Sorry it took so long
Daniel Joseph Reum was born on April 18th at 4:47pm. As I mentioned before, Val's water broke about midnight that night and contractions started a little after that. We had been told numerous times to just stay home for the first few hours and relax. Sitting in the hospital just waiting is not exactly fun so they advise you to just take it easy and wait until the contractions are hard enough you can't talk through them anymore.
Unfortunately, because Val water broke she was very uncomfortable. She pretty much needed to stay in the bathroom the whole time we were home and couldn't get any rest. So, at about 3:30ish we left for the hospital. When we got there, we went through a typical routine of questions from the nurse and they checked to see how far she progressed. She was only 1.5 cm dialated at this point, which was disappointing because they checked her at her last exam and was already 1 cm. So, at this point she had been in labor for 4 1/2 hours and only made it half a centimeter.
They then moved us into the labor and birthing room where would spend most of our time that day. Val continued to labor as she sat in bed, walked the halls, etc. Val was checked again at about 9ish and was 3 1/2 cm. Which was good that she had progress, but I knew that things were going to take a while.
After struggling for a while making no progress they finally put her on pitocin, which is a drug that stimulates contractions. It's very similar to the real hormone that controls contractions called oxytocin. That really kicked it up and Val had to really focus during contractions. At this point, she was exhausted and was sleeping between contractions. At about 3, Val made it to 5 cm so they could give her pain medication. Which I must say is just freakin wonderful. I don't know how women can get by without it.
Now she was a deep sleep between contractions and though she still woke up from the pain, it definitely took the edge off. Because of the pitocin and the fact Val wasn't so tense any more she progressed very quickly the rest of the way in about one hour. Then came pushing!
Val did extremely well at this point. She pushed very well and it probably took less than 10 contractions for Daniel to come out. Val's midwife delivered his head and then helped me deliver the body and then I set him on Val's belly while they cleaned him off. Then they clamped his cord and let me cut it. They weighed and measured him, gave him a vitamin k shot (to help with clotting), and put medicine in his eyes to prevent infection.
Sometime while I was watching Daniel they delivered the afterbirth and then they stiched up Val. Tearing is quite common btw. After that we moved to a post-partum room and been enjoying him ever since. I'm sure Val will post pictures later.
Unfortunately, because Val water broke she was very uncomfortable. She pretty much needed to stay in the bathroom the whole time we were home and couldn't get any rest. So, at about 3:30ish we left for the hospital. When we got there, we went through a typical routine of questions from the nurse and they checked to see how far she progressed. She was only 1.5 cm dialated at this point, which was disappointing because they checked her at her last exam and was already 1 cm. So, at this point she had been in labor for 4 1/2 hours and only made it half a centimeter.
They then moved us into the labor and birthing room where would spend most of our time that day. Val continued to labor as she sat in bed, walked the halls, etc. Val was checked again at about 9ish and was 3 1/2 cm. Which was good that she had progress, but I knew that things were going to take a while.
After struggling for a while making no progress they finally put her on pitocin, which is a drug that stimulates contractions. It's very similar to the real hormone that controls contractions called oxytocin. That really kicked it up and Val had to really focus during contractions. At this point, she was exhausted and was sleeping between contractions. At about 3, Val made it to 5 cm so they could give her pain medication. Which I must say is just freakin wonderful. I don't know how women can get by without it.
Now she was a deep sleep between contractions and though she still woke up from the pain, it definitely took the edge off. Because of the pitocin and the fact Val wasn't so tense any more she progressed very quickly the rest of the way in about one hour. Then came pushing!
Val did extremely well at this point. She pushed very well and it probably took less than 10 contractions for Daniel to come out. Val's midwife delivered his head and then helped me deliver the body and then I set him on Val's belly while they cleaned him off. Then they clamped his cord and let me cut it. They weighed and measured him, gave him a vitamin k shot (to help with clotting), and put medicine in his eyes to prevent infection.
Sometime while I was watching Daniel they delivered the afterbirth and then they stiched up Val. Tearing is quite common btw. After that we moved to a post-partum room and been enjoying him ever since. I'm sure Val will post pictures later.