Owen Merritt has arrived! PIP

MWmom2BB1 · August 2012

After being in what I think was early labor for a few day, with contractions that were mildly painful but never increased in frequency or intensity, that would stop at bed time I finally had the real deal labor kick in around 2pm on 8/9. We left for the hospital at five, and I live in NYC so as you can imagine this was the WORST possible time that baby could have decided it was time to make a break for it. We had a great cabby who swiftly and safely got us to the hospital in 40 mins while I did my best to manage my pain with my music blasting in my headphones.

Once we got to the hospital it was chaos in triage and there were no beds, it was shift change, and they were short staffed. We waited outside of triage for almost an hour before finally getting a bed. I was then hooked up to the monitor for what felt like an eternity before a nurse came to check me. When she did she got a funny look on her face and said she thought I was 8-9cm, but wanted her colleague to double check.

Sure enough I was 8cm dilated. I had a melt down because I thought that meant I would not be able to get the epidural I had planned on, but they rushed me into L&D and I had the epi and relief I was seeking within 30 mins. The epi slowed my contractions down but 2 1/2 hrs later I was fully dilated and ready to push.

I think in the end I sort of screwed myself by getting the epi, but at the time it was the best decision for me. I pushed for a half hour but couldn't feel anything so they turned the epi down and we took a 40min break. I started pushing again around midnight. About a half hour in my Dr told me she thought I was pushing wrong, which I sort of was I guess. She said literally you have to poop the baby out and i was using my kegal muscles too much and essentially pushing him out and squeezing him at the same time! Poor baby. Once I made that connection to literally push like I was pooping him out things started going much better (although sad to say I did do some actual pooping on the table. Yes ladies, it happens!)

By 2am I was so utterly spent that my Dr suggested vacuum assistance and I with my last ditch effort Owen Merritt finally arrived at 2:07am on 8/10/12, weighing 7lbs 8oz and 20.5" long. We are already madly in love with him and I can truly say this has been the single most amazing experience in my entire life.

Drunk on the booby juice!