The Birth.

Just a quick note, a lot of the blog has to be attributed to my amazing doula Veronika. She can be found here: http://www.veronikarae.com/contact-me I plagiarized most of the birth story from what she wrote for my son, mostly because I would have written pretty much the same thing. I made a few changes but it was all her. If she ever sees this I hope she isn't made because I am way too lazy to rewrite it. BTW anyone from the Fox Valley WI area, you want this woman as your doula. Even if you don't know what one is. Hire her.


 Around 4 am on a very cold Friday morning, I woke up to use the restroom. I guess this is a common way for water to break, 4AM is a special baby time I guess. I sat down on the toilet, went pee, and fluid just kept coming out. I knew it wasn't pee, but there was a flood. I wait until it stopped, stood up and told my husband who was soundly sleeping, "Honey I think my water broke, I am going to go and call the Dr." He mumbled something. I call the Dr's office and luckily my Dr was on call, she called me back a few minutes later confirmed that it sounded like it was my water that broke and suggested that I go to the hospital since the baby wasn't due for another four week. I sent my doula a text

“This is your fault for leaving town at the tail end of a full moon,

my water just broke!!”

  We arrived at the hospital a between 4:15 and 4:30 they checked me to make sure that my water had broke then they checked me into a room. James went to the car and brought my things in and we got comy.  They came in and checked me and  found out I was already four centimeters dilated. James was exhausted, so I sent him home to take care of the dog and get a rest. I called my big brother, and my mom who said she would come over, and let Veronika my doula know that she could show up whenever she wanted. She asked if I needed anything and I told her a winning lotter ticket. (She brought one and I won a dollar.)

 Around 8:00 or 9:00 am, my mom and Veroinka joined me in Hospital room, number 339. 

 I walked up and down the hallways with my mom and Veronika waiting for the little guy to progress. Sometimes I’d have to stop to handle the contractions better. My mom and Veronika knew when they were coming becuase I wouldwould get quiet, hold onto the railings, and close my eyes and breathed deep. It was an experience

When we all got bored of walking around, I decided to take a nice warm bath. We hoped the warm water would tempt him to come out a little sooner, but he was too comfy cozy in the mama’s tummy. after that I tried bouncing and rocking on a birthing ball to get him jarred loose, but no luck!

The doctors kept harassing me that the labor wasn't progressing and they were worried about infection. They have me anitobiotics in an IV as soon as I got there and they kept pumping them into and I threw up. I put of off as long as I could but they said I really shouldn't wait any longer. So, around noon, I got pitocin to help my uterus contract and help my cervix dilate some more. This made my contractions much stronger and more painful. James was there and held my hand, (which was zamazing because he didn't want to be there and he is afraid of hospitals. ) he was by my saide the whole time. The contractions started getting stronger and stronger,  they hurt so bad, I finally yelled,

“Marrrryyyy POPPINS!”

…and that made me feel a little better.

It was my magic code word for painkillers. At about 4:00 pm, I was finally eight centimeters dilated. I was getting so tired of the intense pain and couldn’t get any rest, so I took an epidural, which helped me rest and gain some energy.

By 6:00 pm the doctors told your mama it was time to push but my OB had to leave for the day so a new doctor came in. He was very friendly and thought I was doing a great job.  He was only my doctor for a few minutes before he got a call to do an emergency c-section at another Hospital, so he rushed across town to go help the other mama and baby.

We were so excited we thought he would be here soon, we were wrong. I did some practice pushes to get a feel for what I was supposed to do.I got the hang of it real quick and was a pushing pro after a few minutes! A nurse came by to check how close he was to finally being with us, and she could see his black hair coming down the birth canal!

After awhile, the doctor who would be catching the kid showed up and introduced herself.  She was very nice and energetic and determined to get him out of there!!

I kept pushing while my mom held one of my legs and Veronika had the other. James was close by andholding my hand. My mom took care of the counting to ten while i pushed it was the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. Veronicka offered words of support and rubbed my back and feet while I was resting between pushing. I reccomend a labor support team to anyone.

I pushed and pushed for three long hours with everything I had. I was exhausted, and I didn't think I could do it anymore. The new doctor was getting concerned.  She gave me two options; either get a c-section, or use the help of a vacuum to help get you out. This is not what I wanted. I had hoped for a natural birth and that was already gone, now I had to make a hard choise. I couldn't do it. I was so worried about the little guy vaccums are known to give brain damage and can cause all kinds of problems, and don't get me started on how scary the thought of a C-section was. Though it sounded a little bit amazing becuase I wouldn't have to do anything anymore I could just lay there and be done. I asked James to help me. He said I didn't want a C-section so they got the vacuum. Two more pushed and he was finally out.

They whisked him away to the other side of the room, all I saw was a purple head and a mass of black hair. The neonatologist had been waiting in the room, (standard for preemies there) and it was a good thing. The little man wasn't making any noise. There were so many people around, I sent James to watch over him. I kept asking how the baby was doing and they kept telling me he was fine. He was purple, I saw him I knew he wasn't fine. I appreciate they were trying to make me feel better, but I wanted to know the truth. I kept hearing him encouraging the little guy to breathe.

 "How is he?"

"He's fine! Come one little guy breathe for me."

How is that supposed to be reassuring?

My mom bullied them into letting me hold him before they whisked him away. I got him for all of about 30 seconds. Before he had to go. I made James go with him, I didn't want him to be alone. I laid there worried, and getting stitched up waiting impatiently on word of my little man. Finally James came back and let me know he was fine, and that we would be able to see him soon.

First Time Holding Him

To be continued with the NICU post.