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| Me at 38 weeks. Evangeline joined us about 1 week later. |
The mother of one of my good friends from high school is a nurse midwife in Houston and she was a Bradley Method (bradleybirth.com) teacher. So that is the method we chose. The closest teacher to us was 1 hour 45 minutes from us so instead of attending 12 one hour sessions we went to 4 three hour sessions. We learned all about the stages of labor, exercises and diet to prepare you for labor, and relaxation techniques.
My due date was September 28, 2010. I worked until September 22 which was a half day. After work I headed to my doctor's office for a checkup. I was about 2 cm dilated and my cervix was softening. The doctor decided to strip my membranes and she said that 50% of the time her patients go into labor within 24 hours. Wow, this could really be it! I was fairly uncomfortable at the end of my pregnancy so I was ready. I had some cramping that night, but all was quiet the next day and through the next evening.
I planned to meet my friend for lunch on Friday the 24th. I had a few Braxton Hicks contractions that morning but nothing exciting. My friend and I had an uneventful lunch and then I wanted to go to Target, maybe catch a movie and then stop at Sam's Club on the way home to pick up some food for our soon-to-be guests. While in Target the contractions started. I timed them and they were 5 minutes apart. Aren't they supposed to start out like every 15 minutes or so? So I decided to skip the movie, but stop at Sam's. After all, all first labors last forever, right? While in Sam's the contractions started coming every 3 minutes. Why did it seem like noone was in a hurry in Sam's? I almost ran over several dawdlers in the aisles. "Hello! Can't you see I'm having a baby?" I called Cory, my husband, and told him that he may need to leave work early. I also phoned my mother in England to update her. She was due to fly in the next day. She told me to go home and rest, it would be a long night (but who can rest while in labor?). I would go home and get in the bathtub and see if the contractions stopped. The drive home is about 30 minutes, and it seemed as if I hit every red light.
At home I put the salmon I bought in the refrigerator and rushed into the bathroom. I stayed in the tub, but the contractions were not slowing down. This was the real deal. I called the doctor's office and they told me to go to the hospital. I called Cory and told him we needed to go and he came home to pick me up. He came in to find me on the floor in pain. He loaded the car while I knelt in front of the recliner draping myself over the seat.
We drove back to Myrtle Beach trying to avoid the Friday vacationer traffic. We arrived at the ER and told them I had preregistered, but apparently that meant very little to them. The nurse took my vital signs and they asked me all the same questions they did with the preregistration and then wheeled me up to labor and delivery. The ward was very busy that day (full moon, they said) and she took me into my room. "Put this gown on and they will probably want a urine sample," the nurse said. "Is there a cup to pee in," I asked. "I don't know," she replied and then left.
I disrobed in a flash and pulled on the gown, but didn't tie it before another contraction hit me. I once again took the kneeling position in front of the recliner in the room. We learned in our birthing class that there comes a time where you lose all modesty with child birth. Well, according to my husband, I had lost mine since he was greeted by my bare bottom as he entered the room. He helped me to the bathroom and found me a cup. I soon had the desire to vomit and up came my lunch in the toilet. My husband pulled the emergency cord and finally an L&D nurse joined us. She helped me to the bed and placed an IV catheter, started IV fluids, checked me to find I was 4 cm dilated and placed the fetal monitor on me. Over the next few hours several nurses attended to me and asked me a bazillion questions, mostly the same ones over and over again! It is never fun talking during a contraction and it's even more annoying answering redundant questions!
The doctor finally came in and checked me and asked about drugs. I told her, "No, thank you." and she looked at me like I had two heads. She told me she could break my water and that may help with the pain. I was fine with this procedure especially since my mother said once the doctor broke her water my brother and I cane very quickly. I told my husband that we would give it an hour from breaking my water and if I wasn't progressing then I may take drugs. Luckily, an hour later I was 6 cm dilated. I can do this, I told myself.
I pressed on and within a few hours I was nearly 10 cm dilated. The nurse said there was a small lip of cervix still present. I got out of the bed and did some squats to try and encourage everything to open up. While in the squat I would get the urge to push so the nurse held the lip of cervix back while I pushed in the squat position. Now this was much better than sitting through the contraction. I loved feeling more in control! After pushing for awhile while squatting the nurse moved me back in the bed. The doctor came in and decided to do an episiotomy. I then pushed for another 45-60 minutes. There was concern that the cord was around her neck (and it was) because her heartrate drastically reduced after pushing, but quickly returned to normal after the contraction. The final push was a long, tiring push, but she came out quickly at 11:23 pm. All was well and she was beautiful with a full head of hair. The pain was forgotten, I was in love!
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| Mom and Daughter the day after Evangeline's birth. |
She nursed very well. In fact, she came from the womb sucking on anything including her hands, her lip and even the blanket. I told my husband she was a hungry hippo. And that's why we call her Evangepotamus or Potamus for short.
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| The Two Potami |
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