Everyone (okay, not everyone, but other mother-friends generally) asks about my labor and birth story. I'm partially sharing this with those who are curious, but also for me to document the tale of how Abby came into this world.
Abby's due date was Thursday October 6, 2011. As that day came and went, I worked through Friday October 7 and I then declared I was on maternity leave.
On Tuesday October 11, I woke up with cramps and some spotting. I thought this was a good sign that finally something was happening! I carried on with my day as usual and I can't recall if I had cramps throughout the day, but if I did, they weren't a nuisance. I had an OB appointment in the afternoon to do a non-stress test. At that time, the doctor checked me and reported that I was still only about 1 cm dilated. Afterwards, I ran a couple errands and came home to lump it on the couch for the rest of the evening. I was napping on the couch around 6:00 and kept waking up to some cramping that had returned. Brent came home from work and we decided to put a pizza in the oven and a movie on the TV. Bridesmaids was our movie of choice.
Labor at Home:
Around 8:30, my cramping turned to stronger contractions. I would announce when they would begin and end. Soon they were coming quicker and stronger and Brent started timing them on his phone. The contractions were coming 5 minutes to 12 minutes apart and lasting 45 seconds to 1 minute 30 seconds long. I was still able to talk through them. During one particular contraction, I became flushed as I was squirming and writhing so much in pain. At that point, Brent thought it was a good idea to call the doctor (good decision!). That was about 10:30 or so. I knew I had to relax my body for the pain of the contraction to dissipate, but seriously, that is SO HARD to do. The doctor determined that we should come into the hospital to see how I was doing.
While Brent was running around the house putting our packed bags into the car and putting Lacey into her crate, I had to move quickly in between contractions. That was easier said than done because they were coming fast and strong! I was almost into the car when I felt the need to vomit. I did so decorating our front yard. While also heaving, I ended up having major moment of incontinence. I needed to change my clothes afterwards. So timing myself to move in between contractions, we headed indoors so I could dry off and put on clean clothes. Finally we were in the car to the hospital. Brent asked me in the car if he should speed or drive the speed limit. I told him I didn't care because I was going to be laying in the passenger seat covered with a towel and trash bag with my eyes closed trying to zone out and relax. I must have done a great job because the 20 minute drive to the hospital seemed quick.
At the Hospital:
We arrived at the hospital approximately around 11:30 pm. Brent temporarily parked right in front of the hospital as he escorted me up to the 9th floor. I had a contraction in the elevator and I remember the doors opening to the 9th floor with me leaning on the hand rail with Brent rubbing my low back. We walked up to the counter and I don't think I ever stood up straight as I was seemingly permanently hunched over with pain. I signed some papers and they lead us back to a triage room. I changed into a hospital gown to lay in bed. A nurse came in and peppered me with all sorts of ridiculous questions. At times I couldn't answer so I would wave my hand in Brent's direction hoping that he would read my gestural communication to answer the question in my place. The nurse would coach me with her matter-of-factly-lack-of-compassion "deep breaths, that's right, deep breaths". I commented "I heard a pop and felt a burst". The nurse responded with "Aah, that was your water breaking. You are now officially admitted to the hospital." Can you imagine my disappointment if they sent us home? The same empathetic nurse checked me and I was 5 cm dilated. Whew! Half way there!
Labor and Delivery Room:
I was transferred to the labor and delivery room. The anesthesiologist practically followed me into the room and immediately administered my epidural. AAAH! Relief! The anesthesiologist said I would feel the next few contractions, but they would get lighter and lighter. Even though she said that, I don't think I felt another contraction. Brent put in the "relaxation music" CD and were told to get comfortable.
In the meantime, my parents were in route from Kansas City to Cincinnati. They arrived at our house just 30 minutes after we left. They cleaned themselves up as best they could after a 10 hour drive and came to hospital. Mom and Dad walked into the labor and delivery room around 1:00am. We all chatted for a bit with excitement of what was to come, but soon turned off the lights and tried to get some rest. The nurse, Amy, told us that maybe around 7:00am I would be ready to start pushing. I originally was thinking that Mom and Dad would go back to our house and get some rest and a shower and then come back in the morning after I had delivered. However, that was not the case.
Around 3:30 am or so, the nurse checked me again and announced that I ws 9 1/2 cm dilated. Yahoo! I'm ahead of schedule, per se. At this point, Mom and Dad left the room to wait in the waiting room. Amy then scurried around the room prepping for a delivery. She turned on the heater where Abby would go just after being delivered to get cleaned up, checked out, weighed and measured. She altered the bed and put my legs up into stirrups. Brent also around this time changed the "relaxation music" CD to a "push music" CD. By the time Amy was done running around the room, I was ready to push.
I did some preliminary pushing when a contraction came. I was completely oblivious as to when one was coming. I had to either look at the monitor or physically touch my stomach to feel it tightening to know. I tended to rely on the latter. Brent was by my side holding my hand and telling me to "get angry"...whatever that meant. I kept laughing at him. Amy informed us that Abby's face was turned to the side. We were about ready to try a different position when Dr. Stamler came in. He nudged Abby's head and face with each contraction to turn the correct way. To my own shock, I used a mirror during delivery. At that point, my crotch was not my crotch, but instead it was where I could see my baby entering this world. It was very helpful to see with each contraction Abby's head poking through. Especially when I couldn't feel a darned thing, it was assuring to me that something was happening.
At Last:
As the last song on the CD was playing at 4:55 a.m., Abigail Jean entered this world and changed our lives forever. Brent and I are pretty sure that she breathed her first breath of air to Soulja Boy's "Crank That". Now that's making an enterance.
