Birth Story and Whatnot
I began having contractions around 8 pm on Wednesday (11/7). They were about every 3 minutes, but lasting about 30 seconds or so. We left for the hospital around midnight.
In the maternity triage area, they tried to start an IV on me. Ive been told Im a pretty easy stick, so it was quite a surprize that they couldnt find a vein in me. They stuck me 3 times before they got a vein in my wrist to (sort of) cooperate. They checked my progress, and I was 3 centimeters and 50% effaced.
They moved me to the birthing room, and we all got settled in. My dad had driven me to the hospital, with Beth (my sister) following us. After an hour or so, dad and beth decided to split and get some sleep.
Around that time, I got into the bath tub, which was really relaxing. I was able to nod off a little, and Nick caught some sleep on the dad bed. Around 6 am, Nick woke up and he was in alot of pain around his incision. I told him to go to the ER, and after alot of convincing, he went.
After he left, I remember the contractions getting alot worse, and all in my back. My doula pushed with all her might on my back, and it was barely enough to help the pain. Since I wanted to avoid an epidural, the doula suggested a saline solution shot. They inject sterile saline between layers of your skin, and it helps with back labor. So, I went for it. Although it helped with the pain, the shots hurt SOOO much, it almost wasnt worth it.
Around this time (around 9 am), they checked me for the first time since I checked in. I was still 3 centimeters and 50% effaced. I was so discourged that I began begging for drugs. I was so tired, and it hurt so much, and with no progress, I wasnt sure I could do this. My doula calmed me down, and the midwife broke my water.
I was beginning to get nauseous with each contractions. I told the nurse that pain be damned, I wasnt throwing up while in labor. I guess I was serious enough, and they gave me something for the nausea. They also realized I was getting dehydrated and hooked my up to some fluids in my IV.
So, I started walking and moving around in different postions to deal with the pain. My dad came back, and I told him to check on Nick in the ER. It turns out Nick had an abbsess in his incision, and they were thinking on admitting him.
Around noon, I started having the urge to push. They checked me, and I was 7 centimeters and 90% effaced. I was so happy that it was almost over, and yet part of me wasnt ready. After a while, my doula figured out I wasnt trying as hard I was before, and asked me if I would work harder in Nick was here. I said yes, so she and my dad got to work on getting Nick to be allowed to come back from the ER. At first, the answer was no, but then finally they allowed him to come up. During this time, my cousins had showed up, although I dont remember them being there.
Nick got there, and I began pushing. I wasnt pushing too long before they got all the stuff they would need ready, and the midwife could see the head. For the delivery, Nick, my sister and my dad were there.
The birth was indescribable. I still cant believe I pushed a whole other being out of me. I remember the baby coming out, and then I laid my head back down. They showed the baby to Nick, and he said "Charlotte, say hi to James" and the midwife put my son on my belly. In all the baby shows, the baby is all wet and crying and it seems a little gross, but when its your own child, its anything but gross. Nick cut his cord.
They took him to the warmer in the room to clean him up and whatnot, and I birthed the afterbirth. I guess thats when the midwife realized I was bleeding alot, and found I had torn. This is when things get chaotic. She started ordering a whole bunch of meds and had the OB paged. The OB came in and took over. She ordered more meds, and nurses began coming in with a whole bunch of stuff.
I remember Nick asking my family to give us a minute, grabbing my hand and asking me if I felt ok. My dad told the doctor that my mom had a small hemorrhage when delivering me. The OB came in and told me I had a 3rd degree tear. She could repair it here or get a spinal and got othe OR. I told here I wanted to avoid the spinal (I had managed to have a natural childbirth for gods sake) and try to repair it here. She gave me something in my IV, and went to work. During this, James Samuel get weighed and measured. After a few minutes, she called another OB, and they both examined me. The new OB told me that I had a bad 4th degree tear, and I would have to go to the OR.
The anestiologist came in, along with my cousins. By this point, the drugs they gave me were in full effect, and I was quite loopy. I left to the OR, and Nick had to go back to the ER. My cousins got to have some time with the baby before he got taken to the nusery.
On the way to the OR, I told the anestiologist that I didnt like the idea of a needle in my spine, so he needed to be on his A game. He was quite cocky with his answer. (I later found out the anestiologist was the same one who gave my cousins her epidural, and my fear of then stems from her experience with it.) They got me on the table and stitched me up. The OB (Dr. Garcia) was quite pleased with how I came back together, and even had a few other doctors come in and look at her work. Ive never had so many people look at my vagina in my life!
I went to recovery for a while, and then up to the mother and baby unit, where I got to see James Samuel and everyone was waiting for me. Nick had gotten his abbcess drained and got released. Over the course of the night, me and Nick decided he looks more like Sam, so we are calling him Sam.
I think thats it. My sister took her camera back, so I dont have any pics to post yet. I will get it back tomorrow, so I should have some soon. But if everyone else is right, Sam is a mighty cute baby.