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| Bridget Marie Brassfield July 30th, 4:11 am 7 lbs, 13 oz. 20 1/4 inches |
So I mentioned in my last post that my contractions were anything but consistent. On Sunday evening I started having quite a few that were stronger and about 10 minutes apart... and I just felt bad. Like I couldn't walk around without hurting. But as soon as I would sit down, the contractions would basically stop. I had kind of hoped that I would go into labor, but with the contractions slowing down so much I resolved myself to the fact that I could at least get one more good night's sleep before we went to the hospital in the morning.
I was in bed by 11:30 and the contractions started up again. 10 - 15 minutes apart. They were pretty consistent at this rate but the nurse I saw in the hospital (from the last post) told me not to come back until they were 5 minutes apart for an hour. If I had listened to her, I would have had that baby in my bed.
It took me a long time to fall asleep. I had only dozed for about 30 minutes when I had a contraction painful enough to jolt me awake. It was almost 2 am. I had another painful contraction 7 minutes later. I woke up Greg and told him that we needed to go to the hospital. Within a few minutes we were out the door. The hospital is only a few miles up the road but by the time we got there my contractions were every 5 minutes or less and really painful.
We parked at the Labor and Delivery building... but the entrance was locked! Apparently you use a different entrance at 2:30 in the morning. I did not know where that was. Note to future moms: Make sure you know where to go at all hours!
I waddled back to the car - well, I had Greg run back to the car and then drive back to the curb. I seriously could not walk at this point.
We hustle to the ER, the valet there told us where to go. We are at the correct entrance within a minute. But the admissions lady took her sweet time getting us in! I could have smacked her.
Once we got to the room and I got the gown on, the L/D nurse checked to see how dilated I was. She asked if I wanted an epidural. I said I did, if there was time.
"Well... looks like you are at an 8 1/2... sorry sweetie, but I don't think there is time for you to get one."
Ok, I thought to myself. I got one with Jack, but as soon as the anesthesiologist finished and I was on my back I felt pushing pressure, Jack was born just minutes later. Seriously, I pushed 3 times. I recall feeling pushing him out and it hurt a lot. So I kind of thought I had a "natural" delivery - because I could feel something, and it hurt, but it wasn't horrific.
Oh little did I know...
That epidural did something to take the edge off because this labor was absolutely the most painful thing I have ever experienced in my life.
Maybe it's partly because I just wasn't mentally prepared? Or because I was super tired already... I don't know. All I know is that I never want to go that route again.
Not to be insensitive to people that choose to give birth that way... but why? Holy cow - it was awful!
At one point while pushing I felt my tail bone "snap" down. That was fun.
I think I pushed for about 20-30 minutes. Mostly because for the first bit of pushing I wasn't doing it right. Because it hurt to do it right!
Well, after a lot of screaming (like in the movies - I am not kidding, I couldn't help it) she was finally out!
Oh sweet relief!
But then came the fun part, I tore... and had to get stitched up. I got some local anesthetic but it still was a bit unpleasant. I was shaking so bad for a long time. Right then I thought about pioneer women that had their babies out on the plains... and then get up and kept walking. That amazes me.
This is a rare photo of me with Bridget. If you look closely at my cheeks/neck you may notice that I look a little flushed. Well, turns out that I burst blood vessels all over my face, neck, chest, and shoulders. Within an hour the pink "flushed" look turned a dark, ugly purple color.
I was in bed by 11:30 and the contractions started up again. 10 - 15 minutes apart. They were pretty consistent at this rate but the nurse I saw in the hospital (from the last post) told me not to come back until they were 5 minutes apart for an hour. If I had listened to her, I would have had that baby in my bed.
It took me a long time to fall asleep. I had only dozed for about 30 minutes when I had a contraction painful enough to jolt me awake. It was almost 2 am. I had another painful contraction 7 minutes later. I woke up Greg and told him that we needed to go to the hospital. Within a few minutes we were out the door. The hospital is only a few miles up the road but by the time we got there my contractions were every 5 minutes or less and really painful.
We parked at the Labor and Delivery building... but the entrance was locked! Apparently you use a different entrance at 2:30 in the morning. I did not know where that was. Note to future moms: Make sure you know where to go at all hours!
I waddled back to the car - well, I had Greg run back to the car and then drive back to the curb. I seriously could not walk at this point.
We hustle to the ER, the valet there told us where to go. We are at the correct entrance within a minute. But the admissions lady took her sweet time getting us in! I could have smacked her.
Once we got to the room and I got the gown on, the L/D nurse checked to see how dilated I was. She asked if I wanted an epidural. I said I did, if there was time.
"Well... looks like you are at an 8 1/2... sorry sweetie, but I don't think there is time for you to get one."
Ok, I thought to myself. I got one with Jack, but as soon as the anesthesiologist finished and I was on my back I felt pushing pressure, Jack was born just minutes later. Seriously, I pushed 3 times. I recall feeling pushing him out and it hurt a lot. So I kind of thought I had a "natural" delivery - because I could feel something, and it hurt, but it wasn't horrific.
Oh little did I know...
That epidural did something to take the edge off because this labor was absolutely the most painful thing I have ever experienced in my life.
Maybe it's partly because I just wasn't mentally prepared? Or because I was super tired already... I don't know. All I know is that I never want to go that route again.
Not to be insensitive to people that choose to give birth that way... but why? Holy cow - it was awful!
At one point while pushing I felt my tail bone "snap" down. That was fun.
I think I pushed for about 20-30 minutes. Mostly because for the first bit of pushing I wasn't doing it right. Because it hurt to do it right!
Well, after a lot of screaming (like in the movies - I am not kidding, I couldn't help it) she was finally out!
Oh sweet relief!
But then came the fun part, I tore... and had to get stitched up. I got some local anesthetic but it still was a bit unpleasant. I was shaking so bad for a long time. Right then I thought about pioneer women that had their babies out on the plains... and then get up and kept walking. That amazes me.
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| Holding Bridget, right after I was "put back together" She immediately looked for something to latch on to and found her hand. Isn't it neat how they just know? |
Yeah, so no more photos of mom and baby.
Luckily I didn't burst the vessels in my eyes. It was bad enough the first time Aimee saw me she had to do a double take and said, "Mom! What happened to your face?"
So that was labor story. Now for some pictures...
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| Tasty hand. |
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| Aimee was thrilled to finally hold baby sister! |
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| Jack was mildly interested |
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| Mom and grand baby #4 |
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| Little gnome! I can't decide who she looks like. I will have to pull out the pics of Aimee and Jack. When she's awake I think Bridget looks like Aimee and when she's asleep or crying, I think she looks like Jack. |
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| Proud Papa! |
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| Don't worry Jack. You'll always be my baby. |
Just kidding!
Night #2 at home...
Night #2 at home...
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| 4 am! And I am wide awake! |
Last night she did a little better.
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| More funny faces... |
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| My sweet baby. |
4 comments:
Congratulations on baby #3! She is adorable!
Congratulations! She's so sweet! I'm glad it's over with for you. Other than the healing... Glad you didn't listen to the nurse! Moms know best. :)
Congratulations! She is beautiful! What a story! I agree with you on the epidural thing--although I am a huge baby when it comes to pain! How is it with three kids? My best friend has five--all a year or two apart. She told me that the hardest adjustment was two. I hope things are going well, your family is in our prayers!
She is such a cutie! I'm so glad you shared your birth story. I've been thinking that I want to try a natural child birth, but I'm thinking I should change my mind. You are amazing Emily!! I'm so happy that she's here at last!
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