I'm finally doing it! Starting a blog!
What is it about becoming a mom that makes one want to do this?
I thought I would start with a short telling of Jack Waylon Mattox's birth:
It was Memorial Day Weekend and Kyle and I decided to do a little stay-cation. I taught Young Women's on Sunday and after church we packed a picnic lunch and went to Boca Grande where we ate, sat, talked, and walked.
Now mind you, I was past my due date and walking across a large sandy beach. We had a lot of fun. I was still so full of energy! I loved pregnancy! I was happier than I'd ever been and full of energy and joy!
We came home about 6p and at 9p contractions began. I said nothing. After about 30 mins and me wincing about every 5 mins Kyle asked me
Kyle: Are you having contractions?
Me: No
*time goes by and I wince again*
Kyle: Because you look a lot like someone having contractions.
Me: Well maybe, but I don't know.
I didn't want to get too excited I hadn't had any braxton hicks, any false labor of any kind so I didn't want to get my hopes up that I would correctly identify my first experience with contractions.
Kyle was all giddiness. "We're going to have a baby?? We're going to have a baby!! We're going to bring a baby home from the hospital."
I was all denial. "No, this is only the start it's probably not for a while, I'm sure I'm fine, we may not have to go in tonight."
I kept a timer of the contractions and they were anywhere from 3-10 mins apart but that was too close for Kyle. I insisted on a few things first: we had to make the bed (that was dumb because as soon as we got home I pulled everything off the bed so I could climb in it), Kyle had to clean out the car and I had to put on something cute and do my makeup. This could be the last time. So at 11p we arrived at the hospital.
Here I am timing a contraction.
And doing my makeup
And nervous about having this baby
Kyle: Are you having contractions?
Me: No
*time goes by and I wince again*
Kyle: Because you look a lot like someone having contractions.
Me: Well maybe, but I don't know.
I didn't want to get too excited I hadn't had any braxton hicks, any false labor of any kind so I didn't want to get my hopes up that I would correctly identify my first experience with contractions.
Kyle was all giddiness. "We're going to have a baby?? We're going to have a baby!! We're going to bring a baby home from the hospital."
I was all denial. "No, this is only the start it's probably not for a while, I'm sure I'm fine, we may not have to go in tonight."
I kept a timer of the contractions and they were anywhere from 3-10 mins apart but that was too close for Kyle. I insisted on a few things first: we had to make the bed (that was dumb because as soon as we got home I pulled everything off the bed so I could climb in it), Kyle had to clean out the car and I had to put on something cute and do my makeup. This could be the last time. So at 11p we arrived at the hospital.
And Kyle giddy about having this baby
We got to the hospital about 11p and entered through the emergency room.
It was a long wheelchair ride down the corridor.
Birthing ball! Me thinking I'm going to do this naturally.
The contractions intensified but I shortly found out that the dilatation had not. I was still only dilated to 3cm, I'm glad they didn't send me home!
I had one bad experience during this part of it, I explained to my nurses that I wanted them to tell me everything and I could filter it, I didn't want things to just go on without me understanding the process and the purpose. My main nurse was totally on board and awesome about it! She told me everything!
However another nurse came in to do the hep lock into my hand and it hurt super bad and when I looked down, there was blood everywhere, on her scrubs and everything! I asked her what happened and she said "Nothing, I just put your hep lock in." She continued to insist on this and would not tell my why my hand was in agony or why blood was dripping from it. ......Ultimately she did not come back into my room.
I immediately set about trying to get things moving along. I rocked, I walked, I bounced, I did this for four hours and no change only more intense contractions but no change in dilation. At that point I was talked into an epidural with the argument "It's just hurting, you're not progressing and this way you can get a little sleep." I did sleep for about 3 hours and thank goodness because this is all the sleep I got.
Kyle being giddy some more
Me in labor
The sweet nurse offered to take this picture
I was still able to move around a lot with the epidural so I leaned over the back of the bed and used the grip bar. And I still wasn't doing a good job of progressing, in fact Jack never actually dropped on his own, I had to push him the whole way out!
The nurses let me stay leaning over the back of the bed and I wanted so much not to deliver on my back, they kept checking for progress but found none. His head wasn't any closer to coming out then before I tried hands and knees and all kinds of positions but nothing was working. They made me lay on my back. I was so exhausted and whenever pushed it felt like nothing was happening, though they kept on insisting it was and they could see the top of his head. I used a mirror because I totally wanted to see the whole thing. And I never saw the top of his head until it was out.
Finally at 12:26 on Monday May 26 I had Jack Waylon Mattox.
It was a pretty uneventful birth, I've already forgotten the excruciating pain.
In fact I think the most painful thing is the Foley catheter.
I did get to the point where the nurses were encouraging me saying "Think of having him here, think of holding him in your arms and keep pushing." And I said "I DON'T CARE ANYMORE!" I definitely was done.
We had a wonderful nurse who took all these pictures for us!
That feeling!! Just being so glad it's over and getting to hold this anxiously anticipated darling baby. All the emotions! Kyle and I cried.
I wanted him to be put right on me but they put a stupid sheet thing down and they kept jostling him and rubbing him hard and making him cry!! I started pushing the nurses hand away and saying stop it! At which point they explained to me that they have to get him to cry to get air in his lungs and get all the goo in his lungs moving, they needed to do it to make him cry. I still didn't like it.
It was a miraculous feeling to hold him in my arms. Overwhelming. Indescribable.
Bonus Story: Kyle told me a few days later that a nurse knocked over the placenta that was sitting in a dish on a table. There was blood all over and the doctor was steaming mad!
We got to the hospital about 11p and entered through the emergency room.
It was a long wheelchair ride down the corridor.
The contractions intensified but I shortly found out that the dilatation had not. I was still only dilated to 3cm, I'm glad they didn't send me home!
I had one bad experience during this part of it, I explained to my nurses that I wanted them to tell me everything and I could filter it, I didn't want things to just go on without me understanding the process and the purpose. My main nurse was totally on board and awesome about it! She told me everything!
However another nurse came in to do the hep lock into my hand and it hurt super bad and when I looked down, there was blood everywhere, on her scrubs and everything! I asked her what happened and she said "Nothing, I just put your hep lock in." She continued to insist on this and would not tell my why my hand was in agony or why blood was dripping from it. ......Ultimately she did not come back into my room.
I immediately set about trying to get things moving along. I rocked, I walked, I bounced, I did this for four hours and no change only more intense contractions but no change in dilation. At that point I was talked into an epidural with the argument "It's just hurting, you're not progressing and this way you can get a little sleep." I did sleep for about 3 hours and thank goodness because this is all the sleep I got.
I was still able to move around a lot with the epidural so I leaned over the back of the bed and used the grip bar. And I still wasn't doing a good job of progressing, in fact Jack never actually dropped on his own, I had to push him the whole way out!
The nurses let me stay leaning over the back of the bed and I wanted so much not to deliver on my back, they kept checking for progress but found none. His head wasn't any closer to coming out then before I tried hands and knees and all kinds of positions but nothing was working. They made me lay on my back. I was so exhausted and whenever pushed it felt like nothing was happening, though they kept on insisting it was and they could see the top of his head. I used a mirror because I totally wanted to see the whole thing. And I never saw the top of his head until it was out.
Finally at 12:26 on Monday May 26 I had Jack Waylon Mattox.
It was a pretty uneventful birth, I've already forgotten the excruciating pain.
In fact I think the most painful thing is the Foley catheter.
I did get to the point where the nurses were encouraging me saying "Think of having him here, think of holding him in your arms and keep pushing." And I said "I DON'T CARE ANYMORE!" I definitely was done.
That feeling!! Just being so glad it's over and getting to hold this anxiously anticipated darling baby. All the emotions! Kyle and I cried.
I wanted him to be put right on me but they put a stupid sheet thing down and they kept jostling him and rubbing him hard and making him cry!! I started pushing the nurses hand away and saying stop it! At which point they explained to me that they have to get him to cry to get air in his lungs and get all the goo in his lungs moving, they needed to do it to make him cry. I still didn't like it.
It was a miraculous feeling to hold him in my arms. Overwhelming. Indescribable.
Bonus Story: Kyle told me a few days later that a nurse knocked over the placenta that was sitting in a dish on a table. There was blood all over and the doctor was steaming mad!
