So, here's the birth story...and a million pictures to go with it! If you're a boy...or a stalker of my blog, you can go ahead and skip all the nitty gritty details and just look at the pics, this is afterall a journal of sorts, so the details are listed. :) Thank you!
On Tuesday (15th) I went in to the dr to have my membranes stripped, hoping that would make baby decide to do something! I was surprised to find out I was still only dilated 3 cm, even after all that dancing at the Mandiball! :) After my appointment, it was just like any other day. I didn't really feel any different and was having the same amount of BH contractions as I already was.
Wednesday I came to terms that I'd probably just be induced at my scheduled appointment on Thursday, which was fine. My mom flew in to town Wednesday night which was perfect so she could be with Emri while we went to the hospital the next morning. We grabbed Subway sandwiches for dinner, then when we got home I gave my mom the run-down of E's schedule and such, finished up some laundry and random cleaning and around 10:30pm started having some pretty uncomfortable contractions. They were definitely different than BH, and the pain was all on the underside of my huge belly. I decided to shower and head off to bed. I figured they were just from being so busy that day. I climbed into bed at 11 pm, and curled up in a ball to try to breathe through the pain! I started timing them and was suprised to see they were at the most 5 minutes apart...sometimes 2 or 3 minutes even. I told Brett it was time! We threw some last minute items into our bag, told mom we were headed to the hospital and out we went....well, I made Brett run back into the house 2 different times before we actually left to get my pillow and my wallet! haha! It was around 11:40pm when we left.
The pain was awful. I didn't go through this with Emri....and as fast as the contractions were coming I thought I was going to give birth in the car! Brett was driving pretty fast...and I kept nagging at him to be safe! ha! It took a few minutes to actually get inside once we parked...as I had to stop, bend over and breathe thru a few contractions. We got inside the hospital and as the nice officer at the ER doors ushered us down the hall. I told him I didn't need a wheelchair (why was I trying to be tough?!)....we made it a ways down the hall and he paged someone to bring me a wheelchair! haha! As we walked into the triage area it was 12:00 midnight. I got "checked" at 12:20am and was only at a 4! A FREAKING FOUR?!?! (but 100% effaced) Why am I such a wuss?!?! haha!
I got all hooked up to the monitors and taken to my lovely L&D suite in the Dublin Methodist Hospital. My nurses were very sweet, I loved them! I was definitely ready for an epidural at any time :) but they said I had to get the IV fluids going for a bit first. Around 12:50 my IV was placed....honestly, the worst part in my mind about the whole experience....not because of the nurse or anything, but most of you know my fear of my blood being drawn...shots...needles (I know, and I'm an RDH that gives oral injections, WEIRD). Anyway, I made Brett get the iPod going to take my mind off getting the IV). He put the earbuds in...I was expecting Rascal Flatts... and this was playing (off of our GLEE playlist)....He was laughing and I told him to change it before I killed him! haha! Once he found me some decent music the nurse did her thing, the IV was placed, and I cried. Ugh, why is that such a big deal? Maybe it's because it's just stuck there in my arm and I could see it at all times. I just put my arm under the blanket to hide it. The nurse gave me some medication through the IV to "take the edge off" of the contractions and it really helped. It actually made me feel a little loopy and fuzzy headed, if that's even a real description!
At 1:20am the anesthesiologist came in to get things going for the epidural. He was very nice...and I told him that I was really nervous since my last epidural didn't really work all the way and I felt everything on one side during E's delivery. The earbuds went back in and he went to work....and HONESTLY, I ALMOST FELL ASLEEP while he was placing the epidural. I was totally relaxed and tired and hunched over the side of the bed. I barely even felt the part that he said was going to hurt. He was amazing in my book! After aboout 15 minutes all the meds were kicking in and I was happy as a clam! At 2:45am the nurse checked me and said I was 6-7 cm dilated. I was progressing pretty fast on my own (with no pitocin). So she called a midwife in to break my water, then the midwife said I had immediately gone to 8cm. I got really nauseous after that and puked. Lovely. I don't think I'll ever eat a Subway sandwich again! It happened with E's labor also. I guess I can't complain at all if that's the only time in the past 9 months that I barfed!
At 3:25am I was feeling a little lower back pain so I dosed myself w/ the magic epidural button! Heaven :) The nurse checked and I was 9cm, she said it was probably some pressure from the baby moving down. In between all my checks Brett and I tried to rest/sleep a little. My mind was racing so it was hard to sleep. AND....I was so bummed I had just taken my makeup off like 30 minutes before we actually left for the hospital! I really wanted cute---ok, not cute---but at least DECENT pictures of the delivery this time since I looked totally trashed (and like the Michelin Marshmallow man) after E's! I know, I'm vain.
At 4:10am I was dilated 10 cm! The nurse said she wanted to leave me for a just bit to "labor down," so the baby could drop a little more on his own, but decided to have me do a "practice push"(4:20ish)....and in the middle of the practice she said "WHOA....hold on, baby is turning and coming down!" She called the dr and the nurses quickly set everything up. Brett barely got the camera out by the time the dr was scrubbed up and I pushed the first time. They said everything looked great and baby would be out on the next contraction! WHAT THE?!?! I thought they were joking, we were chatting, I'm sure I laughed...and we actually missed the next contraction! The next contraction came and I pushed once more! At 4:27am a sweet, perfect baby boy was laid on my chest and out of the 3 names we had floating around on our list, Jet was the first one that came to mind when I saw the little man! I couldn't believe how light his hair was, and that his cry was so "boy-ish," much deeper than Emri's girly cry!
I keep telling people my whole experience this time was like a dream!! Really, it all went so fast and I didn't feel a dang thing during the delivery which was soooo nice! I'll let the pictures tell the rest of the story about our hospital stay and getting to know our new little Jet Eric Anderton!
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He's here! I think I was still surprised that it all went so fast!
A little O2 to help him pink up...
8lb 2 oz-----21.5 inches long-----14 inch head circumference
Meeting Daddy....love this pic!
ok....terrible pic of me, but here we are with Dr. Rahl
2 of my 3 L & D nurses, Libby and Rachael. Loved them!
Meeting big sister!
Meeting Momma Max
Emri wasn't too sure about the whole hospital setting....mostly just leaving mom there after visiting. Here's the best fam shot we could manage!
And....now to Jet! Love the wrinkly, dry, newborn feet!
I wouldn't say his hair is "bright white" like Brett mentioned...except for the fur on his back!!
Ooooh, he's so cute! His hair is light....much lighter than E's was. His roots are actually the lightest part, and they totally shimmer/glow in the sunlight!
Going home outfit....
Squish face!
Love him!
He wasn't too excited about leaving the hospital...
On our way home....
Luckily, when we walked through the door, Emri was so excited to see Mommy, Daddy, AND Baby Brudder! She was giggly and couldn't stop talking about him! She seems to be adjusting well... a few meltdowns here and there but I think that's to be expected!
In all, we're doing great! I think it's a little easier the 2nd time around....knowing what to expect, feeling a little more confident, and like we somewhat know what we're doing! We're so happy to have Momma Max here to cook, clean, keep E entertained, and spoil baby with lots of love. Thanks everyone for calling, texting, FB, and commenting to check on us! We're so lucky to have such great friends and family!
