So my induction was scheduled for 6 am on the 19th. I was told to call before we went in to make sure that they had room for us. I called at 5:20 and they said that they didn't have any beds available. I was crushed. I really thought that we were going to be able to go in right away. The head nurse told me to wait for a phone call and they would let me know when they had a spot for me. At 8 they called and told me what I didn't want to hear. "We are super busy today and we just had another walk in come in. I talked to Natalie (my midwife) and we are going to have you come in at 6 tonight and start you on a pill and see where it goes from there." It wasn't the worst news, but we were just so ready and excited.
We killed time all day not doing much of anything mixed with a little shopping to hopefully help get this started early. We ate dinner at McDonalds and then headed to the hospital. By 6:10 we were all checked in at admissions and ready to head up to our room. Both nurses that I first spoke with talked about how busy of a day it had been and my nurse was supposed to get there about an hour and a half after we got there. Because my nurse was so late another one checked me in, gave me my IV, took my temperature, asked me all the questions, and voiced her distaste at me being induced "just so he doesn't have to be born on Christmas." She also asked how my family felt about me being induced. They support me, of course, ya nosy lady. I was more than ready for my nurse to get here by the time she was finished with her snappy little attitude. And I was definitely overwhelmed with everything that was happening/about to happen.
She checked me (50% and 1.5 cm at 8 pm), inserted the pill, and left us to watch TV and relax while it did its thing. I started to feel crampy after a little while and it continually got worse and more uncomfortable. I realized later that these 'cramps' were actually contractions starting. I complained to Taylor about feeling crampy and we both tried to act like it was no big deal.
These cramps were definitely the beginning of a very long night. Laying back in the bed made them hurt worse, and when I would sit up the monitors on my stomach would move and then a nurse would come in to fix them. I also had the blood pressure cuff on which went off every thirty minutes. I really don't think that I slept at all that night.Taylor would come look at the monitor every now and again and comment about how big one of my contractions was. I don't suggest anyone saying that to their wife while she is in labor. I definitely knew that it was a good contraction without him telling me.
I was so excited to see my midwife the next morning to know her opinion on things and to hopefully get the okay to get an epidural, but she had two c sections to do before seeing me. She checked in after the first(around 8) and then came back after the second and checked me (around 10). Much to my relief she said that I was at a 4 and I could get an epidural. I could have kissed her and the man that gave me the epidural. Getting an epidural was the best decision that I think I have ever made.
Obviously happy on epidural.
The epidural gave me so much relief. After getting it I slept off and on for the rest of the afternoon. I was checked 3 hours after getting the epidural and found out that I was still at a four, meaning I had made no progress. They started me on pitocin and an hour and a half later I was at a 7. Thank goodness I couldn't feel anything. After this point I know that I slept a lot. Like, it was all I could do to stay awake. Every time the nurse came in after being at a 7 she would ask me if I felt any pressure. I never felt anything so I said no. At 5 the nurse came in and took my temperature. I had developed a fever of 100.7. She checked me to find out that I was at a ten. It was really baby time!
(Apparently my fever was a sign of my body being ready to give birth and the nurse kept asking me if I felt pressure because that would have meant that he was ready to come. So, that's a fun fact from the day.)
In between pushes I mentioned how hungry I was and how I really wanted ice cream. After everything was cleaned up and things calmed down my sweet nurse brought me some ice cream from the snack fridge.
He had a slight fever and was breathing fast when he was first born. The doctors were worried and were tempted to put him in the NICU, but with some skin to skin his fever came down and they said he transitioned really well.
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