The Birth of Our Son

If you missed the beginning of my story, you can read more about it here, here, and here. 

The Sunday finally came to check in to the hospital to begin the induction of our son. My husband and I went to dinner before heading over to get settled in our room. We were anxious and so excited. I was still having timeable contractions and was ready to just get things rolling more. We checked in with the Emergency Room per the instructions and waited for someone to come down to get us. 

Once we got to Labor and Delivery, they took us to a room and told us where we could put our things and handed me a robe to get into. They took vitals and started an IV for fluids. I was going to be started with Cervidil to see if that would help things progress before starting Pitocin the following morning. With Cervidil, they cannot check your cervix while it is in. It was going to be placed on my cervix about 12 hours and they would check me. They had monitors on me to check for contractions and the baby’s heart rate. 

It was one of the worst nights of sleep I had had in awhile. Hooked up to all those monitors, every time I tried to move to a comfortable position, they would have to come in and readjust them. Around 5 or 6 am, my nurse came in to make an adjustment again. I looked at her and said, “I’m in labor”. She said “I can see your contractions and they still just aren’t very strong. We will check you soon don’t worry”. My husband just laughed at me and my determination.

At 10 am, they came to remove the insert and check me. I was at a 4 now and my contractions had grown stronger. My doctor walked in around that time and decided to hold the Pitocin and simply have my water broken and see what happens. It was on the verge of doing so on its own at this point anyway. 

The contractions began getting stronger and I was sitting up talking during most of them. I would laugh and say how weird it felt or that I had one start. My mom and husband would look over at the monitor and ask me if I was okay. I would smile and say “yup!” I was determined I wasn’t going to ask for an epidural or pain medications. 

I was born with a spine defect that sometimes caused problems. Because of that, they were unsure if they could do the epidural until they tried it. I didn’t want to deal with them poking and prodding me and it not taking so I mentally walked in thinking I couldn’t have it and would be okay. 

About 2 pm, I was laying on my side doing my breathing and doing fine with the contractions. They were getting stronger but still not unbearable. Our family was coming in and out but mostly sitting in the waiting room so I could rest and do what I needed to do during this time. Something triggered in my head and when my mother-in-law and sister-in-law were in saying hi, I started crying. They grabbed my husband and mom and my nurse. My husband felt I needed to go ahead and try the epidural. I wasn’t convinced still and my nurse could tell. She knew I was unsure about it and had me get up and walk around. I walked the room for almost an hour. I would get better about it and then would be triggered and start crying again. Looking back I think it was more nerves than anything! 

I finally decided to get the epidural. By the time the anesthesiologist walked in, I was over 8 cm and probably should not have gotten it, but they were there now! As soon as they pushed the medications, I passed out. I was so exhausted from the night before and lack of sleep and starting to actively labor, my body just needed rest. I don’t remember them leaving the room and I slept for about 2 hours! 

When I woke up, they came to check me. My labor had slowed during that time and I was barely a 9. I was so bummed about that. I was so ready for him to be here! They started rolling me on my sides and tilting the table around trying to get things moving again. I couldn’t get up and walk at that point since I had the epidural. 

Finally, it was time to start pushing. After about an hour of “practice pushes” they had me start really trying and called the doctor in. Our rainbow miracle was born at 10:56 pm that Monday night. When they showed him to me, I looked at him with so much emotion and looked at my husband. He was finally here. We had waited for so long for him to be here. And the moment had finally arrived. I was so stunned for awhile because I was so overcome with the feeling. I had wondered for so long if we would ever get to that point. Even today, I still cannot form the words fully to explain. 

It was a whirlwind after that and I got to hold our son for an hour before they started doing his vitals. They let our family members come in quickly as it was way past visiting hours at that time. We were taken to our recovery room around 2 am and began our lives as a family of 3. 

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