Labor & Delivery

The past 4 days has been a whirlwind. Absolutely, 100% crazy! 

Wednesday night, 10/06/10, we arrived at the hospital around 6:15, yes we were late because we went out to dinner with Jen & Jackie for the last supper. They started cervidil around 7:00pm and contractions started! They were regular and all between 3-5 minutes. The nurse thought I would have Rylee that night, but it didn't happen. My mom came up there and ended up staying the night and of course her nor I slept, but Jeremy did! 

Thursday, 10/07/10, they started the pitocin around 6:30am and contractions immediately intensified.  I was about 1-2cm at that time. They rechecked me around 10am when I asked for stadol (A narcotic pain used as an aid to anesthesia during labor and delivery) because I needed some relief from pain, but it wasn't bad enough for an epidural. Then, I was about 3-4cm. They gave me that and I ended up passing out. Contractions started getting worse and I told Jeremy to call my dad and let him know so he could come up. Around 11am my nurse said he was going on lunch, about 15 minutes later the pain was so bad I was laying on my right side and told my sister to get the nurse because I needed an epidural. They came in to check me and I was 8cm, and there was no way I was getting an epidural because it was too late. Another 15 or so minutes passed and I  told her to get the nurse because I felt like I needed to push. The nurse came in and sure enough I was 10cm! 

My dad was there in the room and the nurse said "anyone that doesn't want to see her vagina, get out" so everyone gets out and it's my mom, Melanie, and Jeremy. At first I didn't want anyone else in the room, but I think everything turned out for the best. Around 12pm they told me not to push, but to breathe through them. Okay, ladies for anyone who has never been in labor when you need to push it is SO incredibly hard not to. Your body knows and you just have to do it. I ended up pushing through them because I couldn't help it.  I'm glad I had them in the room because they were there pushing me on. Going through labor without an epidural is intense, but incredibly amazing. 

I started pushing at 12pm and she arrived at 1:06pm!  I ended up having a 2nd degree tear (Second-degree lacerations go deeper, into the muscles underneath. These tears need to be stitched closed, layer by layer. ). The only thing that really hurt the most was the crowning. For some reason every time I pushed she could slide right back up. Then she got the hiccups and that didn't help any. My blood pressure was also really high and they told me "you're about 3 pushes away from a c section." Those words helped me push even harder. When I say push I mean you are pushing between contractions, 10 seconds each, and 3 pushes. It's harder than it sounds. 

Rylee arrived and it's been amazing ever since. Jeremy is an awesome dad and is SO completely involved. He even cut the umbilical cord which at first he refused to do! I love my family!

I was going to make this one huge post, but I decided not to. I have so much more of this story and it will have to continue on another post when I have the time. So, for now, I will leave you with one of her very first pictures. =)