Leo's Birth Story (PIP and super long)

Tuesday, August 11, 2009, I was getting ready to can some cucumbers and make some chocolate chip scones.  Around 1:30pm, as I was mixing the dry ingredients I felt a little gush, I had spotted the day before from my 3^rd internal exam, so I figured it was probably more spotting.  When I checked it out, there was no blood, just a lot of clear fluid.  I called my sister and she said to call the OB right away because it was probably my water breaking.  I called the OB and they told me to go to the hospital.

I called my husband to tell him my water was breaking and to come home when he could.  He gets off work at 2:30pm so he said he?d finish and be on his way home.

I took a shower, vacuumed the carpets, finshed my scones, finshed packing the bags, set all bags by the door, set up the dog beds in the kitchen and waited for Kevin.

When he came home I was ready to go.  At this point I had been continually leaking and had gone through 4 large pads already.  I told him we needed to get to the hospital.  My husband runs on what I like to call ?Lewis Time? and so continued to get a few last minute items as I dribbled waiting for him.

Finally we were off to the hospital.  When I got out of the car there was a huge gush and I had water dripping down my leg.  This was definitely IT!  We grabbed our towel and went inside.  Talk about uncomfortbale and embarrassing!!  There were people in the foyer and we rode with a man up the elevator as I proceeded to puddle in the elevator. 

While registering I continued to lose water.  Finally we were taken to our birthing room.  By now it was about 4pm.    

The doctor came in around 6pm and talked to me about starting Pitocin because I was 2cm dialated and they wanted the baby out within 18 hours and no more than 24 at the maximum.  I told him I would like to go natural and didn?t want the Pitocin.  Kevin and I began walking the halls to get things going.

I was checked again at 10pm and no progress so the Pitocin was started.  The contractions went from manageable in insane within an hour or so.  I tried the birthing ball and different positions but there is only so much you can do once you?re hooked up to an IV.

At 3:30am on 8-12-09 I was checked again and at 2.5 to 3cm.  I freaked.  I told Kevin there was no way I could continue without some sort of medication.  The nurse gave me Phentenyol which only made me feel like was in a tunnel in between contractions (which at this point were 2 minutes apart) and then in agony during a contraction.  The Epi inserter was sent for.  At 4am the Tech entered the room.   I was terrified of the Epi and jumped a bit when he numbed me.  The Epi tech was a total douche and told me that ?I don?t have to do this, if you?re not going to hold still I?ll quit right now.?  Keep in mind?I was mid contraction when he was douching out on me.  I had Kevin and the nurse holding me and trying to calm me, the whole time thinking I may never walk again.  Finally the epi was in place and the douchetastic tech had left the room. 

Within 15-20 minutes I felt relief.  Oh my Lord, it was amazing!  I could still move my legs so I knew I?d be able to walk again.  YAY!!  The pain was gone though.  Kevin told me he wasn?t upset that I caved and that he was glad I felt better.  I?m sure his arm felt better!  I had been squeezing it through every contraction as well as freaking out on him to ?get my hair out my face!? and ?Don?t touch my IV!?  Finally, I was nice again! J

Kevin took a little nap around 6am and my sister called to say she was coming down to the hospital before work.  Kelley got there around 7:30am and I had told the nurses that I felt like I had to go number 2.  They told me that was ?good? because it meant I would be able to feel pushing.  I had no idea what they meant by that.  I thought for sure all my pain was over.  By the time Kell got there, the number 2 feeling was intense.  I was writhing through each contraction.  She gave me some lip gloss and her hand and kept telling me I was doing awesome.  I have asked several times how her hand is since?I?m shocked she can still use it.  By 8am I was screaming that I couldn?t take the pain (Kevin was still sleeping) and so a nurse checked me.  She said I was at 10 but wanted to get confirmation.    Kell was super excited and said that we were so close!  The second nurse checked me and confirmed I was indeed at 10.  They began setting up for delivery, the Doctor was called and Kell went to wake up my sleeping husband.  Kevin was out of it.  It took him a minute to realize what was going on.  I had been given oxygen because Leo?s heartrate had dropped and now my legs were in the air and nurses were everywhere. 

He jumped into action!  Kell and Kevin were on either side of me, I was writhing in pain, one nurse was yelling at me to focus and asked if I was ok with having students watch, Kell said ?no? and the nurse told her I needed to answer and Kell said ?she can?t answer you right now, I?m telling you NO.?  The douchtastic nurse was saying something rude to me and in between contractions I said ?Please, Don?t Be Mean To Me!?  She was nice after that?.but I still hated her.

Kell and Kevin were gearing me up to push and the doctor said that when I felt like I needed to push I was to push.  I started crying and told Kell I was scared, my God, she was amazing.  She told me my baby would be here soon and she was right there and I could do it. 

I began pushing.  Kell and Kevin coached and counted?other people were talking?the doctor told me to not pushing during one contraction?which I did and am amazed that I could do it!  Then I was pushing again and 4 contractions later I heard Kell say ?Case, I can see him?Case, he?s out!  Oh my God!?  I looked and there was my boy all covered in goo with a cone head and no hair.  I remember thinking??that?s him?  He doesn?t have any hair.?  He was placed on my chest and they were cleaning him off as the doctor was fixing me up.  I felt like I was crying.  Later, Kell said I wasn?t.  Kell and Kevin were crying and I heard Kell say ?he?s perfect Case, He?s just perfect.?    I heard Kevin say to keep the cord intact for a minute or so, then the doctor offered for him to cut it.  Kevin cut the cord and Leo was taken to be cleaned.  He scored an 8-9 on the APGARS and was screaming the whole time.

I was in a daze.  I have never experienced the kind of pain I felt and the excitement at the same time.

Leo Francis was born at 8:23am on 8-12-09 weighing 6lbs 11oz and 20 ? inches long.

He?s perfect and precious and beyond anything I ever imagined.  When people say you?ll love like never before but don?t know how to describe it, they?re right.  There are no words in the human language that can describe the awe and love that I feel when I look at him. 

My sister was my hero and my husband was my rock.  They were the greatest birth team ever!  J