I know my last post was my 36 week update so I will do a little back tracking up to Abram's birth.
Shortly after we found out we were pregnant and found out the estimated due date I had a gut feeling that I was pregnant with a girl and I had a feeling that I would have a Valentine's Day baby. So as my pregnancy progressed and things went further along, and my OB put me into the waiting game my thoughts of having a Valentine's Day baby were getting closer to happening. I had a doctor's appointment on the 13th and I was 3 cm dilated, 50% effaced and my water could break at any moment were my doctor's words. Now I'm getting excited maybe my feeling was right.
Valentine's Day was NOT a good day for me. I woke up very excited hoping this was going to be the day. When no constant contractions happened and I didn't feel a sudden gush (as in my water breaking) I took things into my own hands. I decided to walk up and down the set of stairs in our house as much as I could. I can tell you after this experience that there are 12 stairs. I also deicded that when Allen went down for a nap that I was getting on the treadmill and going to walk until I could walk no more! I did jumping jacks, I pumped (very weird), I jumped up and down, and then I had a dance party in the living room with Allen bouncing on my belly. He absolutely loved this. Still no contractions, still no gush! I went to bed that night rather disappointed.
Side note I had been asking friends and family to pray for us and to pray specifically for me with patience. I was being tested in my patience that is for sure.
I went to bed and the last thing I remember thinking is I should go upstairs and eat a bowl of cereal. This had become my nightly routine because in the middle of the night I would wake up with terrible headaches because I was hungry.
I woke up at 12:50 with a contraction, I laid in bed until I had another one and realized that they were pretty close together. I went on to track my contractions and they were 5 minutes apart. I woke Adam up and told him what was going on. He was very sleepy and asked what time it was and when I told him it was a little after one, his response was "in the afternoon" I told him "no in the morning, now get your butt out of bed." We woke Nana up and let her know what was going on, grabbed our stuff and out the door we went. We tracked my contractions on the way to the hospital and they were at a constant 4-5 minutes apart. Walked into the ER let them know what was going on and was wheeled up to L & D shortly after. I was taken to a room by my soon to be nurse and went through the initial check in. My contractions spaced out and Michelle (the nurse) was trying to talk to convince me that more than likely these weren't consistent contractions and my adrenaline was playing a factor. She reassured me that she would vaginally check me just to double check before I was sent home. I was checked and was a loose 4 almost 5 cm and 80% effaced and my water was bulging. I was told I wasn't going anywhere and I was going to have a baby sometime today.
This is when the busy bee effect went into play. I had a tech setting up all the materials for baby, I had a nurse on my arm setting up my IV, I had Michelle (the other nurse) finishing up my admittance. A little bit of chaos ensued due to the team finding out how quickly my first labor went. My first question after everything was when can I start to walk. Shortly after I was given the go to walk. And so walk we did. I made 3 laps up and down the L & D wing and wanted to go back to my room. I swayed through a contraction in the middle of my room and then felt a drip down my leg. I instantly looked at Adam, told him what I felt and went on to say "no I did NOT just pee myself..I think my water just broke." I continued to have my normal sense of humor throughout this process because I felt that in the midst of what was going on it was a time to be happy and cheerful. I was hooked back up to the monitors checked again and my water did in fact break. My mother-in-love (it's in-love not in-law that's what we call it anyways) aka Mom showed up shortly after this and we filled her in on everything that was going on. My contractions were getting stronger and more intense and laying in bed was not helping. I wanted to stand, but wanted something to lean on at the same time. The bed was too low, and too squishy. I felt a little like Goldilocks (too squishy, too hard, just right) you get my drift. As soon as the bed was raised I tried leaning on it and it was still to squishy. Where my IV was in my wrist/lower arm when I leaned it was bending my IV line and it hurt. I turned around and looked at the sink counter and walked right over to it. This is where I went through most of my strong contractions. A little glimpse into my room I had Michelle at my side, Adam on my other side, the tech in the back, the baby nurse was paged, my doctor was hanging out by the bed because no other women were in active labor, and my Mom on the other side of the bed. There were a lot of people. Michelle must have had a gut instinct to ask me what I was feeling in the middle of a strong contraction because my reply was "I feel..." basically no response at all. She then told me that I needed to get back into bed and I told her I don't want to. At this point Michelle grabbed one arm and Adam grabbed the other and I was gently pushed backwards into bed. I sat on the edge of the bed finished my contraction and was instantly checked and told I needed to push. The tech and nurse were frantically breaking my bed apart and I was told to push on my next contraction. Two pushes in and baby was crowning. At this point the doctor told me if I tell you to stop, I need you to stop. I nodded in approval. By my third push the head was out and the doctor was doing what she had just pre-warned me about and told me to stop. I was somewhat loudly telling her I can't. My Mom was in my ear at this point telling me to breathe, you don't want to tear, you can stop, just breathe. So, I somewhat stopped and in my last push made it past baby's shoulders. Baby came out with its legs crossed so I'm in hopes and hanging on every word as to what the sex is. The doctor finally got the legs open and I was able to see it was a boy!!! Abram was instantly put onto my chest and the baby nurse was right there. I had instant tears and so did Adam. I couldn't believe we had another boy!
Abram Thomas Jamerson was born at 6:42 AM weighing in at 7 pounds 2 ounces, measuring 20 inches long, after just shy of 6 hours of labor and only pushing for 13 minutes!!! No drugs and no epidural. My L & D couldn't not have gone smoother!
Man was my gut wrong. Boy and a day after Valentine's. Michelle had joked with me shortly after I was admitted that I should have this baby before the shift change because she wanted to know what I was having. Well she got her wish.
Within the hour I was up and getting cleaned and changed and moving rooms. I was moved down to the Mommy and Baby rooms. Shortly after getting settled I recieved this picture.
We were discharged from the hospital the next day and by mid afternoon we were getting adjusted to being a family of four.
Allen is becoming a great big brother. He is so helpful and so sweet. He's very curious as to what Abram is eating when he's nursing. It's cute to see Allen try and figure it out.
No comments:
Post a Comment