Labor and Delivery

I'll admit, the whole pregnancy, I was not afraid what-so-ever about giving birth. I went to see my sister right after she had my niece and the nurses coming in to "check on here" if you know what I mean. Even still, not worried. So I get to the very end. I was about 1 centimeter and 60% efaced for a whole 4 weeks! Trust me, he was not going anywhere! Therefore, I asked Dr. Mcneal to induce me. She happily agreed. I wasn't over due or anything, that's what I was preventing. Plus, it was going to be easier for my sister to make arangements to get to Arizona (she lives in Utah) and my mom to call in her days from work to stay home with me. She scheduled me for 3:00 in the morning on June 9. It was about 2:45 and I was getting ready to leave when I get a phone call from the hospital. No beds available. They will call me in the morning after people are discharged and I can go in. Too good to be true! May I remind you, I didn't eat anything for dinner in hopes of not pushing something else out in the process! I called at 6, nothing. I waited and waited. I didn't want to eat breakfast for the same reason. Finally at 9 I called again. There was room for me! THANK GOD! I hurried and took a bath, not like that would matter later, and we were headed out the door! Another reminder, It was now almost 24 hours since I had last eaten.
So we get to the hospital, checked in, and went to the room. It was about 10:30 by the time we got in there. My doctor came in at about 11 to break my water and get the Potosin started to start my contractions. The first nurse put my IV in wrong and my whole arm swelled up! I had a bruise for about 2 or 3 weeks! It was bad. But other than that, the beginning was a breeze. I wasn't feeling any contractions and actually, they had me helping out and coaching other patients that were having issues! (:
I got a little further into it. All I was eating were ice chips because that's all they allow. It had now been more than 24 hours since I had last eaten! Everyone was going to get lunch and left me there to starve! I was 3 centimeters for a long time. At least 4 or 5 hours. We didn't think I would ever progress. I then decided to get an epidural. I was feeling pain, but no unberable. I didn't want it to get that way though. (A decision I would later come to regret.) In the meantime, I was living the life, the life as good as it gets in labor! I had NO pain, but was so hungry it wasn't even funny! I was more than just tired, but it seemed that everytime I would happen to fall asleep, a nurse would come in the check on me and see how far along I was.
Eventuall I was progressing. I had reached about 8 centmeters by 1 in the morning. This is when my epidural decides to quit on me! It was horrible! The worste pain I or anyone could ever feel! I can't even begin to describe. The anesthesiologist came in twice to give me more but it didn't help. I kept pressing the button to release more but no luck! Finally, 2:30 am, time to push! Long story short, my mom was the only one in there. No Deedes (my sister; nickname) and no Armando. ):
I was having a lot of problems at first. I was crying and din't think I could do it. My doctor had to snap me out of it and right after she did, he was here! 3:01 am on June 10, 2008 baby Noah was born!
I was then crying, not because of the pain, but because he was here and I was so excited and relieved. About 30 seconds later I was crying for a different reason. He was not crying. Not breathing. My mom told me he was all gray! I heard them call in a NICU nurse. Finally, a good 2 or more minutes later I heard that little voice! Then it was tears of joy back on again! I couldn't ahve been more happy! Seeing that little face, little hands, little feet, little everything... It was just an unbelievable moment. The most rewarding experience of my life.




6 punds 11 ounces 20 inches long