12:40 AM, Monday March 16th, 2009 - Enoch had been sleeping with his Tutu (grandmother) since I went into preterm labor and he continued to sleep with her even after I was released from bed rest. This particular morning, Bonnie (Tutu) brought Enoch to me because he woke up crying for me. I tried to calm him down and realized he was crying because he needed to hit the potty. So I rush him to the bathroom but we're too late, Enoch has an accident while I'm unzipping the jammies; stupid zipper jammies. So he's now upset because he had an accident - I clean him up and get him into new jammies. The whole time he's throwing a tantrum; kicking, screaming and crying. I'm holding him at this point trying not to get kicked. Joe finally comes in and magically calms Enoch down and we all climb into bed to try and get some sleep.
1:20 AM, the first contraction hits. Its really hard and super strong. Joe is freaking out and asking if we need to go to the hospital and I tell him no, its just one contraction. Then 1:30 AM rolls around and its another hard contraction, only this one is a lot stronger and harder and lasts for about 6 minutes. I thought I was going to DIE. I'm rolling all over the bed and Enoch is freaking out and so is Joe (poor guys) - the whole time I'm thinking, well, if I crawl all over the bed maybe I can get away from the pain! Yeah, that didn't work. From that point on, I had contractions every 4 minutes. Joe quickly got our stuff together and we were out the door, flying down Parker Road at 2 AM. Enoch stayed with his Tutu & Papa.
2:15 AM - we check into labor & delivery at Parker Adventist. They quickly hook me up to the monitors, get an IV with fluids going, check me (i'm at 4 cms) and now we're just waiting for the anesthesiologist to come and save the day. I'm contracting constantly and Joe is being brave beside me while I'm breathing and beating my fist into his leg. SORRY JOE! :D Anesthesia finally comes and relieves the pain - although, the epidural going in was a little painful. My Mom and my Sister Alana arrive sometime around 3 or 4 AM, I can't really remember times specifically. Now its the hurry up and wait part of labor and I get to sleep.
Sometime around 7 AM I want to say, the nurse comes and checks me again and I'm at 9 cms. She's curious as to why my water hasn't broken yet because appearantly, its "bulging". At 8 AM, she comes in to check my again, still at 9 cms but now she's really curious as to why my water hasn't broken and starts FLICKING me! No joke, she's FLICKING my sac! So I start laughing and making jokes about how my kid is going to have brain damage and bruises on his head when he comes out because she's FLICKING me. We all start laughing and I guess I laughed a little too hard because my water broke. :D The nurse said she had never seen a woman in labor make so many jokes.
9 AM rolls around and my epidural machine thingy is beeping and saying my resivoir is low. Huh? Ok, so lets roll in some more happy juice and continue this laboring in happy land thing, ok? No, the nurse comes in, checks me, I'm at 10 cms now and she says, "Lets start pushing!". I start freaking out and telling her there is no way because my epidural juice is low and I'm not pushing with out my epidural! Turns out, it lasts for like 3 hours after the juice is gone so she tells me it doesn't matter, everything I feel from here on out is the same stuff I would be feeling if she reloaded the thing. Dangit! So I'm crying and everyone is consoling me and its finally time to push and I have no way out. Joe is at my head to my right, Alana is at my head to my left, my Mom has my right leg and Bonnie has my left - and we start pushing.
There was a lot of pressure and being uncomfortable but no pain, really. At one point I did look down and saw Travis' head and had to do a double take because I didn't realize it was a head at first. What an amazing thing to experience child birth and labor. Joe did watch, I was shocked. He said it was the coolest thing he'd ever seen. He got to cut the cord as well. Too cool!
And for the curious, there are pros and cons to each type of child birth - C-section and vaginal. To me, they are both natural. A child is being born and what could be more natural than that? I will tell you, the connection I have between both of my sons is no different. I feel just as connected and nuturing to Enoch as I do Travis. The way they came into this world does not affect the way I feel about either of them. I am SO grateful to have experienced both. I truly am. So don't ever tell me that the nuturing hormone is not released when you deliver by C-section. If you go into labor, that hormone is released- its actually the hormone that causes labor. And if you lactate, that hormone is released.
Travis was born March 16th, 2009 at 9:54 AM. He weighed 7 lbs 2 oz and was 20 inches long. I pushed for 33 minutes. It felt like an eternity. Travis is here and he's healthy and strong. Enoch couldn't be happier to be an older brother. He is so tender and kind and wakes up excited to see his little brother.
I am so grateful to all our friends and family who helped us through preterm labor, bed rest, delivery, the drive home from the hospital and the most recent, my spinal headache I've had since I was discharged. I couldn't say thank you enough for all that you've done and you all know who you are. Thank you, thank you, thank you. :D We love you all and hope to return the favor in the near future.
Texting during labor - Only Natalie!
1:20 AM, the first contraction hits. Its really hard and super strong. Joe is freaking out and asking if we need to go to the hospital and I tell him no, its just one contraction. Then 1:30 AM rolls around and its another hard contraction, only this one is a lot stronger and harder and lasts for about 6 minutes. I thought I was going to DIE. I'm rolling all over the bed and Enoch is freaking out and so is Joe (poor guys) - the whole time I'm thinking, well, if I crawl all over the bed maybe I can get away from the pain! Yeah, that didn't work. From that point on, I had contractions every 4 minutes. Joe quickly got our stuff together and we were out the door, flying down Parker Road at 2 AM. Enoch stayed with his Tutu & Papa.
2:15 AM - we check into labor & delivery at Parker Adventist. They quickly hook me up to the monitors, get an IV with fluids going, check me (i'm at 4 cms) and now we're just waiting for the anesthesiologist to come and save the day. I'm contracting constantly and Joe is being brave beside me while I'm breathing and beating my fist into his leg. SORRY JOE! :D Anesthesia finally comes and relieves the pain - although, the epidural going in was a little painful. My Mom and my Sister Alana arrive sometime around 3 or 4 AM, I can't really remember times specifically. Now its the hurry up and wait part of labor and I get to sleep.
Sometime around 7 AM I want to say, the nurse comes and checks me again and I'm at 9 cms. She's curious as to why my water hasn't broken yet because appearantly, its "bulging". At 8 AM, she comes in to check my again, still at 9 cms but now she's really curious as to why my water hasn't broken and starts FLICKING me! No joke, she's FLICKING my sac! So I start laughing and making jokes about how my kid is going to have brain damage and bruises on his head when he comes out because she's FLICKING me. We all start laughing and I guess I laughed a little too hard because my water broke. :D The nurse said she had never seen a woman in labor make so many jokes.
9 AM rolls around and my epidural machine thingy is beeping and saying my resivoir is low. Huh? Ok, so lets roll in some more happy juice and continue this laboring in happy land thing, ok? No, the nurse comes in, checks me, I'm at 10 cms now and she says, "Lets start pushing!". I start freaking out and telling her there is no way because my epidural juice is low and I'm not pushing with out my epidural! Turns out, it lasts for like 3 hours after the juice is gone so she tells me it doesn't matter, everything I feel from here on out is the same stuff I would be feeling if she reloaded the thing. Dangit! So I'm crying and everyone is consoling me and its finally time to push and I have no way out. Joe is at my head to my right, Alana is at my head to my left, my Mom has my right leg and Bonnie has my left - and we start pushing.
There was a lot of pressure and being uncomfortable but no pain, really. At one point I did look down and saw Travis' head and had to do a double take because I didn't realize it was a head at first. What an amazing thing to experience child birth and labor. Joe did watch, I was shocked. He said it was the coolest thing he'd ever seen. He got to cut the cord as well. Too cool!
And for the curious, there are pros and cons to each type of child birth - C-section and vaginal. To me, they are both natural. A child is being born and what could be more natural than that? I will tell you, the connection I have between both of my sons is no different. I feel just as connected and nuturing to Enoch as I do Travis. The way they came into this world does not affect the way I feel about either of them. I am SO grateful to have experienced both. I truly am. So don't ever tell me that the nuturing hormone is not released when you deliver by C-section. If you go into labor, that hormone is released- its actually the hormone that causes labor. And if you lactate, that hormone is released.
Travis was born March 16th, 2009 at 9:54 AM. He weighed 7 lbs 2 oz and was 20 inches long. I pushed for 33 minutes. It felt like an eternity. Travis is here and he's healthy and strong. Enoch couldn't be happier to be an older brother. He is so tender and kind and wakes up excited to see his little brother.
I am so grateful to all our friends and family who helped us through preterm labor, bed rest, delivery, the drive home from the hospital and the most recent, my spinal headache I've had since I was discharged. I couldn't say thank you enough for all that you've done and you all know who you are. Thank you, thank you, thank you. :D We love you all and hope to return the favor in the near future.
Texting during labor - Only Natalie!
4 comments:
that was some work huh??
Natalie,
I just heard about this from Chris and I am sorry to hear that you have not been feeling well. I am the last person you need to worry about as I also got your message on FB. I am glad that you got things figured out and you have such an adorable little boy that I am sure it is easier to enjoy him now!
Loved reading the story and seeing the pictures!! You're little boy is so sweet!!!
I loved reading it as well. sounds like you did an amazing job. Reminds me of when I had Makenna. I had the spinal headache as well......TERRIBLE!!!!! I am so sorry. Glad you are all (fairly) well. Can't wait to see him in person sometime.
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