I went to the hospital about 9am on April 18, 2009. I had been contracting regularly since the 15th, but L&D sent me home saying that I wasn't contracting. I followed up with my midwife, Brenda, the next morning and allowed for her to check me. In 11 hours I went from 0cm dilated and 65% effaced to 1cm dilated and 70% effaced. I cried tears of joy! I knew I was in labor and I would soon be holding my little bundle of joy. Because I was over due they did an ultrasound to check my placenta and check the baby to make sure there was no reason to induce. The first time the baby wouldn't move. The tech sent me back out into the waiting room with some juice and crackers to see if we could wake him up. I went back in 20 minutes later and nothing. He moved a few times, one of which was the middle finger to us (he is my child lol), and she said he was not scoring what she needed. I was scared. I called Travis and my family to let them know what was going on. I talked to Brenda and was sent next door to the high risk office. There they did an intake and prepared me for an ultrasound. Of course me walking woke him up so he was moving around. They checked everything and hooked me up for a NST. By then Brian had relaxed and went back to sleep, preparing for his big arrival. They checked the strip and his HR looked good, but no movement. I asked them to place the monitor in a certain spot. They did and it then started showing my contractions! I was contracting every 3-4 minutes lasting 30-45 seconds! They were still mild, but I knew they were the real deal. They released us and sent us back over to talk to Brenda. I didn't want to be induced, but my placenta had calcifacations on it and I was told if we didn't have a baby by Monday I would be rechecked and she was about 98% sure we would induce, but she told me that she was 99.9% sure we would be having a baby this weekend. I asked what I could do to help things along besides sex. Sex and being overdue just does not work, plus it made me very sick (weird I know). I was told to walk as much as I could and was given the ok for Evening Primerose Oil (EPO). We went home and I took a small nap then Travis and I went up to the park and walked. I swear, that mile was the longest, hardest mile I have ever walked in my life! Things were coming regularly now. Travis was supposed to work, but decided that calling off was best. I felt like things were progressing fast and I was scared. I needed my hubby by my side to hold my hand and tell me everything would be ok. We walked back to the house and laid down. I went to Wal-Mart and walked the whole store then went home and went to sleep. I was up and down all night as my body would adjust to the contractions and then they would intencify. I went to Wal-Mart and Sam's with Travis's mom the next day. We again walked the whole store, every isle, and by the time we left I was contraction so bad that I would have to lean on the shelves and breath through them. We decided to go out to dinner that night as it would more than likely be my last meal for a while. We went to Red Lobster and I PIGGED out! No joke! I had 21 pieces of jumbo butterfly shrimp, 2 full house salads, 4 biscuits, half of a foundue thing, then had another biscuit and rice krispie treats when we got home. I tried to lay down, but my contractions were getting more intense and they were hurting. At one point I was in the living room with the family, Travis and his brother were fighting. I got up and went to the bathroom. I lost my mucous plug and my water had partially broke, but the baby plugged it. My contractions were now 200 times worse. I went back into the living room and tried to talk, but couldn't get a word in. Finally I yelled "excuse me please!" They stopped and looked at me and very calmly I said, "Im in labor." I believe Travis said yeah we know. I explained that I lost my plug and I thought my water had broke and that my contractions were now worse. We decided to go lay down and go to bed. That was 3Am. Fast forward to 9Am. I woke up and had to be pushed out of bed to go to the bathroom. My contractions were worse and they were about a minute apart lasting about 1 to 2 minutes. I knew it was time. I went to the bathroom and discovered that I was having my bloody show. I went back to the bedroom and woke Travis up. I told him it was time. I called the midwife while he woke up his mom and we got ready to go. The whole way there I thought that we would never make it. Before the ride didn't seem so long, now it seemed to take forever. We finally got there and I was admitted. I was 3cm dilated and 80% effaced. I walked the halls and tried the birthing ball, but my contractions were so intense that I couldn't breathe through them. I ended up getting an epidural, but the way I see it is that I went about 75 hours natural and for me thats good enough. As soon as I got the epidural the baby turned back like he was supposed to be. I was able to relax though and get some sleep. They broke my water and the baby had pooped while still inside so it was explained that NICU would be on hand so as soon as the baby was delivered they could take over and do what they needed. Things were progressing along rather slow. About 8Pm I was checked and I was about 7cm dilated 95% effaced. We were told it would be early the next morning when we would have a baby. Well they were wrong. My epidural had wore off and I knew I was ready. My L&D nurse came in and checked me and I was ready. She wanted me to do a few practice pushes to make sure my body was ready. After the first I was told not to push because she could see his head. They called for Brenda and I waited for what seemed like forever. I tried and tried not to push, but finally I told everyone they better get someone in my room to catch because I was fixing to start pushing and I would deliver the baby myself if I had to. It seemed like everyone started running in and we were ready to go. My sister Brandy coached me through and after about 10 minutes of pushing he was out! I remember my first though and I think my first words out of my mouth were, "My stomach is flat again!" They took the baby to look over him and make sure he was fine and weigh him. I delivered the placenta and was stitched up. I had a second degree tare, but it wasn't anything big. The baby was fine and weighed in at a whopping 7lbs 15oz and was 20.5 inches long. He had a head full of blonde hair and the beautiful blue eyes. I cried. I couldn't believe I was a mommy. My life was changed forever now. He nursed perfect the first time and I allowed them to take him to the nursery to get cleaned up while I was moved up into my room. Overall my delivery went good. There were somethings I wish I could have changed or tried, but Im happy and no regrets.
