I was attempting to go to bed Wednesday night when I started feeling funny. I tried to go to bed but I just couldn't stay still. I started having strong, consistent contractions about midnight. They started out about 10 min. apart but quickly got closer and closer together. By 5 am we knew we were in true labor and called our doula, Taffy. She came right over and we started doing some breathing and laboring positions to help me cope with the pain. I was determined to stay home as long as possible. We were able to labor at home for a while. We finally decided to head to the hospital at 10:30 when my contractions were about 2 minutes apart and the pain was getting pretty bad. We were able to check right in!
We were excited to see how far I had progressed, since I had been in labor for 10 1/2 hours already...I was only a 4! The pain was bad and I wanted the drugs but I decided to try to stick it out a little longer. At around 2:30 they checked me again and I was at a 5-6 and in more pain than I could handle...I had been laboring for over 14 hours on my feet...I never sat down! I decided I needed the drugs...my feet hurt too bad to continue. Wow...the epidural was AMAZING!!! I finally got to lay down and I was a lot more comfortable.
A couple of hours later they checked me again and I was a 6...I was wondering if this was ever going to end! My wonderful husband, amazing doula, and loving family stood waiting to see what was taking so long. It was so frustrating! The doctor finally decided to break my water, hoping it would move things along, and the scariest thing happened. It seemed that the entire hospital staff ran into my room. No one said anything, they were all over me moving me around, talking all technical, it was scary! Turns out that there was a dip in the baby's heart rate after a strong contraction. This slowed everything down...I stayed dilated to a 7 for the rest of the evening.
The doctor finally came in and suggested a c-section, which I was totally against. But she talked me into it because I had been laboring for a full 24 hours now and I was stuck at 7 and a -1 (the baby was still really high in the birth canal). The doctor explained that even if I made it to a 10 I would still have to push and she was thinking I might not have the energy. I was very upset but decided that a c-section at that point was better than an emergency c-section if the pushing was too much.
They prepped me for the surgery and in I went... 1/2 sad I missed out on natural delivery, 1/2 happy I was finally going to meet her. The surgery went well. Nolan held my hand the entire time. It was amazing when they held Madison Kaye in front of my face for the first time. Nolan left to cut the umbilical chord and watch them clean her up. He brought her back to me and let me look at her while they finished stitching me up. She was beautiful!!! I was in love!!!
Nolan and the baby went to the nursery and I was taken to recovery. At about 3a.m. we were admitted to a room to get some rest. Later that day Madison Kaye was brought to us. Here are some of the pictures.(please see pictures to the right, we are working on posting an album)
