February 22nd, around 630am ish, I woke up to use the restroom and noticed that my water had broken. I was in such a good mood after that. I called St. Joe's to let them know what happened and we would be coming in. I kissed Jacob and explained what was happening and by 8ish, Oliver and I were out the door. We stopped off at Top Food for some Kombucha and a fruit bowl. I was practically giddy, not having any contractions but knowing that soon we would be holding our son.
Arrived and checked in around 830. I think I was still only 2 cm dilated and around 75 percent effaced. The next several hours, I was a happy camper, pacing the room trying to bring on contractions. By 1pm however they brought up the possibility of helping the contractions along. I had really hoped for as little intervention as possible with this birth. If anyone knows anything about Jacob's birth then they know why.
I started to get concerned as I wasn't having hardly any contractions and I didn't want to end up with an infection like last time. After some consideration I agreed to take oral cytotek to help soften the cervix and bring on contractions. By 5pm, family starting pouring in and I still was full of smiles, having more contractions but they weren't staying. I was pacing like a mad woman down the halls and even raced Jake. I'm sure I looked ridiculous holding my big belly with both hands and running in my socks and gowns.
After the last dose of cytotek around 7pm the contractions had come on with a vengeance! And they were staying and it felt like I wasn't getting any reprieve. Hanna and Ollie stayed until 8ish and by then I was sure I couldn't keep a happy face for them. I was walking, laying, moving! It hurt! I clung to Oliver and wanted to bite him but somehow restrained myself.
I dilated pretty quickly after that, 5, 7, 9, complete! I used the tub with the jets for a while, I cried, I cursed and I cursed some more. I'm not sure what time but I finally broke down and asked for the something for the pain but NOT an epidural. They gave me a dose of fentanyl and it was supposed to take the edge off but it did NOTHING for the pain.
Pain that only got worse. I kept telling myself that I was doing what I wanted. Least interventions. Somehow through all this pain I remained HUNGRY. They let me have some saltines and some grape juice diluted in water.
Oh to describe the final feelings before pushing, I could feel everything this time around. I could feel him move down. I just remember those final moments before pushing as laying on my side clinging to the railing begging for drugs. And wonderful Oliver rubbing my back endlessly.
Finally the time had come to push and I remember resisting because there was some primitive self preservation part of my brain saying if I did push I would rip myself in half. Surprisingly I was told it only took 20 minutes to push him out and it did feel relatively short now that I think back on it. I was a wild woman, yelling and I remember telling the doctor to just PULL HIM OUT! I'm told he pulled an exorcist move and had his head completely turned around opposite his body. Glad I didn't see that as it took all my energy and focus to just push. Something inside clicked once I started pushing, I was determined to do it fast because if I didn't, I was scared I wouldn't be able to at all.
He was born at 3:41am February 23, 2011, with a proud Daddy and Grandma Lisa in the room. It's a cheesy saying but the moment they put him on my belly, all the pain vanished. He was alert and beautiful and I had such a feeling of accomplishment. We had brought this awesome bundle of happiness into the world.
