Yes, it only took me 2 months to do this, but here is the highly anticipated (or highly dreaded) birth story. Don't worry, it is safe.
The short version:
2:03 am: Had my first contraction
5:15 am: Arrived at the hospital... put in an observation room
6:30 am: Dilated to a 5
7:30 am: finally got admitted into my room
8:30 am: epidural in, and finally feeling good
8:45 am: Dilated to a 10
10:19 am: Hudson was born!
Now for the long version.
My due date was May 22, 2012. But everyone knows that first time mothers rarely deliver on their actual due date.
May 21st came, and I just knew that I was going to be late. There was no way I was even close to going into labor despite the fact that I was dilated to a 3 at my 38 week appointment. Things were at a stand still.
It was a strange feeling. My whole pregnancy, I was high risk for going into pre-term labor. I was so grateful when I hit week 37, because I knew I had made it to term. But, I felt like I would, or rather, should go into labor early because my whole pregnancy was spent worrying about going into preterm labor. By May 21st, I felt like I was 3 weeks late.
But nothing happened, and the next day was my due date. So, I went to bed. I prepared myself, and knew that I would probably be super late and they would have to induce me.
But, luck was on my side. I woke up at 2:03 in the morning to go to the bathroom. It was officially my due date. As I was headed back to bed, I felt something I hadn't felt yet: a painful contraction. This was new to me. I didn't think much of it, and laid back down. About 10 minutes later, I got another painful contraction. I started to think that something might be happening, so I got out of bed and went out to the couch. For the next hour, I counted my contractions. They were about 8-10 minutes apart, and over a minute long. Each one was getting a little more painful/uncomfortable. At 3:15ish, I woke up Kyle and told him what was happening. And, just in case, I decided to get in the shower and shave the ol' legs... you know that is a must. While I was in the shower, I had 4 contractions really close together. I knew it was time to at least call Labor and Delivery to see if I should come in. By this point, my contractions were about 4-6 minutes apart.
When I was on the phone with the Labor and Delivery Nurse, she told me to wait it out a little bit longer before I should go to the hospital. But, then as we were talking, I had 2 back to back contractions. So, she changed her mind and told me to come in now. It was about 4:15 am. I was so grateful for those 2 back to back contractions!
Kyle and I got everything packed up and ready, and headed to the hospital. We got there a little after 5:00 am. I was put into an observation room to make sure I was actually going into labor. As luck would have it, Labor and Delivery at Kaiser was super busy that morning, and we got there during a shift change. So, the doc didn't come in to check me until 6:30. By this time, I was having super bad contractions that were super close together. Luckily, I was dilated to a 5, so the admitted me. But, because they were so busy, I had to wait for a room. Finally, by 7:30 I was taken to my room. I told them I needed the epidural ASAP. By 8:00, the anesthesiologist came in and gave me the sweet nectar. By 8:30, I was feeling good.
As I was talking to the nurse, she began to tell me what to prepare for. I asked her how I was supposed to feel when things were ready because I couldn't really tell what was happening due to the epidural. She told me that I would have more pressure in the back side, and I would be able to feel it. As she was explaining this to me, I told her, "I am already feeling a lot of pressure in my backside." She didn't think much of it, and told me the doc would come in within the next 1 1/2 hours to check me. After all, I was only dilated to a 5 just 2 hours before. Then, I said back to her, "I don't think you understand. I am feeling a ton of pressure in the backside. I think I need to be checked now!"
So the nurse personally checked me. To her surprise, she said, "Wow, you are already to a 10!" I was so glad that I was persistent and made her check me. At this point it was about 8:45ish.
The nurse still had to prep the room before I could start pushing. So she said to us, "While we get the room ready, you and Kyle need to start preparing yourself for what's about to happen." I was so glad she told us this. While they set up the room, Kyle and I were able to just talk and had a really good moment before all the craziness set in. That was, and will always be, a precious moment for the both of us.
At around 9:15, all the fun stuff started. Right before Hudson was out, I was waiting for a contraction. I asked the doc if I had to wait for a contraction in order to push. So she gave me the go ahead to push when I wanted. I looked at my amazing nurse and said, "Let's do this thing!" Everyone had a good giggle...
...And then, Hudson was here! It was 10:19 am, our baby boy was finally here! Those first 5 seconds seemed like an eternity as we waited for the sound of his first breath and precious cry. But, when he did, it was the sweetest sound (and not to mention a huge relief).
When the doctors laid him on my chest, it was the sweetest, most spiritual moment I have had yet to date. We finally had our baby. Our family had finally grown. We were finally parents to the sweetest baby in the entire world. We had been blessed immensely to finally hold our baby boy in our arms! It was such a tender moment for me and Kyle.
It was Love!!!
True Love!!!
PS...The very first thing Hudson did before they laid him on my belly: He peed right in the doctor's face. It was pretty cute, and funny, all at the same time.
