ᗷIᖇTᕼ ᔕTOᖇY

By the time I had found out I was pregnant, I already knew my birth plan... Nubian and Epidural! And once I got further along in pregnancy, I wanted to be induced no more than a couple days after my due date (if Michael happened to come late).

My OBGYN was so on target with me.  I was so grateful when SHE was the one who came out and asked if I'd like to be induced on April the 18th. (Two days after my due date.) 

Brandon and I had everything packed up the day before the induction. It felt like Christmas for me. "THIS BABY IS FINALLY GETTING OUT OF HERE!!!" 

I could hardly sleep. However, I wasn't sleeping very well with a huge belly to begin with. I was out on the couch again with my body pillow, trying to fight back excitement and acid reflux... 

As soon as it was time to go, we were ready. We arrived a little before 7:30 am and were taken back to a nice, spacious corner room. I was hooked up to an IV and pitocin. (I hope I remember that word right?) the day went by nicely. I had windows all around so the room was bright with natural light and I had fun just hanging out with Brandon. In the early afternoon, my grandparents came to visit for a few hours. We played cards and I watched them eat. (I was on a liquid only diet.) 

My contractions were consistent, but weren't doing anything. My intake was pushed up a bit on the pitocin a couple times. Once it hit 5pm my OBGYN came and popped my water. Now that was weird! All of my internal juices poured out of me like a waterfall on this lady's hands! I couldn't believe how much kept gushing out! I gotta say, I felt a little bit of relief. But that didn't las for long.

Within half an hour, my contractions worsened. They started coming in stronger and closer. I hated it! I wanted the epidural and I wanted it "Now!" I had been planning to have an epidural, but I wasn't expecting the contractions to kick in so bad and so fast! The lady performing epidural had two ladies waiting ahead of me already, so I asked them about the medicine I saw my Aunt take for her child. I found out it was called Nubain and told them to give me that while I waited.

As soon as the drugs leaked into my veins, I felt such a sudden relief and everything was just beautiful. I was so relaxed and so happy, and Brandon started laughing when I let out a moan-like, "Oooooh Yeaaaah."

I will do it this way every time I give birth from now on. Get the Nubain while I wait for the Epidural. There is NO WAY I would've been able to sit still for the lady poking a giant needle in my back when I had a contraction! No way at all! That Nubain did me wonders! And once that Epidural was all set up and I had a drug button to push for myself, I knew this was the best labor ever. Technology really does have it's perks! As soon as the nurses helped me lay down comfortably... I was OUT COLD and sleeping through my labor like it was no one's business. 

During this time, my aunt visited. It was nice to know that Brandon was able to have company while I was off in La-La-Land. 

 I was already dilated a few CM before I even was induced. But I couldn't tell you the exact number. The nurses kept coming in every hour (I think?) to flip me to my other side and check my dilation. It was right around 3:30 am that they decided I was dilated enough. There was just a nip of cervix they needed to hold out of the way while I pushed a bit. 

At 3:40 they had me start pushing. Once past the cervix we were good to go. Only a half hour of pushing and they made me STOP!!! With my son's head RIGHT THERE. "I'm pushing! I can't not push! What in the world?" You could say I was kinda freaking out. They were running to get my doctor. Apparently they didn't expect me to push him out as fast as I did! "Is she running?! Please get here soon!" I kept rambling until she got there. "Oh thank god! Can I push?!" 

On April 19, 2013 at 4:22 am, Michael was no longer living inside mommy. 

Brandon cut the cord and followed Michael with the nurses over to the baby table. The thing was, Michael wasn't crying...

At first I thought, "Wow I'm so lucky, I have an automatic happy baby." I was so drugged up I didn't realize anything was wrong with him until I heard Brandon sounding worried. "What does that mean?" He asked them as they talked about our son in low numbers. I started to fill with panic, then as though he sensed my fear, a piercing cry filled the room and I immediately began to cry along with my son. 

The nurses wiped him down and brought him over to me. I held my baby boy for the first time after 40 weeks of carrying him. I couldn't believe how small and perfect he was. He was born with dark hair and blue eyes "Exactly what you wanted," Brandon said with his own tears in his eyes.

We were only allowed to hold our son for a few minutes until the nurses took him over to NICU. He had swallowed amniotic fluid on his way out, which was why he couldn't breathe or cry until they had cleared his airway. 

Michael continued to recover and we were released to go home after 2 more nights in the hospital.

 

I'm so grateful for Michael and the joy he's brought me. He has grown so much in these last 14 months and I am looking forward to spending many more years loving and protecting him.