Labor and Delivery (part 2)

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Again, Gracie's 2nd birthday is quickly approaching and I wanted to share with you my amazing journey with my baby girl with you. Being pregnant again, it's nice to have something to compare it with. And before I embark further in this pregnancy, I will share with you the magic of my first. As stated in the previous post, I made it 41 weeks until they decided to induce me. So here I am, it's June 30th, 2007 and I have just been admitted to St. Joe's. They interviewed me asking me all kinds of health questions while Chuck went home to get the bags. I then called everyone I knew basically to tell them I was finally having this baby! At about 1 pm, the doc came in and inserted something called Cervidal. Really it was like some sticker tampon thing because there was a string hanging out. He said it would soften my cervix. So then Chuck came and my friend Dana happened to be there visiting her friend's baby so we walked around the maternity ward. I could already start to feel some contractions but they were all in my back. I would go back and they would hook me up to the fetal monitor. I ordered some food and watched a little tv. Went for some more walks. Dad and Amy came and we sat around and talked. Finally around dinner time, the contractions really started to get painful. They were all in my back. I would sit on the birthing ball and lean over the bed and whenever I had contraction, I would have Chuck push with all his might on my back. It hurt pretty bad. It was like menstral cramps times 100! I was slowly dialating however. About 9, I was in pain and I just kept watching the number on the monitor (the number that is for the contractions) get higher and higher. They gave me something that I can't remember the name of and told me it would help. Did it? Nope. It made me feel drunk and that is what I told them. I felt so dizzy and sleepy. I would literally sleep for a few minutes and then wake up for the contraction. Then sleep again, wake up in pain. Finally, they told me I could get an epidural. Thank goodness! So first some lady comes in and tries to give it to me. I explained to them that my spine is not straight, I have scoliosis. So she went and got the real dude who is supposed to give these things. So once again, he attempted. Finally, at the 3rd attempt, of having this huge needle jabbed in my back, it was so much better! I was surprised that so far, I had not shed one tear of pain! Finally then, they started pitocin to speed things up. I was finally able to get some sleep around midnight. Around 2, they checked me and I was almost fully dialated, so Chuck called mom to come back. She was going to be there when I had Gracie. Then at 5 am, the nurse said I was a ten and could start pushing. I was like, "Lady, I am still so freaking tired and I don't want to yet." So I guess about 7 was when I started pushing. They told me to push like I was taking a poo so I did. I was instructed to push for 10 seconds, 4 times in a row during a contraction. Chuck started counting for me which I immediately told him to stop! It was annoying at the time. Chuck had one leg and mom had the other. Pushing was what I did. At 7:30, I asked the nurse if she could see the baby yet. Shortly after that, Chucks cell phone rang and he actually left my side to answer it. It was Amy and my dad waiting anxiously in the waiting room. She must have asked "what's going on?" Because he said "Uh, were still pushing." I started yelling "thell them we will call them when we are done!" Then about 8, I asked "how much longer of this?" Dr. Egan came in and said I would probably push for another 45 minutes. OMG I was so tired and sweaty and gross. I kept asking, "can't you just grab her out yet?" Then this team of nurses came in and started chanting "push her out, push her out, way out!" Are you kidding me? Finally at 8:55 that sunny July 1st morning, Gracie decided to come out! Wow! That was great! She was here! They put her on my stomach and even though she was covered in gook, I touched her and said "it's about time baby girl." Then they whisked her away and the doc had to push on my stomach to get the placenta out. Finally I was like "Um, yeah, I have to go to the bathroom." He said "No, that's your placenta coming out." That felt great too to get out! Finally, done. I was exhausted and it took the doc half and hour to sew me up as I had tore pretty bad. Gracie weighed in at 8 pounds and 20 1/2 inches long. Finally I was a mommy! It was the greatest experience!