Finally getting around to writing the birth story! I didn't write down times. I wish I had because later in the day things started moving fast. So if any of you reading this remember exact times let me know! :)
November 16th, 2010
Andrew and I were scheduled to be at L&D (labor and delivery) at 6:30 a.m. on November 16th, one day before my due date. That meant getting up at 4:30 a.m. to make sure we had everything together and in the car in time to make the 30-40 minute drive. Thankfully, Andrew's parents offered to watch Piper while we were at the hospital so we had dropped her off the night before.
November 16th, 2010
Andrew and I were scheduled to be at L&D (labor and delivery) at 6:30 a.m. on November 16th, one day before my due date. That meant getting up at 4:30 a.m. to make sure we had everything together and in the car in time to make the 30-40 minute drive. Thankfully, Andrew's parents offered to watch Piper while we were at the hospital so we had dropped her off the night before.
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| Up bright and early-ready to have my baby! |
We were running a little behind but made it there by 6:30 a.m. Two of the nurses were just opening the doors to L&D. One of them, Debbie, would be my nurse the rest of the day. We got all situated and things put away. She started my iv....I hate iv's but she did a good job at getting it in the first time. At 7:30 a.m. the pitocin drip was started. Let the contractions begin....
Or that's what I thought. The contractions didn't really start until around 9:30 a.m. Even then I wasn't sure it was a contraction because it wasn't really painful. More like a cramp. My Dr. (Dr. Thompson who is amazing) came by for the 2nd time around 10:30/11 (she had come around 7:30/8 before). By that time my contractions had strengthened significantly. She asked if I'd like to have an epidural....if I wanted to make it through labor without terrorizing the nurses and poor Andrew, one was definitely required. Kip (the anesthesiologist) came a little after noon. Thank God! I knew I wanted an epidural even before I got pregnant, but I was terrified of the process. I knew the huge needle that would be inserted and how it was a very intricate process. Reading the possible unfortunate outcomes before signing the authorization form was not easy. However, all that fear had left my mind with the pain I was feeling during each contraction and I was so happy to see him. It was immediate relief!
Or that's what I thought. The contractions didn't really start until around 9:30 a.m. Even then I wasn't sure it was a contraction because it wasn't really painful. More like a cramp. My Dr. (Dr. Thompson who is amazing) came by for the 2nd time around 10:30/11 (she had come around 7:30/8 before). By that time my contractions had strengthened significantly. She asked if I'd like to have an epidural....if I wanted to make it through labor without terrorizing the nurses and poor Andrew, one was definitely required. Kip (the anesthesiologist) came a little after noon. Thank God! I knew I wanted an epidural even before I got pregnant, but I was terrified of the process. I knew the huge needle that would be inserted and how it was a very intricate process. Reading the possible unfortunate outcomes before signing the authorization form was not easy. However, all that fear had left my mind with the pain I was feeling during each contraction and I was so happy to see him. It was immediate relief!
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| Ice chips-yum. |
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| Soon to be Daddy! |
I was a different person with the beautiful epidural. I was so relaxed and could really enjoy the last few hours of being pregnant and enjoy the fact that I would soon get to hold my sweet boy. Time went by fast, changes were slow. Dr. Thompson hadn't ruled out a c-section yet (which I really did not want) and I knew if my body didn't start working harder to let my baby have a natural way out I'd be in the operating room at the end of the day. My water still hadn't broke, so Dr. Thompson took care of that when she came to check on me around 1. They found that there was meconium within the placenta, so extra care was taken and the chances of me having a c-section increased greatly.
When the nurse checked me around 5 or so. I was only at about 5.5 cm. Boo. Debbie decided to decrease the amount of Pitocin to see if my body would take care of business on its own. Around 5:30 p.m. I started feeling sick to my stomach and told Andrew to tell the nurse that I was going to be sick. He told her and she grabbed a little baggie just in time for me to fill it. She decided to check me again just to see where I was at. I was at an 8! It was becoming more real....we're going to be looking at our son's beautiful eyes....and lips, and fingers, and toes soon!
Around 6 Debbie checked me one last time. I was FULLY DILATED!!! Yay! Everyone (Pediatrician, nurse from Nursery, a few L&D nurses) started coming in preparing for the birth of our boy. Around 6:30 p.m. my Dr. came in and said "lets have a baby". :) We were so excited! And ready. The pushing began, and went by really fast. I knew they'd allow people to push up to 3 hours, but I was determined to get him out as soon as possible to avoid giving him a cone head. :) She asked me if I wanted to feel his head. It was amazing! He was so close to entering the world. I wanted to see him, hear him, hold him so badly. I think that contributed to my successful pushing...45 minutes! Rowan Andrew Harrison was born at 7:14 p.m. weighing 8 lbs 11.3 oz, 20.5 inches long. He was absolutely beautiful, and his cries were so strong. I still thank the Lord daily for being with him and keeping him healthy despite the fact he swallowed some meconium (which can collapse the baby's lungs). I never once worried because I knew He'd take care of our blessing...and He did. Shortly after the Pediatrician and nurse finished up cleaning him off and sucking the gunk out of his lungs we got to hold him! So precious. So wonderful. So amazing. So loved. Our beautiful son.
When the nurse checked me around 5 or so. I was only at about 5.5 cm. Boo. Debbie decided to decrease the amount of Pitocin to see if my body would take care of business on its own. Around 5:30 p.m. I started feeling sick to my stomach and told Andrew to tell the nurse that I was going to be sick. He told her and she grabbed a little baggie just in time for me to fill it. She decided to check me again just to see where I was at. I was at an 8! It was becoming more real....we're going to be looking at our son's beautiful eyes....and lips, and fingers, and toes soon!
Around 6 Debbie checked me one last time. I was FULLY DILATED!!! Yay! Everyone (Pediatrician, nurse from Nursery, a few L&D nurses) started coming in preparing for the birth of our boy. Around 6:30 p.m. my Dr. came in and said "lets have a baby". :) We were so excited! And ready. The pushing began, and went by really fast. I knew they'd allow people to push up to 3 hours, but I was determined to get him out as soon as possible to avoid giving him a cone head. :) She asked me if I wanted to feel his head. It was amazing! He was so close to entering the world. I wanted to see him, hear him, hold him so badly. I think that contributed to my successful pushing...45 minutes! Rowan Andrew Harrison was born at 7:14 p.m. weighing 8 lbs 11.3 oz, 20.5 inches long. He was absolutely beautiful, and his cries were so strong. I still thank the Lord daily for being with him and keeping him healthy despite the fact he swallowed some meconium (which can collapse the baby's lungs). I never once worried because I knew He'd take care of our blessing...and He did. Shortly after the Pediatrician and nurse finished up cleaning him off and sucking the gunk out of his lungs we got to hold him! So precious. So wonderful. So amazing. So loved. Our beautiful son.
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| Rowan Andrew |
Every single unpleasant thing that I went through during pregnancy was immediately forgotten. The months of all day morning sickness. The Gestational Diabetes. The insane amount of swelling. The sleepless nights...for Andrew that is (try breathing with an 8 lb baby squishing your lungs). Looking at his face, I awed at God's wonderful work. How He took the best parts of Andrew, and the best parts of me, and created Rowan. God is so good. We are so blessed.
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| First family photo |
2 comments:
Beautifully written. :) He's pretty wonderful!
Aww thanks! :)
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