Short Story Short

(As opposed to long story short...)
January 9th 2009
John's parents took me to my OBGYN appt to check my blood pressure since I was on the verge of having Pre-eclampsia, or pregnancy-caused hypertension. The midwife checked my cervix as best she could as it was still far back and closed. I was put on strict bedrest for high blood pressure.
January 10th 2009

While John and his parents participated in the commissioning of USS George H. W. Bush CVN 77 in Norfolk VA, I stayed at home and started getting light cramping that night, but nothing strong, and nothing that increased in duration or the length of time in between them. I also noticed what they call "bloody show" or part of your mucous plug stained with blood, which throughout the pregnancy prevents bacteria or any harmful substance from entering the cervix.
January 11th, 2009
I went to Mary Immaculate Hospital for a non-stress test to monitor my blood pressure (which was normal) and the nurse checked my cervix (which was pretty painful since it was so far back still) and said she would say I was only 1 or 2 cm dialated, which is normal for the end of the pregnancy, despite not being in 'active labor.' The nurses told me that I would notice a little more bleeding since the exam, and that I should not come to the hospital unless I recorded that the contractions (cramping) were 2-3 minutes apart for 2 hours. They said I would have a regular OBGYN appt on tuesday, and possibly be induced later this week is Dr. Shwayder was concerned about my blood pressure.

Later that night, John's parents Louise and Stan, and John and I went around Williamsburg showing them cute souvenir shops and the huge flagship Yankee Candle Factory. Then we ate at Sal's by Victor, a very good italian food restaurant. I started getting some relatively strong contractions but only sporatically. I realized it was a full moon that night which many say influences women's menstrual cycles, and even results in higher birth numbers at hospitals.

I decided to go to bed a little early and read, while John and Louise played cards downstairs. I started getting those strong contractions again, that lasted about 30 seconds, and were at 8:30pm about 20 minutes apart. I figured this could be false labor again, or possibly the very beginning of the early stage of labor. I continued to document the time and duration of my contractions til I fell asleep at 10:00pm. I woke up at 10:30pm with an even stronger contraction--they were now lasting a little longer about 45 seconds (believe me, it's longer than it seems!)
John went to bed, as well as Stan, so I went downstairs and watched TV with Louise til about midnight at which point my contractions were varying from 10 minutes to 7 minutes. I decided to go try to sleep since they didn't at that point seem to be 'regular' enough. The pain was getting worse each time though, and the only relief was sitting a certain way on the toilet leaning back and moaning/breathing. I tried to take a warm bath and fell asleep in between another 4 contractions.
I realized then that they were varying from 4 to 7 minutes everytime, and thats when I woke John up because of the pain. He got the few birthing books we had on hand, and read about the differences between 'false' and 'real' labor. The 2 main things both books stressed were:
1.)If you can talk or walk through your contractions, it's too early to go to the hospital.
2.) Your monitored contractions should be very regular and always get stronger and closer together.

So, I said to John, "If I am in the first stages of labor or false labor, I must not have as high a pain tolerance as I thought." I had him call my OBGYN office after hours, and the midwife on call said to go ahead and go to Labor & Delivery. The drive there was very difficult; I realize I was rude to John but you can't imagine how annoying it is to be in that much pain, and constantly be asked, "Are you having another one?" At this point, the contractions were 3 minutes apart, and I could barely sit in my seat. I kept my eyes closed til we got there.
We parked in the front parking lot, and walked to the door, which says they lock these doors and to "go to the ER entrance." It was fun walking back to the car in the cold and contracting lol. We got to the ER entrance and walked through the lobby to the elevators. I remember having a contraction in the elevator and walking in circles in it while we went to the second floor. Walking seemed to keep my mind distracted (somewhat) from the pain. We finally got to the L&D desk after a few secure locked doors had to be buzzed in, and the nurses asked me to fill out papers! I had JOhn do it, and I still don't understand what the point of pre-registering is if they want me to do all that again anyway!
Well I got a room, a hospital gown, a belly band to monitor the baby's heart and contractions, and an IV. At this point I am begging for medication or anything to relieve the pain. The nurse politely and somewhat condescendingly says, "We're gonna get you in the computers and then I will check your cervix." While the contractions are getting stronger and stronger, John just sits there quietly, thinking like they did, that I was exaggerating and not actually in labor, and maybe was only dialated 3 cm etc. I guess they are used to women exaggerating their pain or coming in for false labor. Plus they heard they just the day before I was only 1-2 cm and still posterior.
The nurse finally checked my cervix in between contractions and said, "You're 6-7 cm dialated...let me get someone else to make sure you are." And another nurse puts her hand up there and says, "yup she's 7." John and I look at each other in amazement. I am continually pleading for an epidural and the nurse keeps saying, "we're calling your doctor to see if he will allow you to since you're already 7." By the time the doctor tells them "Yes she can have the epidural," they check my cervix again, and I WAS 9 CM!!! Well, no epidural now! Then I felt a strong urge to go poop and wanted the nurse to disconnect me from everything and let me go--she just kept calmly saying, "NO, that's the babys head." That scared me even more. Keep in mind I was under the impression that if I was even in active labor, I would be laboring for hours possibly days more since this was my first baby. So to all of the sudden be thrown into this with no way out of the pain, was terrifying.
My doctor was not on call, so a different doctor came in and (although I wasn't aware) John says he used the amniohook to break the amniotic sac. I told the doctor "I have to go to the bathroom!!" and he said, "okay, go ahead." I remember peeing, and then I remember them telling me to push on my next contraction. That was so scary to hear already. During the less than an hour it took to push Lucas out, I kept my eyes closed. I honestly didn't think about how much I wanted to see Lucas. I was in such a state of shock that I could only close my eyes and try to do what they said.

During the first few contractions the doctor was getting frustrated with me because I wasn't holding my breath for the full 10 counts...when you don't continually push, the head just slides back in and no progress is made, which is usually why many babies have coneheads. I realized that the only way out of this was to do exactly what caused my body the most excruciating pain, and hold my breath through it no matter what. Turns out, that was the right way to push lol. I felt the head come out and myself tearing, not only the bottom but on top, which is where the doctor pressed down as I pushed the rest of Lucas and his big shoulders out...it's painful even to think about!

The pain didn't stop there as the contractions continued, the sewing began, and the nurse painfully pressed on my deflated belly to get the placenta out. All this, while John and my mom and susan and norman (I didn't realize they were there as I had my eyes closed) watched the nurse clean lucas up. He was a healthy 7 lbs 12 oz, and 21 inches long. I remember seeing his face and seeing my own baby pictures. Although I didn't forget the pain, I was so amazed to see a baby that John and I made, and that I had delivered safely and naturally!

The next few days John and I spent happily with Lucas in our post partum room at the hospital, and it was very nice to be alone with our new family, and also nice to have everyone visit and hold lucas. On the second day, I felt like I had just had a breast augmentation and started leaking--my milk had come in already! I was anxious to feed Lucas. But despite the feedings, Lucas hadn't pooped for the whole second day, and his test results showed acute jaundice. We stayed another day, while he stayed under the UV lights, and I fed him every 3 hours, plus I pumped 4 ounces for the nurses to feed him under the lights in the nursery.

His test this morning was great and we were sent home today! We have to get him checked tomorrow at the pediatricians, but he is feeding and sleeping well, and loves his sweetpeace swing. I will be taking more pictures soon- my camera was full by the second day, so I have missed many cute moments. I also have some video to share so keep an eye out--

I am still in a lot of pain and healing and sore everywhere, but I love Lucas and am glad to be home. I have to say I did question whether I would have more babies at the time, but now I know I will because I was made to.