Ethan's Birth Story: Part One
I've been typing the details of Ethan's birth into my phone over the past two weeks. Actual computer time is becoming obsolete, but I do want to write and post about the first weeks/months with our boy. I do not want to forget how precious this time is! So, this long post of details is mainly for me, so that I can look back and remember this incredible day. :)
June 16th, 3:06am
First Contraction
My night had been restless, like most had been that week. I had been tossing and turning for many nights with cramps and body aches, but when that first contraction happened, I knew something was different. I spent those first few early hours dosing off in between well spaced contractions. My hopes did go up a little when they began to come consistently every 6-8 minutes, beginning around 4am. They weren't exactly painful at this point, but I was uncomfortable, so I took a nice warm shower to help relax my body and ease my discomfort. I continued to try to sleep some, although contractions were waking me every few minutes. Around 6am, since I just couldn't sleep (due in part to the contractions, but also because my excitement was building over the thought that "today could be the day"), I got up. We contacted Sean's mother (who was waiting for any news so she could make the 4.5 hour drive to be here) and I sent a message to my mom, letting her know the latest. We carried on a "business as usual" attitude as we double checked our hospital bags and made sure Gracie was good to go, should this be "it".
Contractions continued over the next few hours. I was comfortable as they passed and they were only slightly stopping me in my tracks as they began to build. By the time we had eaten breakfast and taken a morning walk, I was getting frustrated. I was actually begging for the pain to intensify, or for my water to break, so that I could be certain I wasn't simply dealing with false labor. Sean told me he'd remember my request when I was asking for the epidural. :)
Finally, I made a call to my doctor's office, letting the nurse I spoke with know what I'd been dealing with since 3am. Since I was already 3cm dilated and had been having consistent contractions for almost 6 hours, she set up an appointment for me so that my progress could be checked. I saw the doctor at 10:30 that morning. I was now 4cm dilated and 90% effaced. I was in "pre-labor". Still, based on my first birthing experience, and how quickly things progressed towards the end with Gracie, my doctor didn't want to send me home. Instead, she sent me just a few minutes away, to the mall. She asked me to walk for an hour, then check back with her to see if things were moving along. So, Sean, Gracie, and I headed to the mall, where they enjoyed a Cinnabon cinnamon roll and I walked! After the hour passed, Sean and I went back to the doctor. My mom and step-dad met us to occupy Gracie and wait for any news...
I remember seeing the doctor smile as she told us I was now a "good 5cm" and a "really good 90% effaced". She also expected my water to break at any moment, confirmed I was in active labor, and sent us to the hospital! Sean and I were so excited, and I think still in some disbelief, as we drove straight to the hospital to begin the process of welcoming our baby boy...
![]()
I was walking, talking, and, at moments, laughing as we checked into the hospital. My contractions were painful, but were nothing compared to the ones I remember having as I checked into the hospital to deliver Gracie! I honestly kept thinking that I should be in a lot more pain.
We were taken to our birthing room. It still didn't seem completely real, but I knew that in just hours, our baby would make his entrance into this world. I then signed a bunch of papers, answered a list of questions, had a Sierra Mist...sent text messages to update friends and family. They came to draw blood (horrible experience, yet again), gave me the IV... I was aware of how exhausted I was, but couldn't really rest. The afternoon was moving along. Around 3:00 that afternoon, the nurse checked me. I was 6cm.
Then came the moment that the relaxed pace of the afternoon changed... my water broke, and the very next contraction I had clearly meant business! I breathed my way through those first few contractions, finally feeling the pain I remembered. I was ready for the epidural! Unfortunately, even with the prompt appearance of the anesthesiologist, the epidural wasn't ready for me... what I mean is, once again, it took multiple attempts (and a nauseating 45 minutes) to get it in place. As much as I wanted my husband with me during this part of the party, I had already decided that he would have to leave the room. I really didn't want to risk him passing out again, so I asked my mom to stay with me.
After the third or fourth attempt at a successful epidural, I lost my mother to the floor... she didn't pass out (thank the Lord), but she did have to sit down with her head between her legs. It was around this point that I also started feeling light-headed and nauseas. I am convinced that everyone would have been fine if it had been a one shot deal. Prolonging the process, and hearing the explanation of what was going on, was honestly enough to send anyone to the floor. I have a love/hate relationship with epidurals.
Eventaully, though, I was pain free... although half of my body was more numb than the other, my legs felt as though they weighed 500 pounds, I had the shakes, and felt totally drunk (the nurse said my self proclaimed drunken state was due to my body's ability to relax and my exhaustion's ability to take over). My doctor popped in to check on my progress and surprised us all when he told me "it's time to push"...
June 16th, 3:06am
First Contraction
My night had been restless, like most had been that week. I had been tossing and turning for many nights with cramps and body aches, but when that first contraction happened, I knew something was different. I spent those first few early hours dosing off in between well spaced contractions. My hopes did go up a little when they began to come consistently every 6-8 minutes, beginning around 4am. They weren't exactly painful at this point, but I was uncomfortable, so I took a nice warm shower to help relax my body and ease my discomfort. I continued to try to sleep some, although contractions were waking me every few minutes. Around 6am, since I just couldn't sleep (due in part to the contractions, but also because my excitement was building over the thought that "today could be the day"), I got up. We contacted Sean's mother (who was waiting for any news so she could make the 4.5 hour drive to be here) and I sent a message to my mom, letting her know the latest. We carried on a "business as usual" attitude as we double checked our hospital bags and made sure Gracie was good to go, should this be "it".
Contractions continued over the next few hours. I was comfortable as they passed and they were only slightly stopping me in my tracks as they began to build. By the time we had eaten breakfast and taken a morning walk, I was getting frustrated. I was actually begging for the pain to intensify, or for my water to break, so that I could be certain I wasn't simply dealing with false labor. Sean told me he'd remember my request when I was asking for the epidural. :)
Finally, I made a call to my doctor's office, letting the nurse I spoke with know what I'd been dealing with since 3am. Since I was already 3cm dilated and had been having consistent contractions for almost 6 hours, she set up an appointment for me so that my progress could be checked. I saw the doctor at 10:30 that morning. I was now 4cm dilated and 90% effaced. I was in "pre-labor". Still, based on my first birthing experience, and how quickly things progressed towards the end with Gracie, my doctor didn't want to send me home. Instead, she sent me just a few minutes away, to the mall. She asked me to walk for an hour, then check back with her to see if things were moving along. So, Sean, Gracie, and I headed to the mall, where they enjoyed a Cinnabon cinnamon roll and I walked! After the hour passed, Sean and I went back to the doctor. My mom and step-dad met us to occupy Gracie and wait for any news...
I remember seeing the doctor smile as she told us I was now a "good 5cm" and a "really good 90% effaced". She also expected my water to break at any moment, confirmed I was in active labor, and sent us to the hospital! Sean and I were so excited, and I think still in some disbelief, as we drove straight to the hospital to begin the process of welcoming our baby boy...
The last picture of my pregnant belly!
We were taken to our birthing room. It still didn't seem completely real, but I knew that in just hours, our baby would make his entrance into this world. I then signed a bunch of papers, answered a list of questions, had a Sierra Mist...sent text messages to update friends and family. They came to draw blood (horrible experience, yet again), gave me the IV... I was aware of how exhausted I was, but couldn't really rest. The afternoon was moving along. Around 3:00 that afternoon, the nurse checked me. I was 6cm.
Then came the moment that the relaxed pace of the afternoon changed... my water broke, and the very next contraction I had clearly meant business! I breathed my way through those first few contractions, finally feeling the pain I remembered. I was ready for the epidural! Unfortunately, even with the prompt appearance of the anesthesiologist, the epidural wasn't ready for me... what I mean is, once again, it took multiple attempts (and a nauseating 45 minutes) to get it in place. As much as I wanted my husband with me during this part of the party, I had already decided that he would have to leave the room. I really didn't want to risk him passing out again, so I asked my mom to stay with me.
After the third or fourth attempt at a successful epidural, I lost my mother to the floor... she didn't pass out (thank the Lord), but she did have to sit down with her head between her legs. It was around this point that I also started feeling light-headed and nauseas. I am convinced that everyone would have been fine if it had been a one shot deal. Prolonging the process, and hearing the explanation of what was going on, was honestly enough to send anyone to the floor. I have a love/hate relationship with epidurals.
Eventaully, though, I was pain free... although half of my body was more numb than the other, my legs felt as though they weighed 500 pounds, I had the shakes, and felt totally drunk (the nurse said my self proclaimed drunken state was due to my body's ability to relax and my exhaustion's ability to take over). My doctor popped in to check on my progress and surprised us all when he told me "it's time to push"...
So exciting! Your labor sounds so much like mine with my third child. I, too, didn't have as much pain at first, had to go walk around and then get rechecked, and it took 3 tries and 2 anesthesiologists to get the epidural in. My water broke on its own right after they got it in, and my son was born 45 minutes later! Thankfully, I didn't have any passing out going on though! LOL! Can't wait to hear the rest of your story!
ReplyDelete