Three months ago
Posted by Alli on May 18, 2009
Three months ago, around 4:30 in the morning it was raining. I know because Damon and I were trying not to get my pillow wet when we loaded into the car.
Three months ago, a little before 5 a.m. I met a woman who handed me a bunch of papers to sign, clipped a piece of plastic around my wrist and directed us to go back the way we came.
Three months ago, around 5:05 a.m. I was in a bed, answering questions to a nurse on my right and getting my left hand stabbed with an IV port by another nurse. I was checked and I was still at 3 centimeters (as I had been for over a week) and the monitors showed some small contractions but nothing I considered bothersome.
Three months ago, I was given some pitocin and fluids, via the aforementioned IV port. I tried to watch the local morning news, since it was around 6:30 a.m. but I opted for the rain instead. Damon was shown where to find the popsicles and ice chips.
Three months ago, my doctor was in another hospital room delivering a baby. When he was done, he showed up in my room and broke my water. Until then, I don’t really recall experiencing any painful contractions. But I could tell soon afterwards, things were progressing.
Three months ago, a nurse came into my room and told me if I was thinking about getting an epidural I needed to let them know because I needed to have had two liters of fluids before I could have the epidural. It was a good thing she told me because I was thinking about having the epidural, but I wasn’t at that point yet.
Three months ago, I looked at the I.V. stand and wondered how long it was going to take me to get those two liters, because I was really starting to think about having that epidural. And the fluids were going slower than the pain was coming.
Three months ago, around 10 a.m., Ellen was dancing on TV and I was asking the nurse about how long it would be until I had completed those two liters because I was really starting to think about the epidural now. She laughed and said they would turn it up to make it go faster. I said, “Yes, please.” It was no longer raining. In fact, it was very sunny and we had a beautiful view out the window.
Three months ago, a nice woman named Felicia stuck a needle in my back and dialed down the pain. Rachael Ray was on TV and we were talking about what she was cooking. I complained this wasn’t a good thing since I was actually very hungry. But I quit complaining when I learned I was about six centimeters. It was my personal goal to wait and get the epidural when I was more than four centimeters. Goal reached, score!
Three months ago, Damon photographed blue jays outside the hospital window while nurse Melanie (who was my third and final nurse of the delivery experience) gave me a catheter.
Three months ago, I spent about two hours feeling rather uncomfortable and just feeling a lot of pressure. I was surprised because when I was in labor with Fuller, after I had my epidural, I didn’t feel anything at all. This time was different. This time, I only had a partial block. This was definitely a different labor experience.
Three months ago, around 2:30, Melanie checked me and ten centimeters had been achieved. And suddenly people started appearing in the room and doing things like moving carts, piling baby blankets, and cracking jokes.
Three months ago, around 3 p.m. I started pushing. When I asked for a mirror, I shocked everyone because apparently people don’t usually ask for mirrors when they are pushing. They were very happy to get it for me, once they found it. I preferred the mirror because it helped give me a visual on my progress. Plus, I couldn’t wait to see what color hair the baby had.
Three months ago, around 3:15 p.m. I was still pushing with each contraction. Melanie was on my left and Damon was on my right, each helping hold my legs. And I kept thinking, “Why doesn’t he just give me the episiotomy already? It would make it a lot easier!”
Three months ago, probably around 3:25, Dr. I said he was going to have to give me an episiotomy. And I restrained from yelling, “Finally!” No, it didn’t hurt (probably because of the epidural), but I had already started to tear and this was my preferred method of delivery. As soon as it happened, with the next push, there was more progress and I was told to not push.
Three months ago, at 3:31 we had a new son.
Three months ago, my heart grew and I fell in love with Tebow.
Three months ago, this was Tebow’s birth story.
[tags]birth story, labor and delivery[/tags]
Nellie said,
nice relay of your proceedings that day. I love Tebow’s expression ” I may cry any second”.
Nellies last blog post..MORE RAIN
Joanna said,
Happy 1/4 birthday, little Tebow!!
Joannas last blog post..A date with Mr. T
Colleen said,
Beautiful Alli – you’ve got a way with pictures AND words!
Colleens last blog post..cum laude is one of those phrases…
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