experience of going into labor on my own, I wasn't sure what to expect.
I had some difficultly getting Tycho to nap that day, and when I finally did get him to lie down, I also took a nap, too. We had a late afternoon nap, and during that time, I had a few more contractions that took my breath away, but since they weren't regular, I ignored them. Any time I was relaxing, I would have contractions. (I later learned that you have more contractions when you are resting.) I told Greg that evening before making dinner that we might have to go to the hospital. I ended up watching clips of Jim Gaffigan on youtube while making dinner because the waves of pain were a little unbearable, but I could manage them, and then they would go away. Ironically, the entire time I was having these contractions, I was trying to get myself ready for an induction the following day. I was so angry that I wasn't in labor yet. Once again, I kept thinking, my body failed to go into labor, and I'd have to be induced which I really didn't want to go through.
As I was putting Tycho to bed, at a very late hour, I'm ashamed to admit, I started having intense contractions about every 7 minutes apart. Long story short, I still nurse Tycho (I wished I weaned him sooner, but he was teething...for several months straight. *sigh* I guess you just have to be a mean mom sooner or later and pull the plug--nipple.), and nipple stimulation is a real thing for helping labor progress... Poor kid was upset because I ended up having to leave before he was asleep. I ended up using the intercom system on our house phone, and telling Greg he needed to put Tycho to bed. When he came upstairs, he realized that he needed to take me to the hospital right away and had his mom put Tycho to bed. I told him, I was fine, and that I could wait a little longer to go to the hospital, but Greg insisted that we had to go, but I insisted that I'd take a bath first as I hadn't showered that day, but taking a bath did nothing to help me calm down or stop shaking, and Greg had me out of the tub and into the car to take the almost hour-long drive to the hospital.
During our drive, I had major contractions every 6 minutes with a little contractions 3 minutes apart...okay so contractions 3 minutes a part. We were lucky that I had gone into labor so late at night so the traffic wasn't bad, but whenever there was a minor inconvenience (why are we at a red light at 1 a.m.?!!) I'd start talking like a pirate... I was lucky that there were so few inconveniences, and that Greg could drive well despite my yelling at least every 6 minutes. ;) I have to add that sitting still in the car was so hard for my body; I couldn't relax, and my body was shaking uncontrollably.
By the time we got to triage, I learned I was 6-7 cm dilated. Hahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hooray I went into labor on my own!
I got two vials of blood taken and an hook up for an IV from an experienced nurse just *in case* I wanted an epidural. (After I had Tycho, I was nervous about having an IV again, because it was done so poorly, so I requested an experienced nurse to do the deed.) Sadly, I almost passed out after having blood drawn, and I ended up needing to be wheeled to my delivery room. How embarrassing.
I listened to a playlist of songs I compiled while I paced next to my bed, no longer shaking uncontrollably because I was able to relax. (Btw, Queen's "Don't Stop me Now" was not a good choice for the playlist. I am NOT having a good time, Freddie Mercury.) I had to have a heart monitor for the little guy, so I couldn't stray far except for the time I felt like I had to pee so badly, and then I was helped over to the bathroom. The first nurse attending me was awesome and fetched me popsicles and was easy to talk with. Around 5 a.m. my labor pains got to be so intense that I could neither sit not stand, and my water broke from the top, so it would trickle down during each contraction, making a mess all over, so I opted for the epidural after much prodding and support from Greg. Looking back, I am happy with that decision despite the desire for a natural delivery, but I was unable to get comfortable during contractions. Plus, I was starting to talk like a pirate again, and I felt like that was the wrong experience for me and everyone around me. And unlike Grand River Hospital, McMaster's doesn't leave a catheter in the entire time you're laboring with an epidural which made the experience much better.
My second nurse was a drill sergeant; she camein around 7:30 a.m. Around 9 a.m. she checked my cervix, and told me I was 10 cm, and since I was 10 cm, I should start pushing NOW. So I started pushing. She would repeat over and over "PUSH push push push push!" It was starting to get annoying and super frustrating to have her boss me around. I wanted to be in an optimal pushing position, but I COULDN'T get comfortable on my back and I couldn't feel that pressure to push like I felt with Tycho. I tried explaining this, but she ignored me. "You're going to be uncomfortable no matter what, so just start pushing!" So I told her after a few attempts to push that I wanted to rest....and I took the passive aggressive way out of this situation and she ended up leaving to go on break or something.
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