Birth Story

Well, our induction was scheduled for Thursday (7.30). We were all really excited to have a date picked because we could have control over things. We really wanted my parents to make it here in time for everything (Thursday worked perfectly).

Caylee of course had her own idea of how things should go.

On Tuesday night we spent the evening getting the house organized and cleaned for my parents visit. We also finished up a few things in the nursery (moving furniture and wall hangings). We watched a movie in bed (50 First Dates) and as soon as it ended I started having awful contractions!

Now, I’ve had PTL scares etc and so have felt contractions. What I felt this night was beyond anything I'd ever felt. I pretty much knew right away that this was it. The contractions began around 11:30pm and were ever 3-4 minutes apart. I was hoping and praying that they would stop because I was so excited at the idea of my parents being with us for the delivery.

Around 11:45 I started having "bloody show" but to me it seemed like a large amount. She I started to panic and kept saying we had to get to the hospital quickly!!!!

We called Grandma (Nancy) and told her that we had to go ASAP. So, on our way out the gate she was pulling in.

The car ride to the hospital is really a blur. I was in so much pain that I pretty much sat in the back seat crying the whole way there. Once we finally reached the hospital I was sure that we would get sent right to a room but we had to fill out all the paperwork (again) and then wait to be called back.

At this point, everything that happened was pretty standard. We were sent back to Labor and Delivery's triage area at 12:55 am. I was checked for dilation and found out that I was at 3 cms and completely effaced. I was also bleeding pretty badly so they wanted to hurry and move me to the actual delivery room.

My doctor (Pottinger-Pickens) came in and gave me a big hug and said how sad it made her to see me crying. She offered me the epi which of course I accepted!!! The sad thing is that I REALLY wanted to be able to hold out (for the epi) until I reached 6 cms....at this point I didn’t care one bit that my plans had changed!!!!

So they moved us to the delivery room and immediately ordered the epi. The anesthesiologist showed up in 15 minutes (at 4 pm he started to administer it and I was still 3-4 cms)! He explained what was to happen and then got started. It was VERY hard to stay still. I wasn't nervous about getting the epi because I figured there was no way at all it could hurt worse than the contractions! It didn't feel like a needle going in my back...it felt like a small finger! It definitely hurt!!!

Within 2 minutes I started laughing uncontrollably! I have no reason why but I laughed at everything. I started telling the nurse (Alicia) crazy stories and just couldn't stop myself. I think I was just really realized that I no longer thought I was going to die.

After calming down, I called almost every person in my cell phone (yes, it was between 4 and 5 am) to tell them that I was in labor and would be having the baby soon!

At this point, my legs start to burn and I was still feeling some pain from the contractions (very high up and on the right side). I was rolled over and that seemed to help.

At 5 am the nurse checked me to see how much more I’d dilated and I was at 5 cms. At 5:13am I started laughing and told the nurse that I was pretty sure my water had just broken…and it had!

I was really excited that I would be having the baby at any moment but of course that was wishful thinking. I spent the next couple of hours talking on the phone and playing games on my cell phone. Fredia (my cousin) talked to me for quite a while.

At 7 am I met my new nurse (Jessica) and I loved her! She was a really sweet girl and helped me feel really comfortable. At 8:45 am Jessica checked me and I was 8 cms! I was really comfy and so took a short nap. I woke up to Jessica telling me that she was going to start me on a small amount of pitocin to get my contractions a little more regular. At this point I was really upset and started to cry. I was terrified that pitocin would be awful and I’d be in tons of pain (despite the epidural). She assured me that it was the lowest dose and that I’d be fine.

At 9:30 am I was completely dilated and ready to have a baby! Jessica had me try a practice push just to see how I’d do. I did really well but had to sit and wait for my doctor to get done with a surgery. When Dr. P was on her way I did more pushing anytime I felt pressure.

I really couldn’t feel much and didn’t think I was getting anywhere! Everyone kept saying her head was visible but I had no idea so I asked for a mirror. Now, I’d said from day 1 that there was NO WAY I’d have a mirror. There are just something I’d rather not witness. Well when my baby was coming that kind of thinking was out the window! Seeing her head full of hair was so exciting and I felt like I was making progress.

I pushed for 40 minutes and Caylee was born! This is when things get really fuzzy. I remember them putting her on my belly but I was literally suffocating and didn’t really even touch her.

I’d had trouble breathing during pushing and so had to have an oxygen mask on. Well it slipped down and the part that covers your nose was preventing me from getting any air at all. I kept trying to move it but the nurses kept pushing my hands out of the way. No one was really paying any attention to me since the baby was out…

Eventually I got the mask off but by that point the baby was under the lamps. I’m pretty sure that dad cut the cord… I can remember her first cry because it was the most amazing sound! I really wanted to cry and was the happiest I’ve ever been.

Caylee was born at 11:52 am and was 7lbs 6oz. She was 20.5 inches long! Caylee looked more like her daddy to me…however now (one week later) I think she looks just like me.

Overall my birth experience was pretty good. Although I spent a long time in the hospital I was comfortable (after the epi) and in very good spirits. I think the first thing that I said was “omg I can breath again!”. I’m very happy to no longer be pregnant and to have a gorgeous little girl. She makes all of that pain worth it!

***when we left the hospital Caylee was 7lbs 1oz and the day after we got home from the hospital she was already back up to 7lbs 7oz