Our Birth Story..Half a year later! Part 1

When you have your first child and have no idea what to expect, you kinda make up a story in your head about how you think your child is going to be born.  I really wanted one of those labors where I would wake up in the middle of the night and say "Dustin, I think it's time to go to the hospital", or "Dustin, I think my water just broke".  And then I would imagine Dustin driving us to the  hospital (about a 30 min. drive), driving 10mph under the speed limit and me making him pull the car over so I could drive.  In fact, I told him that I would be driving myself to the hospital...and I did, but under different circumstances.

I have to start out by saying that I am so grateful Elijah was born in summer.  I was done with school and I was able to hide out in my house for the final weeks of my pregnancy.  In fact, I was so sick of hearing peoples' comments about my size, that I didn't leave the house for the last two weeks of my pregnancy (except to go to the doctor).  I spent much of my time sleeping and wishing I would wake up with contractions.

At our 40 week appointment, our doctor gave us the eviction notice.  She was going to be on call the following Wednesday, so if we wanted to have her deliver Elijah, it would be best for us to schedule our induction for that day.  I hoped and prayed he would come before then.  In the mean time, I researched every bit of information about inductions and pitocin.  I think I may have told Dustin to hide my computer at one point because I would continue to freak myself out.

Heading to the hospital!

One day short of 41 weeks, I was induced.  Elijah was not coming out on his own, and he proved that during birth also.  We were told to arrive at the hospital by 8pm;  I don't even remember what we did all day.  I think I baked brownies for the neighbors?  Around 5pm, we packed up the car and headed to our "final" dinner at Beyond Bread.  The silence in the air felt like we were headed to a funeral.  We then headed to Roger and Susie's house, where we sat and twiddled our thumbs until heading to the hospital. Susie took one final picture of us; I still can't believe how HUGE I was!

41 Weeks, huge and swollen.  And yes, there is only one baby in there!

 Of course, I fulfilled my promise and drove myself to the hospital!  : )

Susie ended up coming with to help us carry our things into the hospital and check in.  A word of warning to all fathers/future fathers: When your wife is about to be induced, please just sign the registration papers and proceed to your room.  Dustin stood at the desk and asked what seemed like a million financial questions; he had the poor lady printing off pages and pages of financial paperwork.  Susie and I finally had to convince him to figure it all out later.

We finally got into our room. I slipped into my stylish hospital gown, answered a bunch of questions and got hooked up to my IV of pitocin.  I must admit that pitocin is not nearly as bad as what google will tell you.  I guess it all depends on your pain tolerance.  A few hours into my induction, my contractions were a minute apart and a minute long, but quite tolerable.  

I'm not sure what time my water broke, but I'll never forget that loud popping sound.  Dustin was laying on the couch across the room and he heard it.  The nurse was shocked at how much amniotic fluid I had in me...maybe that explains why my belly was SO huge (I swear I didn't eat THAT much during pregnancy).

The rest of the night was a blur.  Dustin slept for a little while; I stared at the monitor, watching my contractions and keeping a constant eye on Elijah's heartbeat.  Around 9:30am, my nurse came to check on me.  I was already 9cm, but Elijah was still sitting pretty high.  She decided that we would ride it out for a little while.  Dustin and I got busy texting our family that we were almost ready to push.  Little did we know that Elijah wouldn't be born for another 6 hours!

They only offered me a popsicle right before pushing...if I had known I was allowed to eat popsicles, I would have asked for one much earlier!