Tuesday, July 14, 2009

6 Births and 1 Epidural Part 2

Having already birthed a child, I was, of course, a complete and total expert on pregnancy. Or at least I would have been, if only all pregnancies were the same. Despite a very different pregnancy, I dreaded most the worst part of my last labor: the pushing.

A little over two weeks before I was due I went in to a doctor’s appointment and was pleasantly surprised to find I was dilated to a 2 and starting to efface. Since I had been nothing with Elise at the doctor’s appointment the day before I had her, I took this news to mean I was seconds from labor. Seconds. Any idea how many seconds are in 2 weeks? Enough to feel like an eternity or two.

Two days before my due date I was miserable. Dilated to 3.5 cm and seemingly 150% effaced, it felt like the baby was ready to drop out. I was busy watching a terrible Sylvester Stallone movie( I know, I know describing Stallone movie as terrible is redundant) when my labor FINALLY began. We dropped off Elise, grabbed my bags which I had packed and ready to go weeks ago, picked up my parents and sister and headed to the hospital. I was still dreading the pushing phase.

And then my husband slept through my labor. Or at least that is how I like to tell the story…

Trying to save enough energy for that detested pushing, I quickly decided I wanted medicine, unfortunately, not quite quick enough. Too late for an epidural, I was able to get a sedative of some sort that allowed me to sleep between contractions. I woke for the actual contractions, though! I remember distinctly waking during one and looking to my husband for comfort only to find him snoozing in the chair beside me, his head resting on my hospital bed. I almost killed him! He claims something about working a night shift the night before, already late into the night, me already asleep, blah, blah, blah. I just remember myself in pain and him in dreamland. I try to never let him live it down.

Like my first baby, this one was posterior. I spent transition on my side trying to get him to turn before entering the birth canal, thoroughly unpleasant, but effective. After what seemed like forever, it was time to push; I had been dreading this time for 9 months. It took all of 15 minutes and only a few pushes. I was greatly relieved.

Ryan was born on a Friday (I think). On checkout day, which was a Sunday, I requested my church clothes brought in so I could change before leaving. We went straight from hospital to Church. Two weeks later we moved half way across the country for Peter’s medical school. Apparently I enjoy moving while pregnant or with a less than month old baby. I’ve done it thrice.

13 comments:

  1. I love reading you stories...

    I do have to say that I think you are nuts to take a day old baby to church...it take me a good two months to go back ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  2. I remember it all too well. It was a really neat experience for me to be there.
    I always get shocked expressions from people when I show up to church the first Sunday after I give birth.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I remember it all too well. It was a really neat experience for me to be there.
    I always get shocked expressions from people when I show up to church the first Sunday after I give birth.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Yeah, I went to church after having my first baby too! (I don't want to be left out)...

    Oh yeah, and

    I remember it all too well. It was a really neat experience for me to be there.
    I always get shocked expressions from people when I show up to church the first Sunday after I give birth

    ReplyDelete
  5. You are crazy! We love Ryan and are so glad he made it here. Love the stories, I still can't believe Peter slept through your labor, for that he should fly me out to console you.

    ReplyDelete
  6. well you always say he can sleep through anything, right!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I've probably already asked you, but in which hospital was Ryan born? Was it in Utah?

    Now we know that you have to threaten Peter with death to wake him up in a hurry!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Aimee- it is a little nuts to not miss church, but it was one of our last weeks.

    Kim- I remember the look on your face after it was all over. I think we all inherited the go to church right after gene.

    Gordon- Most people would be shocked if you gave birth, much less went to church.

    Davis family- maybe there is enough guilt left to convince him of your plan.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Mom at our House- I was laughing at all the sleeping Peter things I've written about lately when I wrote this post.

    Mary- St. Marks. My memory is a little hazy, but pretty sure I threatened him with death while smacking his sleeping head with my free hand.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I love your birth stories. And I too believe that the husband should be attentive and alert with his hands in ready position to get ice, rub back, apply long lasting lip color and speak encouraging words at a moment's notice...I secretly like that the fold out "beds" in the rooms are very uncomfortable...serves them right for getting us to that point in the first place.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Awwwww look how little Elise is in that pic! You sure were blessed with cute kids! Happy Birthday Ryan

    ReplyDelete
  12. I was there and poor Peter just doozed for a minute. (While you doozed.) He really got a big wack in the head for it too. I still get a good laugh over that.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I love your birth stories but have to agree your both nuts and amazing to go to church straight from the hospital.

    How many of your kids were posterior?

    ReplyDelete