I started losing my mucous plug in little bits starting Saturday June 14th. I continued losing it over the next few days. Unlike my experience with Ian, I didn’t go into labor right away. This time I had to wait a few extra days.
Overnight, Monday June 16th (early Tuesday June 17th) I woke up having fairly painful contractions. They lasted for about two hours and just went away. I was a little disappointed and a LOT frustrated as the contractions were enough to keep me awake for hours but didn’t put me into labor. I got up for the day when the alarm went off, got ready and went to work. It was a long day at work because I was so tired from being up all night.
I went to pick Ian up from mom and dad’s house after work and Ian was a little grouchy. He’s recently gotten into the habit of leaving mom and dad’s the second Mike and I get there so unfortunately, he’s not overly patient on the days when we DO want to stay and chat. After throwing a colossal fit, I packed him up and took him home.
We walked in the door with Ian continuing to throw a fit because I wasn’t returning his car to him. I had put it on the refrigerator because he had been throwing it during his fit.
I was in the middle of explaining all of the commotion and tears to Mike when I felt a GUSH and stopped mid-sentence. I just kind of stood there in shock with my mouth hanging open and Mike said “Come on!? For REAL!?” He knew without me saying a word what had happened.
I went to the bathroom to assess the situation was it was pretty clear my water had broken. I called the doctor’s office and was told the on call doctor would return my call as soon as possible.
While waiting for the doctor to call, I started making the OTHER phone calls. I called mom to let her know we’d need the Jones Family babysitting services a little more for the next day or two. I called my boss to let him know I wouldn’t be coming into work and that there was a tax return that was on my desk that needed done. Mike called his family to let him know that the baby was on its way.
While I waited for the doctor to call, we all ate dinner and then I surfed on the internet and checked email. It was still kind of surreal but overall just a totally different experience than with Ian. That time I was at work, rushing back to my desk to tie up loose ends before leaving and trying to get to the hospital ASAP. I ended up not having lunch before going into labor with Ian and I was STARVING the entire time. This time I knew we had PLENTY of time before things got too exciting and might as well enjoy one last meal before they stuck an IV in me and wouldn’t let me eat.
After about an hour, the doctor called me back. Dr. Corigliano said she was sorry it took so long to return the call but she has been in the middle of delivering a baby. She asked if I was sure it was my water (YES). She wanted to know if I was having any contractions (SOME). She asked if I knew what color my water was (CLEAR). She said to come on down to the hospital and get checked in.
I called mom back to let her know I was going to be admitted to the hospital and that we were bringing Ian back over.
I got changed out of my work clothes and into some more comfy clothes. We changed Ian into some PJs and packed him a bag of toys, clothes and PJs. Then we packed up the car with my stuff and Ian’s stuff, got in and went over to mom and dad’s house.
We dropped Ian off and in true toddler fashion, he was completely beside himself in excitement to be there. Apparently he had gotten over the “I want to go home ASAP” thing that he’d been throwing a fit over just an hour and a half ago.
We dropped Ian off and headed over to the hospital. Our only hurry in getting to the hospital this time as that they close the main entrance at 8pm and make you go in the emergency room entrance overnight. Since we had no clue how to get to the maternity ward from the emergency room, we just wanted to get there before they locked the doors at the main entrance.
When we walked in, there was a security guard at the reception desk. He looked at me in concern and asked if he could get me a wheel chair. We assured him I was completely capable of walking to the elevator. About half way to the elevator we passed another security guard and he also asked if I needed a wheel chair. Kind of funny but very sweet.
We got up to the labor and delivery unit and the nurses there were expecting me. They immediately knew who I was. They promptly put me into delivery room #5 and started the process of getting my information into the computer. I got the 300 questions…you know, the same 50 questions you get asked but you get asked by 6 different people in the span of an hour or so?
I was having pretty mild contractions during the check in process and the nursing staff seemed a little surprised to see them registering on the monitor as I didn’t seem to be showing an outward signs of having them. I was able to talk and breathe through the contractions without issue.
The OB resident that was assigned to me checked me once the nurses were done poking, prodding and questioning me. She confirmed that my water had broken. Kind of funny as they doubted my “story” with Ian and there was little doubt at that time either. We aren’t talking a slow leak. I was having a fairly constant gush. It’s a really pleasant “fresh” feeling. Not.
When the resident checked me, I was 3 cm with little thinning. Baby’s head was still high. I had been 2 cm dilated at my appointment the previous Thursday so I was showing some signs of progress but we still had a long way to go.
It was probably 9pm by the time we got checked in and settled in our room. After everyone left, Mike and I settled in for a long night. We put on the TV and settled down to watch a marathon of America’s Funniest Home Videos that airs every Tuesday night. That and a few short catnaps kept us occupied for several hours while my contractions progressively got stronger and came faster.
After getting some rest, getting out of the bed to sit in the rocker in the room and several hours of contractions, the contractions were getting much stronger, faster and a lot more painful. At 3am I told Mike that I was pretty sure I wanted to get an epidural. I had a bad epidural experience with Ian’s birth and I was kind of hoping to avoid having another one. Unfortunately the pain was pretty intense and I wanted some relief.
At 3:30am Mike summoned the nurse to the room and we told her I was ready for some DRUGS. Within a few minutes she had the anesthesiologist in my room. I said goodbye to Mike and the epidural was placed really quickly. My nurse was absolutely fabulous. She spent the entire time talking me through the process: explaining what was going on and what to expect. I was so worried, scared, tired and emotional that I literally started crying and she held my hand the entire time.
Within 10 minutes or so the epidural was placed and I was able to get some relief. I felt an immediate improvement in the pain and my legs kind of started going numb. I could still feel some pain from the contractions but had enough relief that I could relax a little. Such a strange feeling to have mostly-numb legs.
The OB resident came in to check me after the epidural was placed and I was already 8cm dilated. I was stunned and proud that I had managed to hold out that long.
After I got checked, the hospital staff left the room and I was able to sleep until about 5am. At 5am, the nurse came back in to have me turn to my left side. Shortly after this, mom and dad showed up and came into the room to say “hi” and take some pictures.
Right after I flipped over to my left side, I started feeling a ton of pressure and sent mom and dad down to the waiting room. The OB resident checked me again and I was pretty much fully dilated. They called the doctor on call and started gearing up the room to deliver the baby.
After a bit, I flipped over on my back and mentioned I was feeling a ton of pressure and warned them that the doctor better hurry. They called the doctor again and said she was minutes away. At this point, things in the room were all ready.
Within minutes, the doctor was in the room and gearing up to start the delivery process. I only pushed for about 20 minutes before Matthew was born. I ended up tearing a little along my episiotomy that I had with Ian. The doctor said it was a very clean repair and the doctor and OB resident got me stitched up fairly quickly.
Matthew gulped some fluid as he was being born and needed some extra attention from the nursery as he appeared to be having some difficulty regulating his breathing. After only getting a quick minute with him, he was taken away for several very long hours. Matthew was born at 5:47am and didn’t come back to us until around 10am, I think.
Because Matthew had to go to the nursery, I was still getting stitched up and I wasn’t sure how long dad was going to be able to stick around, Mike got to make our big announcement without me when he helped the nurse escort Matthew to the nursery. As he came down the hallway with the baby, Mike said “here HE is!” Not quite the “IT’S A BOY!!!!” that I would have done but to each his own. Mom and dad loved Matthew’s name and dad was very pleased by his middle name.
And that is the story of my little guy being born……