Now that it's been almost 2 months, I decided I needed to write down Eli's birth story before I forget everything. This is very detailed, and mostly just for me to have written down.
On Monday, August 23rd, I was 2 days overdue. I had a doctor appointment in the morning. I knew I would have the baby this day. I even took my bag in the van, just in case!
Dr. Freestone told me I was close to 6 centimeters dilated. He also said that the baby was just growing bigger and bigger, especially since I had Gestational Diabetes. He told me that all he would have to do is break my water and that would start my labor. So he called Labor and Delivery and asked what time I should come over to have our baby. They told him noon, but to call before we came just to make sure.
I was so nervous! I knew all along that I would have to deliver this baby. I knew all along that a new person would be joining our family. I knew that huge changes would take place. But it was really happening. YAY! A new baby.
We made arrangements for the kids. Becky, my sister and law and her husband Paul (Chris's brother) would take the kids after they got home from school. My friend Stefie made sure they made it home that day. I didn't worry one bit that they would be taken care of.
12:00 finally came. I called the hospital to make sure they were ready for us. They weren't. They said to come in at 2:00. Aw man! More waiting. The minutes were dragging by.
2:00 and we were there! I had my pink pillow and my bag and was ready. Chris said a prayer that was really comforting to me. We were on our way to have our baby.
We got to the hospital and it took about 15 minutes before I got to the delivery room. They had me change in to the gown and asked me a bunch of questions and hooked me up to the monitors. Then the nurse attempted to put in an IV. I wasn't planning on an epidural, but they like to be prepared just in case. The nurse tried 2 or 3 times to get the IV in, but was having a hard time so she called someone else to do it. She got it in (or so we thought). Dr. Freestone got to the hospital at 2:45 and broke my water. OW!
I sat in the bed for a while, probably 20-30 minutes. I was having contractions, but nothing to intense or regular. So I decided to get up and walk around a bit. I called the nurse and they were slow to come unhook me (apparently it was right at shift change or something) so I just got up. Gush! Water everywhere! What a mess. Guess I should have waited for the nurse! So I got cleaned up and walked around and boy did that start things. I'm not sure how long it was, but not very long. Contraction after contraction. One on top of the other! I got back in bed and the nurse checked me and said I was still a 6! I was crying and trying to fight the contractions even though I know I'm not supposed to. But when she said I was a 6 and it had been so long (in my opinion, but it really was probably less than 30 minutes). I didn't think I could handle this much pain for another couple of hours if that's how long it was going to take.
I asked for the epidural. They called the anesthesiologist and started the IV drip. Only the IV wasn't in right. So again they tried to put in the IV. I don't really know how many times they tried. I was in so much pain. The contractions were still coming one on top of the other. Finally the anestesiologist decided to try to put the IV in. She got it (or so we thought...) and started working on the epidural. Meanwhile, I am so hot! Chris started fanning me with the clipboard. I remember being so frustrated because I was so hot that I said, "fan me faster!". Something wasn't working with the epidural. I heard her say she kept hitting bone. I was so frustrated by this time because of the failed IV attempts and the failed epidural attempt. I kept thinking to myself (at least I hope I didn't say anything, who knows? I'll ask Chris) "is this a teaching hospital? Don't these people know how to do their jobs?" Finally the anesthesiologist decided she would just do a spinal instead because I was progressing so quickly she didn't think there would be time for the epidural to kick in. She left to get the stuff she needed. I wish I would have just said nevermind, because during all this time I was having to be in the fetal position and that is so uncomfortable when one is in labor! She got the stuff she needed and proceeded to try again. At this time I think is when they put the oxygen on me. They were also moving the baby's monitor around. I think his heartbeat was slowing down. I don't really know. I had my eyes closed almost th e whole time. I remember asking where Chris was. I was starting to get scared. While we were trying to do the spinal, I felt a huge urge to push. The nurse checked me and she said I was ready. The anesthesiologist said we might as well just have the baby. I'm not sure when Dr. Freestone got there, but he ran there! He was out of breath.
I started pushing and oh boy did it hurt! I just wanted that baby out! I remember asking the doctor why he didn't just pull him out. I also remember the doctor asking Chris if I had an episiotomy before and he said I had. I guess I had stretched as far as I was going to stretch! So I got the episiotomy (before the numbing shot kicked in I might add) because I was ready to push again. Chris told me I pushed through 4 contractions and out popped Eli, just like a cork! I don't know what I was expecting, but I was so relieved to see this perfect baby boy. Dark hair all over his head. When I was holding him the nurse took the oxygen mask off me and put it on him. I guess he was a little blue and needed some oxygen. He weighed 7 lbs 10 oz, which was by far the biggest baby I ever had. (Tristan was 6.2, Connor was 6.3 and Anna was 6.4). I guess that had a lot to do with the GD and the fact that he was 2 days late. He was 20.5 inches long. Born at 4:38pm. Dr. Freestone stitched me up and Chris finally got the camera out to take some pictures. We brought the video camera to use during the birth but everything happened so quickly that we didn't get anything caught on tape!
A funny thing to add is that we started watching "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" soon after my water was broke. Then I had Chris turn it off. When everything settled down and was cleaned up and the doctor and nurses were gone, Chris turned the TV back on the same movie was still on. I'm so lucky to have speedy deliveries!
There are so many other emotions and thoughts that went along with this story. I will keep trying to write more, but I needed to get this written down before I forgot everything. I'm so happy that Eli is here in our family. He just makes it complete.
p.s. when Paul and Becky brought the kids to the hospital to visit, Connor wouldn't even come in the room. He stayed behind the curtain and wouldn't have anything to do with me or the baby. I was so worried! But luckily he has come around and is best friends with Eli. It is the sweetest thing ever and I'm so happy!
