Joey made this slideshow for me to watch Christmas morning.
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Luke's Birth Story
I was in a bit of a conundrum because my doctor was going out of town at 5:00 AM the morning of my due date - December 20th. He was pretty sure I would go into labor before then because I was dilated to 2 cm by week 37 but days and weeks past and still nothing. He wanted to induce labor on the 19th but I decided against that. On the morning of the 19th I woke up and wondered if maybe I should have been induced - I was tired of waiting. I went on a long walk and then came home around 11:00 and went in the kitchen to get something to eat. On the counter I saw the castor oil Joey and I had bought a couple of nights ago. I decided to just go for it. I poured 1/4th cup in a small glass of chocolate milk (the stuff is thick and nasty btw) and drank it down. A few hours later I started having contractions. Joey came home from clinic and by that evening around 6:30 the contractions were regular coming at about 3-5 minutes apart. I called my doctor and he said to go to the hospital. Joey and I were SO excited as we hurried and packed a few things and got in the car to go. My contractions were regular but not very painful at all. Just like menstrual cramps so I was worried that they would just send us home.
They decided to have us stay and monitor Luke's heart rate because it seemed to be having trouble since my contractions were so close together. But I wasn't progressing at all. It was frustrating and remember thinking - Bring on the pain! I just want to have this baby! Finally a doctor came in and broke my water. Then, I got my wish and the contractions came hard and strong. (I was regretting the whole "bring on the pain thing") After about an hour and half of pain - I was finally at a 5. I got an epidural but it didn't work! That was hard because I was expecting relief from this terrible pain and then it just kept coming as strong as ever. The anesthesiologist had to come in and re-insert the epidural which was annoying but the relief came and I got to rest. I was shaking and couldn't relax during the contractions (despite all the classes we attended) and it felt so good to finally relax - although I couldn't get rid of the shakes. The nurse said to expect to dilate about 1 cm an hour and so I would have the baby around 6 am. I was bummed because I was still kinda hoping to have my own doctor deliver. But after 1 hour I told the nurse to check me because I felt something coming. She said she's sure I hadn't gotten far but to humor me she went ahead and checked. She let out a gasp and said - I can see the baby's head and he's got dark hair! She couldn't believe it but I had gone from a 5 to a 10 in one hour. They hurried and called my doctor who was about to leave on vacation and he said he'd be there. (just in the nick of time)
He got there and we started the pushing. This was exhausting!! I didn't know pushing was so incredibly hard. For some reason I could feel everything from the waist down. I couldn't feel my uterus contracting but I could feel the baby coming, the urge to push and I could move my legs easily. I was glad of that. Everyone in the room was encouraging me and even though I felt like I was spent and couldn't push anymore I knew I had to because the baby's heart rate was falling again. I just had to dig deep - it was really quite the experience. Then, because they were worried about the heart rate the doc ended up using a vacuum extractor to finish the job. It felt so good when the baby finally came out. The baby looked huge to me - and like a grey stone baby. It was weird to think that he had been inside me all those months. The umbilical cord was wrapped around his ankle a few times and that is why the heart rate was being funky. He was fine though. So, he was born December 20th at 3:23 AM and weighed 7 lbs. 8 oz. and was 21 3/4 inches long. Dr. Magat still made it for his 5:00 flight to Israel!
They cleaned him off and it was actually kind of a strange moment for me. I always thought that would be the most emotionally rewarding moment - but he was whisked away and I was being stitched up (episiotomy and 2nd degree tear) and I was so completely exhausted that I couldn't feel what I was feeling... if that makes any sense. I kept looking over and trying to see him and asking Joey all about him. I think they usually put the baby right on the mom after birth but because of his heart rate and the umbilical cord around the ankle - I think they needed to take him to immediately to make sure he was ok. So, yeah, I was just exhausted but when I finally did get to hold him - I couldn't believe how absolutely perfect he was. He was so wide eyed and just looked right at us like...hmm so you are my parents huh?
The next day I finally had the strength enough to feel the full deep emotion - they had taken him off to the nursery and I had a minute to think. I just pictured his little face and his dark eyes looking up at me and I was overcome. I just sobbed as I realized how much I loved this little person I just met and how I would do anything in the world for him. I was surprised by the intensity of this feeling and just felt so grateful for this experience. I'm a mother. Parenthood is something most people experience and have been since the beginning of time - but it's my own experience and I get to feel and do what mothers do. Since I was little I've waited for this day and it's finally here. I've just loved the past 5 days - despite the soreness and lack of sleep. Joey and I got to celebrate our first Christmas as a little family of three. We both commented yesterday how the plan of salvation has become more concrete and we have felt closer to God than ever. Also, I think our love for each other has grown as we celebrate this little person and begin this adventure together.
They decided to have us stay and monitor Luke's heart rate because it seemed to be having trouble since my contractions were so close together. But I wasn't progressing at all. It was frustrating and remember thinking - Bring on the pain! I just want to have this baby! Finally a doctor came in and broke my water. Then, I got my wish and the contractions came hard and strong. (I was regretting the whole "bring on the pain thing") After about an hour and half of pain - I was finally at a 5. I got an epidural but it didn't work! That was hard because I was expecting relief from this terrible pain and then it just kept coming as strong as ever. The anesthesiologist had to come in and re-insert the epidural which was annoying but the relief came and I got to rest. I was shaking and couldn't relax during the contractions (despite all the classes we attended) and it felt so good to finally relax - although I couldn't get rid of the shakes. The nurse said to expect to dilate about 1 cm an hour and so I would have the baby around 6 am. I was bummed because I was still kinda hoping to have my own doctor deliver. But after 1 hour I told the nurse to check me because I felt something coming. She said she's sure I hadn't gotten far but to humor me she went ahead and checked. She let out a gasp and said - I can see the baby's head and he's got dark hair! She couldn't believe it but I had gone from a 5 to a 10 in one hour. They hurried and called my doctor who was about to leave on vacation and he said he'd be there. (just in the nick of time)
He got there and we started the pushing. This was exhausting!! I didn't know pushing was so incredibly hard. For some reason I could feel everything from the waist down. I couldn't feel my uterus contracting but I could feel the baby coming, the urge to push and I could move my legs easily. I was glad of that. Everyone in the room was encouraging me and even though I felt like I was spent and couldn't push anymore I knew I had to because the baby's heart rate was falling again. I just had to dig deep - it was really quite the experience. Then, because they were worried about the heart rate the doc ended up using a vacuum extractor to finish the job. It felt so good when the baby finally came out. The baby looked huge to me - and like a grey stone baby. It was weird to think that he had been inside me all those months. The umbilical cord was wrapped around his ankle a few times and that is why the heart rate was being funky. He was fine though. So, he was born December 20th at 3:23 AM and weighed 7 lbs. 8 oz. and was 21 3/4 inches long. Dr. Magat still made it for his 5:00 flight to Israel!
They cleaned him off and it was actually kind of a strange moment for me. I always thought that would be the most emotionally rewarding moment - but he was whisked away and I was being stitched up (episiotomy and 2nd degree tear) and I was so completely exhausted that I couldn't feel what I was feeling... if that makes any sense. I kept looking over and trying to see him and asking Joey all about him. I think they usually put the baby right on the mom after birth but because of his heart rate and the umbilical cord around the ankle - I think they needed to take him to immediately to make sure he was ok. So, yeah, I was just exhausted but when I finally did get to hold him - I couldn't believe how absolutely perfect he was. He was so wide eyed and just looked right at us like...hmm so you are my parents huh?
The next day I finally had the strength enough to feel the full deep emotion - they had taken him off to the nursery and I had a minute to think. I just pictured his little face and his dark eyes looking up at me and I was overcome. I just sobbed as I realized how much I loved this little person I just met and how I would do anything in the world for him. I was surprised by the intensity of this feeling and just felt so grateful for this experience. I'm a mother. Parenthood is something most people experience and have been since the beginning of time - but it's my own experience and I get to feel and do what mothers do. Since I was little I've waited for this day and it's finally here. I've just loved the past 5 days - despite the soreness and lack of sleep. Joey and I got to celebrate our first Christmas as a little family of three. We both commented yesterday how the plan of salvation has become more concrete and we have felt closer to God than ever. Also, I think our love for each other has grown as we celebrate this little person and begin this adventure together.
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