So my last post touches on just the beginning of the many phone calls I made to Hoag on Sunday. I called, as instructed, at 5am... was told to call back at 8am. The nurse didn't sound stressed and I assumed she'd give us the green light to come in after the next call. That was where I made a fatal error: assuming it would all go my way. I called at 8:00 sharp, to be told "Call back at 11:00- we're just busy." At 11am, I figured 'third time is a charm'... FAIL. Was told to call again at 2pm. And at 2pm- guess what?! "Call back at 5pm." At that point, I was in tears calling my mom to tell her, yet again, to keep waiting. I was emotionally drained and so tired from being up at 5am! Matt was getting antsy and wanted me to start calling every hour instead of waiting until 5, which really just got me more upset... so I called a little early at 4:20. Sweet success- kind of: she said they wanted me to come in at 8pm! BUT- I needed to call right before we left to be sure. Yikes.
Since they'd be watching Kate anyway that night (assuming 8pm stuck), we went down to Matt's parents' house and had some yummy dinner. I went outside and called at 6:30pm, with the rest of the family crossing their fingers and staring at me through the window. "Come on in!" YES! A little later and we gave Kate 100 kisses and headed out.
We got to L&D at 7:50pm and checked in, signed papers, changed into my ever-so-attractive hospital gown. I was 3cm dilated and 60% effaced at that point. I joked with our nurse, Kristen (who was fantastic!) that I was more nervous about the IV than anything else... my IV experience with Kate was no bueno. It hurt like no other! She, however, said she'd give me a shot of linocain first so I wouldn't feel a thing. That was the beginning of a beautiful relationship with my L&D nurse! We got that all done and then since I had tested positive for GBS, I needed a couple of bags of anti-biotics before they'd start the pitocin. Did you know penicillin BURNS?! Yeah, oww. It hurt all the way up my arm. I even asked if I was having a heart attack or something because of the intense stabbing pain in my arm... no fun!
They started the pitocin at 10:15pm and I could feel the contractions start, but they weren't painful. At 10:40pm a doctor came in a broke my water. Even though I remember this from the first time, it still shocked me just how gross it felt! Ugh! I cannot imagine that happening in public! Once my water was broken, the contractions picked up quick and started becoming painful. Matt and I tried to rest (he had no problem...). I was checked again and was 6-7cm dilated at that point. We flipped on the TV, but as it turns out, there isn't anything good on at that time of night on a Sunday. By midnight, I was hurting, nauseous and ready for that glorious direct line of relief in my back. Bring me the epi! The anesthesiologist, who I am fairly certain was the same one I had with Kate, came in and took good care of me. Matt came to hold my hand, but casually walked away at a certain point- playing it real cool for a guy who thought he might pass out. Doc got the line in, made sure I was well numbed up and went on his merry way. Now it was resting time!
I tried to sleep as much as possible, but the nurse kept coming in, checking my progress and making me move around and switch sides, since Will's heartbeat would suddenly disappear from their monitors. Turns out he was much happier when I laid on my right side. My OB, Dr. Grouse, came in to say 'hi' and after that I think I got some sleep. The nurse came in somewhere around 2:30am and said she was going to give me a straight catheter to empty my bladder- she thought that would help him move down the rest of the way. She was right.
Almost immediately after she did that, I felt a ton of pressure. She checked me and said I was 9.5cm and still had a little bit to go before it was push time. She said if I felt lots of pressure to call her and then left. Not even 2 minutes later I told Matt I thought I needed to call her back... it was all I could do NOT to push. She came back and checked me again and I had made it to 10cm and ready to start pushing that quick! She and Matt started me pushing. Poor Matt. He is the sweetest man in the world... I just love him. But I know the whole thing made him a bit queasy.
After a few sets of practice pushes, the nurse interrupted us in the middle of a push and said, "Ok- we better stop and call the doctor now." At that point it was so much pressure with every contraction... it was unreal. I didn't feel ANY of that with Kate! Dr. Grouse arrived and we got down to business. I pushed for three ten-counts. "Push harder!" With another push, he was crowning (ow), second push head was out (ow oww ow!) and third push (and I pushed freaking hard) William Robert was born at 3:22am! The doctor practically threw that kid on my belly to get him cleaned up and I met the new man in my life! He was so quiet! He really didn't cry, but the nurses weren't concerned at all... he was breathing fine and let out a squeak here and there and they were all saying how cute he was.
He weighed in at 8 pounds, 8 ounces and was 20 inches long. He had all kinds of dark hair and had the sweetest little nose. So in love!
As the doc was pushing on my belly and doing that fun part, I could see Matt sitting there holding him and just smiling this amazed, joyful smile that I will never forget. It wasn't something I got a photo of, but it is a memory in my mind that only I will ever have- my husband and his son. So perfect. This photo was a little later, and still so sweet.
The stitching up part hurt. Kind of a lot. I don't know what was up with my epidural at that point, but I had felt a lot during the delivery. When he was crowning, it hurt so much... I seriously cannot believe that women can do that without any pain meds. It's incredible to me. Then I could feel every stitch at the end. Ughhh... makes me shudder even thinking about it again. But it wasn't all that bad; very minor tear below- and I came out of it with a beautiful son!
One thing that was lovely this time- having him in the middle of the night! No one else there but us. No one standing outside waiting to come in, no one to entertain, no one to pass the baby to. If and when we do this again, I feel like requesting that no one come until we call. It was so peaceful and wonderful. It was exciting with Kate to know everyone was there and we felt so loved, but it was a whirlwind.
The visitors that did come the next day were so welcome though- especially the big sister! I was so happy to see her sweet face walk into the room! I've never been as in love with her as I am now!
Poor Kate was showing some signs of a cold, so Matt's mom and sister took her home pretty quick, so we didn't get a pic of the four of us at the hospital, but at least we got one with daddy, mommy and Will...
Will is awesome and I feel great. We left the hospital a day before we had to because I just wanted to be at home! Emotionally, I feel 100% normal, which is strange. I was a hormonal wreck when I came home with Kate. This time I feel cool as a cucumber... it almost creeps me out that I feel so normal. My body is still a bit sore, but I am really looking forward to getting out and taking walks with my two children! Kate is doing so well. She loves to give him kisses and is so sweet. She is definitely acting up a bit with us, but nothing intolerable. Poor kid- it is a huge change in her life! Nursing is easier this time, but still painful for a bit, and the nights aren't as long as I feared they could be!
This morning I woke up to his tiny, pre-cry sounds and for a few moments was able to close my eyes and thank God for all of the incredible blessings I've been given in my life. I'm just in awe of my beautiful family and all that we have been given. Can't believe that just when I think 'my cup runneth over', it continues to flow! Amazing!
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