We arrived at the hospital a little early at 7:15 am on Friday, November 30th and our nurse quickly met us and got us into our lovely birthing suite. Her name was Traci and she is real spitfire which was a great personality match for Brad and I because I like to have someone high energy, firm and confident around me when I have to tackle something unknown. t The wonderful thing about the hospital we delivered at, Swedish, is that you have one nurse assigned to you and she stays with you for your entire experience so she really was a savior. She had me undress, put my gown on and climb into my bed after she showed us around the suite. Next up was the IV for the Pitocin which hurt like no other. Seriously, getting that IV in my hand was so painful and Traci was nice assuring me that if I chose to have pain meds I would realize that getting that IV was by far worse than getting the epidural. So, at 7:30 am my Pitocin drip had been started and contractions started shortly after but I was able to breathe easily and talk through them... no biggie.
The sun was beginning to rise and I was ready to get the show on the road:
See, I'm smiling after starting my first contractions:
I look like an idiot but this Traci, the most amazing nurse in the world:
At 8:30 my doc walked in the room and was thrilled that not only had we gotten in for our induction but that the Pitocin had been going for an hour. She did an internal exam and told me I was now at 3.5-4cm dilated and said she was going to break my water and I might feel some warm fluid. Yeah, I felt warm fluid, a lot of it, and it felt disgusting. The fluid was clear and my doctor gave me a little pep talk and said she'd be back in a few hours to come and check on me. Within minutes my contractions were horrendous. I couldn't talk through them, gripped Brad's hand with all the energy I had and breathed the best I could. After about an hour or so of that Traci asked me how much active labor I would like to experience. I replied, "No more please." These contractions were one on top of the other and I was getting no break so she ordered the epidural.
The anesthesiologists showed up and talked me through getting the epidural and honestly, getting it was cake (the doc's were one female and one male and they were both drop dead gorgeous and worthy of Grey's Anatomy and I thought it was funny that my big ol' pregnant rear was just hanging out in all it's glory as they worked away on my back). Within a few minutes I was calmly lying on my side and Traci asked me how I felt. "Great." I said and she told me that the epidural was obviously working because I was currently having a horrendous contraction without feeling it. Phew! Since I hadn't slept much the night before due to excitement and an overactive baby the lights were turned off and I just relaxed quietly and told Brad to go get something to eat while he had the chance. Off he went in search of nourishment.
At around 11:30 my mom and her boyfriend arrived and shortly thereafter my MIL, FIL and SIL all arrived. We all chatted for a while and then Traci kicked them all out so that I could rest some more. My doctor showed up to check on me again and did another internal and found that I was making great progress and was at 6 cm. From this point on people would come in and check on me and I was just feeling really tired so I pretty much just listened to the chatter around me in a tired daze. Whenever Traci needed to check me internally she cleared the room and she consistently would lean down quietly and tell me different signals I could give her if I needed her to be the bad guy and kick people out, quiet them, etc. She was amazing. By around 2ish I was chipper, chatty, had a renewed burst of energy and was feeling like I couldn't possibly be in labor because I felt far too good.
At around 3:30 when Traci checked me she said it didn't look like I'd quite made 9cm yet... I'd made 10! She told me it was time to start pushing and meet my baby and confidently told me that even though this was a big baby she would protect my body to her best ability and that there would be no need for an episiotomy. It was so reassuring to have her tell me that even though I logically knew it could still happen. She then asked me who I'd like in the room with me because it was just Brad and I at that point which had been our plan all along. All of a sudden I changed my mind and asked her if she would go and get my mom and my MIL Robyn. She asked if I was sure and I was. Before she left she got Brad to feel the baby's head which amazed me because Brad is super squeamish. I was really proud of him and struggling with the understanding that a real live baby was actually going to come out of my body. I was all smiles and laughter.
Once my mom and Robyn were in the room Traci had me do some practice pushes and was impressed by how well I could push with the epidural so she didn't turn it down. I felt zero pain and whenever I wasn't pushing I was laughing and talking. All I heard were reassuring and encouraging words from everyone around me and I felt incredibly empowered and just kept thinking to myself that I couldn't believe that my labor was so enjoyable and amazing so far. Traci had me do some small pushes for a while and did a lot of massaging and said that since the fetal heart rate was great that pushing slowly would really help ensure that I suffered as little damage as possible. Just before 4:00 she called my doctor who was down in flash. As soon as Traci got off the phone with my doctor I asked her if she would get my SIL and FIL and bring them in. I know it probably sounds crazy but being surrounded by all these people who were so full of love was really empowering to me and filled me with emotions I can't describe. Plus, my FIL was a family practice doc so I knew this wasn't going to be anything he hadn't already seen. As soon as they were in the room I looked over at Steve, my FIL, and saw tears and I knew I'd made the right choice because it was readily apparent how special this was to him. My doctor then walked in and then told us that this was why we were her most favorite patients, laughter and love was spilling out of the room and apparently my high spirits were the talk of the labor ward as she entered.
I pushed a little while and my doctor was happily chatting with us in between pushes and we were swapping mini-stories and then she jokingly thanked me for keeping my end of the deal. She was referring the fact that when she put us on the schedule for induction on Friday I had told her I didn't want a long labor and that I intended to have her off to enjoy her weekend before dinnertime. Tee hee.
At about 4:15 the baby's head was out and my doctor told Brad he couldn't cut the chord because she had to since it was wrapped snuggly around his shoulder. Next, out came one shoulder and then another along with the rest of his body (it was 4:19 PM when he was officially born). I could feel the baby come out but I felt not a single sensation of pain. As soon as he was out the whole room cheered and then we all promptly began to bawl as they brought the baby over to stimulate him. Out came the most beautiful cry in the world and then Brad said, "It's a boy! It's a Charlie!" I couldn't stop crying and everyone was giving me kudos and congrats.
The anesthesiologists showed up and talked me through getting the epidural and honestly, getting it was cake (the doc's were one female and one male and they were both drop dead gorgeous and worthy of Grey's Anatomy and I thought it was funny that my big ol' pregnant rear was just hanging out in all it's glory as they worked away on my back). Within a few minutes I was calmly lying on my side and Traci asked me how I felt. "Great." I said and she told me that the epidural was obviously working because I was currently having a horrendous contraction without feeling it. Phew! Since I hadn't slept much the night before due to excitement and an overactive baby the lights were turned off and I just relaxed quietly and told Brad to go get something to eat while he had the chance. Off he went in search of nourishment.
At around 11:30 my mom and her boyfriend arrived and shortly thereafter my MIL, FIL and SIL all arrived. We all chatted for a while and then Traci kicked them all out so that I could rest some more. My doctor showed up to check on me again and did another internal and found that I was making great progress and was at 6 cm. From this point on people would come in and check on me and I was just feeling really tired so I pretty much just listened to the chatter around me in a tired daze. Whenever Traci needed to check me internally she cleared the room and she consistently would lean down quietly and tell me different signals I could give her if I needed her to be the bad guy and kick people out, quiet them, etc. She was amazing. By around 2ish I was chipper, chatty, had a renewed burst of energy and was feeling like I couldn't possibly be in labor because I felt far too good.
At around 3:30 when Traci checked me she said it didn't look like I'd quite made 9cm yet... I'd made 10! She told me it was time to start pushing and meet my baby and confidently told me that even though this was a big baby she would protect my body to her best ability and that there would be no need for an episiotomy. It was so reassuring to have her tell me that even though I logically knew it could still happen. She then asked me who I'd like in the room with me because it was just Brad and I at that point which had been our plan all along. All of a sudden I changed my mind and asked her if she would go and get my mom and my MIL Robyn. She asked if I was sure and I was. Before she left she got Brad to feel the baby's head which amazed me because Brad is super squeamish. I was really proud of him and struggling with the understanding that a real live baby was actually going to come out of my body. I was all smiles and laughter.
Once my mom and Robyn were in the room Traci had me do some practice pushes and was impressed by how well I could push with the epidural so she didn't turn it down. I felt zero pain and whenever I wasn't pushing I was laughing and talking. All I heard were reassuring and encouraging words from everyone around me and I felt incredibly empowered and just kept thinking to myself that I couldn't believe that my labor was so enjoyable and amazing so far. Traci had me do some small pushes for a while and did a lot of massaging and said that since the fetal heart rate was great that pushing slowly would really help ensure that I suffered as little damage as possible. Just before 4:00 she called my doctor who was down in flash. As soon as Traci got off the phone with my doctor I asked her if she would get my SIL and FIL and bring them in. I know it probably sounds crazy but being surrounded by all these people who were so full of love was really empowering to me and filled me with emotions I can't describe. Plus, my FIL was a family practice doc so I knew this wasn't going to be anything he hadn't already seen. As soon as they were in the room I looked over at Steve, my FIL, and saw tears and I knew I'd made the right choice because it was readily apparent how special this was to him. My doctor then walked in and then told us that this was why we were her most favorite patients, laughter and love was spilling out of the room and apparently my high spirits were the talk of the labor ward as she entered.
I pushed a little while and my doctor was happily chatting with us in between pushes and we were swapping mini-stories and then she jokingly thanked me for keeping my end of the deal. She was referring the fact that when she put us on the schedule for induction on Friday I had told her I didn't want a long labor and that I intended to have her off to enjoy her weekend before dinnertime. Tee hee.
At about 4:15 the baby's head was out and my doctor told Brad he couldn't cut the chord because she had to since it was wrapped snuggly around his shoulder. Next, out came one shoulder and then another along with the rest of his body (it was 4:19 PM when he was officially born). I could feel the baby come out but I felt not a single sensation of pain. As soon as he was out the whole room cheered and then we all promptly began to bawl as they brought the baby over to stimulate him. Out came the most beautiful cry in the world and then Brad said, "It's a boy! It's a Charlie!" I couldn't stop crying and everyone was giving me kudos and congrats.
Crying uncontrollably:
My doctor was amazed by the fact that my body was pretty much dandy after delivery as am I because here are Charlie's stats:
My doctor was amazed by the fact that my body was pretty much dandy after delivery as am I because here are Charlie's stats:
9 pounds 6.2 ounces
21 1/2 inches
Head circumference of 15 1/2 inches
Wowee! He of course had major conehead, his nose was all smushed and even his ears were crumpled up but to us he was just perfect. Before my doctor left she gave me a hug and thanked me for letting her be a part of our special day and then told us she hoped we had many more children that she could deliver. Soon after I had my first round of breastfeeding, Brad bathed him and we basked in the glory of our brand new baby boy. Throughout the evening we had lots of visitors and eventually got transferred to a recovery room after several hours (Traci let us stay in the suite for a long time since they weren't busy and she was holding out for a larger recovery room for us since Brad is so dang tall).
21 1/2 inches
Head circumference of 15 1/2 inches
Wowee! He of course had major conehead, his nose was all smushed and even his ears were crumpled up but to us he was just perfect. Before my doctor left she gave me a hug and thanked me for letting her be a part of our special day and then told us she hoped we had many more children that she could deliver. Soon after I had my first round of breastfeeding, Brad bathed him and we basked in the glory of our brand new baby boy. Throughout the evening we had lots of visitors and eventually got transferred to a recovery room after several hours (Traci let us stay in the suite for a long time since they weren't busy and she was holding out for a larger recovery room for us since Brad is so dang tall).
Daddy giving a bath:
The first time I held my son after he was all clean and swaddled:
With part of my "labor posse," Brad's family:
My mom & I:
I could go on and on... um, I guess I already did... but I can honestly say that ever since this experience I keep thinking about how I could not have wanted anything more from a labor and delivery experience. I never dreamed it could go so well and I could never have dreamed that I could do what I did. I am so thankful to have had the experience I did.
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