Woah, Baby!

The last three days have been a complete whirlwind! I'll try to catch you up with as few gory details as possible, but here's how it went....

We woke up Tuesday morning around 4:30 to get ready to go to the hospital. I took a shower and got all "dolled up" (which William later made fun of me for, but hey...there's nothing wrong with at least attempting to look good while giving birth, right?) and we headed for the hospital. We got there about 6:30 and got checked in and headed up to the labor and delivery room. I got changed and hopped into bed ready for the big day!

Around 7, they were starting to get things rolling. I got an IV, which I think the first attempt at trying to get it in my hand was one of the most painful things of the day. They ended up putting it my arm and then hooked me up to the fetal heart monitor and the contractions monitor. A little while later the nurse came in and started the Pitocin. The baby's heart rate started dropping pretty quickly once they started the Pitocin, so they came in and had me flip around from side to side to get it to go back up. We finally found a position where he seemed happy, but they decided to turn the Pitocin off and let him calm down for a bit. After about 30 minutes, they came back in and turned it back on to get going again. I was 3 centimeters and so they decided to break my water. They told me at this point that I could request my epidural whenever I was ready. I hadn't felt too uncomfortable yet so I thought I'd wait a little while longer. Then the contractions really got started. I could tell that they were definitely getting stronger so I decided about 10 minutes after saying that I'd wait, that I was ready for the epidural! About 20 minutes later the anesthesiologist came in and got things set up for the epidural. The only painful thing about this was the small prick in my back from the numbing shot that they gave me before inserting the huge needle. I had a few contractions during the epidural process which were pretty painful, but as soon as they were done, I was feeling better! I told William that with the epidural, I was the most comfortable I had been in months! Aside from being woken up every so often with my blood pressure being taken and setting off an alarm that it was low, I was able to sleep and relax for a little while. They had to keep a close look at the baby's heart rate too because every now and then it would drop. They would come in and flip me over until it went back up. I threw up at one point, which was NO surprise to me...with the way this pregnancy went, I knew I wasn't getting away with going through labor without blowing a few chunks....or more like stomach acid since I hadn't eaten (TMI? you'll live)...

Around noon, I was at 5 centimeters and mom and Anna had landed at the airport in Burbank. We figured they had plenty of time to get to the hospital, so we were all pretty relaxed still. HOWEVER, about an hour later, the nurse came back in to check me again. I threw up again so she had to wait til I settled back down from that and then, pardon me but, the shit hit the fan.....the next thing I know, I've been flipped over onto my back, the nurse has checked me and said that I was complete (10 cm!), the baby's heart rate was dropping, about a hundred people rushed in in gloves and medical shower caps (or whatever they're called), mom and Anna are standing outside the door trying to get in and being told they can't, an oxygen masked has been shoved onto my face, 3 nurses were flipping me onto all fours making me stand like a dog in the bed, while cords that are connected to my body in some way, mind you, are flying everywhere. Apparently the heart rate had dropped pretty rapidly and while I was sitting doggie style on the bed, I started hearing talk of a C section. I did NOT want a C section and was praying so hard that things would turn around and that I wouldn't have to get one. A few minutes later, mom and Anna were allowed in the room to see me (bear in mind I'm still on all fours with a stinking oxygen mask on my face). BUT they had made it before the birth and I got to see them before he came. A few minutes later the doctor came back in to check me again and it was time to start pushing. They had turned off my epidural so that I could feel when to push and boy could I feel it! Ouch..enough said. Anyway, you don't need a description of me all spread eagle on a delivery table pushing so I'll spare you, but let's just say it was really hard work but I was determined to get him out and quick! At one point they offered me a wet towel for my forehead, I accepted, but when they left it there and it got hot in addition to my face sweating from the stupid oxygen mask, I'd had enough and actually THREW the cloth from my forehead across the bed/room. I was laughing really hard inside at myself for doing that, but hey..I was giving birth and that was making me uncomfortable so I figured I could do what I wanted! After about 30 minutes he was ready to come out. At one point I very dramatically asked "Where is HE?" I was asking what station he was at...+1, +2, etc, but I sounded like I'd had enough and was just asking where he was...again..funny to myself. They answered with only saying he was coming and could see his head. A couple of pushes later and he was out and I saw his big eyes looking up at me for about a second before they whisked him away to be checked. I tore really badly so I had to be stitched up for what felt like an eternity, still having bad contractions. This was probably the worst part, mostly because of how bad the contractions were. The doctor FINALLY finished up and I was able to hold baby Arden for the first time.

OVERALL the whole experience was not as bad as I had expected, then again, how was I supposed to know WHAT to expect. I was so thankful that I did not have to have a c-section even though I'm really sore from my stitches. More to come about our past few days whenever I get a moment to spare!