Morning came. Finally. As I said, I never saw sleep. I was watching the paper slowly rolling out of that machine to see if the wavy lines warranted my increasing pain. In retrospect, I don't know why I did that. I could have paged for the epidural immediately. But...I just didn't. I guess it just didn't seem like I REALLY needed it. For some reason, I thought Dr Collins could break my water first and THEN I would get it. Again, I don't know why I did that because that is not the best experience to feel. So, once I decided I wanted the epidural, I wanted it yesterday. I was in pain. And I thought, "My God, who would do this naturally?" At 5:30 that morning, I was at a 2 but still not effaced. So I'm trying to breathe through them, gripping the side of the bed. At 6:15, a lactation nurse comes in. I knew her from going to the meetings with Jaggar, but I was thinking, "Am I breast feeding right now?" Then she starts hassling us on the name. I refused to tell. She left and Travis said, "And why was she here at 6 am?"
I was in pain the whole time. I had paged for the anesthesiologist at about 6:30, and they said she was with another patient. Okay, no prob. Then the nurse came in many minutes later and said the anesthesiologist had to go in for a C section, and it could be an hour. God. Not good. Seconds after that, I hear Dr Collins in the hall. He comes in and whispers, "How's it going?" I said, "I'm in pain. A lot." He asked if I slept and I said, "Not at all." Whyyy? I'm like, "Um have you been here?" He graciously waited until after I could get the epidural before he broke my water. He was actually doing the c section that required the anesthesiologist. The nurse had told me that it COULD be an hour but probably wouldn't be. It was an hour. She told me she was rushing her so if I could act like I was in pain, it'd be good. I was like, "Well...I am in pain. I don't know what you want me to do.' She rushed in and immediately had me start signing things. Then she proceeded to do the epidural. Not a fun experience on top of contractions. I dared not flinch because I wanted to walk again. I thought the anesthesiologist was rude at first but she was just in a hurry and became much nicer once she was there for a few minutes. A few more contractions and I started to feel less and less. Thank God.
Dr Collins came back and I was like, "THANK YOU for waiting." He said, "Well, I owed you from yesterday." :) He knew I was mad. I said that they said I hadn't progressed much but he said, "That's relative. Nope. You are progressing. 3 and thinned out more." Hi five. I asked him when he thought it would be. I'm thinking like soon since I was progressing. He said, "Probably around 4:00 this afternoon." Seriously? Then I asked him how many patients he had. He said, "About 6000." I said, "How do you keep up with them all?" He laughed and said, "One at a time." Then I said, "Do you have like a top ten of favorites with me included in the top 5?" He said, "Oh yeah. Definitely. I can never forget you, Jewels." I was really just confirming what I already knew.
I called my house, where my mom was ready with the kids, but I told her what he said about it being 4:00 in the afternoon and asked her to wait a bit so that I could try to sleep. I had to let her go right away because I started feeling sick. My blood pressure had been dropping, and I knew when it was really low because I thought I was going to puke. It was 76/49. They didn't really know why it was doing that because it wasn't within the right time frame to be blamed on the epidural. I'd sit up some (or was dragged up since my lower half may as well have been someone else's body) and it gradually came up. That happened a few times. The anesthesiologist came back and gave me a boost of the epidural because I was still cramping. Pressure was good but cramps were not, they said. Then I asked her about putting that needle in really big patients. I bet that was difficult. She said she was thrilled to see all the bones in my back. I make friends easy around there. :) Anyway, with that boost of the epidural, it went up into my ribs and even in my chest. It felt like I was struggling to breathe, and I asked if my heart could be paralyzed and stop. lol....I mean seriously, it was the worst feeling. They assured me that it felt funny but no, I was good.
I was so tired. I couldn't hold my eyes open, but I also found it hard to drift completely to sleep.
Trying to watch What Not to Wear
Around 11:45 that morning, they checked me again, and I was still at 3-4 centimeters but 80% effaced. Progress. Mom and Mema brought the kids in around that time--with all of their new toys and the elves in tow.
It was comforting for the hospital room to look like my house with toys all over the floor. I was really proud of how well the kids behaved in here. They were calm. Sometimes when they are together, they encourage each other to get wilder and wilder, and it's not a fun experience, particularly when I am unable to move to threaten them. ;) jk. They were great.
Posing with the T-rex, which ironically was what Jaggar said baby's first ultrasound picture looked like.
Mom and Mema
And you knew this girl was coming. I could have up to 3 people in the room, and I had her, my mom, and Travis, who throughout my 9 months of pregnancy was alternately added and removed from that list. ;) Someone said they didn't know if they could have a friend in there taking pictures, but I wouldn't have had it another way. She's my best friend. It was really special actually. I just have to say that me in labor is hilarious too. No shame in my game.
My baby boy. We were all still wondering what he'd do.
Sweet babies
Precious girl
I do love him. He is very patient with me as I'm not the most low maintenance person in the world.
We had a full house.
Jaggar actually let Iris play with his toys. His NEW toys. I was impressed with that.
Of course, we had ipad action going on, too.
The next time the nurse checked me at about 1:30, I was between 6-7.
Then Mema and I did 15 for Alabama's next national championship win.
People were talking. I could hear them. I was listening if they were talking to me, but I just literally could not hold my eyes open. Chrissie took this as a payback for me taking one of her like that after her C section with Iris.
Around 2, the nurse checked again. I was at a 9. She said I'd probably be ready to push in 30 minutes or so. With all of my labors, whenever they have told me that it's time or almost time like that, it's the most emotional moment. I can't believe it's really happening. I felt my back cramping on one side, so they pushed more through the epidural.
Looking back, probably not the best decision because I was totally and completely numb, which isn't bad if someone else could deliver the baby for me.
So while we waited for the last little bit, I shut my eyes once again.
Because in 30 minutes, it was baby time.
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