Well, I was debating what to get Sean for his birthday last week, so Connor decided to help me out and he made an appearance into this world! I told Sean on the way to the hospital that Connor would be his birthday present. There's so much I want to document and share; so this post may be a bit boring to some; but it's for me to refer to in the future.
The laboring process all began the morning of the 20th....the baby shower to be exact! I woke up that morning and lost my mucas plug. During the shower, I felt REALLY weird, I had blurred vision and was a bit scared because they have been testing me for preclampsia; so Monday morning; I called the Dr. and they wanted to see me right away...so within 10 minutes; I was there- hooked up to monitors. They did a non stress test on Connor and everything looked to be just fine. They then questioned my first time being pregnant and questioned the loss of the mucas plug- but they decided to do an exam anyways. I was 3cm dialated, 80% effaced and put on 100% bedrest. No more work for me and no bachelorette party that evening. Tuesday I relaxed. That evening, I was talking with Sean's step mom over ice cream saying "I think the 24th, but that's tomorrow- so I guess not". I woke up around 4 am for one of my many bathroom trips, and noticed extra fluid....not much- and thought maybe thats remainder of losing the plug and I went back to sleep. I slept in that morning until 10- which is UNHEARD of for me. Sean came and woke me up. I then went to the bathroom again and noticed this fluid...so, I called the Dr. again. When I met the Dr...a new one from earlier in the week (part of a practice) they questioned me being a first time Mom....but decided to do an exam anyways. She saw I was 4cm dilated 90% effaced, could see part of the head and saw that my water had ruptured. She sent me straight to the hospital stating by tonight or tomorrow we will have a baby! I called Sean and told him the news..."It is GO time!" Up until this point, I was planning on going to the pool and lay out in the sun that day- I felt GREAT! We arrived at the hospital and I changed into a gown and laid in the bed- looked at the time- it was 1:15. I completed all the necessary paperwork and around 3:30 they started some potocain(sp?) to increase the contractions. I felt fine at this point. I could feel contractions come (which felt like cramps) but- explained it wasn't bad- "I could be shopping at Target" is how I explained the pain. Around 5:30 they decided that they would do an exam. My GOAL was to go all natural and my laboring nurse was all for it- she told me if I could make it to 7cm- the pain doesn't get worse. They checked me- I was 6cm, 90% effaced and his head was right there-2. So....they asked my pain. I responded with "I could still be shopping at Target". At 5:45 I decided it was going to be a long night thinking I would deliver around midnight. I then rolled over and take a nap...yes at 6cm...no drugs- I was going to take a nap! Within 5 minutes- I felt Connor kick and then I felt the GUSH! My water broke! My reaction was a frightening whimpering scream...then, said "THANK GOD I wasn't at Target for that". Within 15 minutes of that- the pain came and boy did it hit HARD! It was 6:10 when I really started feeling it. I moved over to my side- and Sean came to hold my hand. He would rub it in a circular motion- and I focused on that. I then started to scream "I HAVE to POOOOOOOOP!" the nurse looked at me and said- that is for when you get closer you will feel that. But, I continued to scream "I HAVE to POOOOOOOP!!". So, at 6:40- she checked me--9cm; 100% effaced, and needed to get to the OR. We had to go to the OR because Connor was 34.6 gestational weeks; which he may have had trouble breathing. So, Sean got to put on the scrubs outfit that he was begging me to wear the whole pregnancy...he even had a hat and booties- and like the proud Daddy- the camera around his neck! They pushed me into the OR- the whole time down the hallway- "I have to POOOOP!!!" Once we got there- we were there to wait for the Dr. They gave me some ice chips (which was a HUGE help) and told me the Dr. would be there soon. This was one of those moments where I glimpsed back in the good ole drunken days when driving home- you have to pee so bad so the driver assures you "were almost there" even though you weren't. Yes, I knew the Dr wouldn't be there...I then screamed- "I am pushing and I am not even trying- I have to push- I have to push!" So, the room FILLED with residents had to make the decision to deliver. I started pushing a little after 7pm. At 7:15, Connor's heart rate went down to 55; so they told me they had to help him get out- with the vacuum. They then emptied my bladder- which was the MOST painful part of labor. Sean said I jumped out of my skin. I then had to give it several pushes- and at 7:26 pm out came his head. I didn't really feel his head pop out, but I did feel the rest of his body pop out- it was such a weird feeling I will never forget. I looked at him at the same time I hit Sean "TAKE A PICTURE!" I said to him. I used my one eye that I had opened to count his fingers and toes- but made it to counting just one hand and left the rest up to Sean as I had to put my head to the side. I couldn't believe I had just accomplished that....and then, I look at all the residents- their faces were white. They took Connor to the next room and the resident who delivered- took a deep breath and then I hear "I've never seen that done before" "I can't believe she was asking for a picture" The whole room agreed; they were shocked that someone went all natural with a vacuum....including the 2 RN's that were there. I was then crowned with the "super woman" title! As the residents started to sew me up, the Dr. on call comes FLYING into the room as she was still putting on her scrubs, she looks around, puts her hands up in the air and says "What happened?" Sean, politely said; "We had a baby!" It was seriously a scene from a movie. The resident who delivered then questioned, in the midst of everything; "I don't even know if that was a boy or a girl!" We then told her it was a boy! Once they sewed me all up- they gave me warm blankets-but it just didn't seem warm enough- I was shivering like mad. I couldn't gain control. I was so incredibly cold as my body was going through shock. I laid there- just wanting to go see Connor, but couldn't stop shaking. Then, the nurses who were cleaning up the OR- decided to share with me they couldn't find a piece- something they would have to do an X ray to make sure it wasn't inside of me. But then, they asked the resident what she did with it- and she said she dropped it in the biohazard container- THANK GOD! I thought. At 8:25 they wheeled me back to the recovery room; and I laid there- so tired...and sooo cold. I asked for more blankets but they didn't have any- so I asked Sean to lay on me- his body temp to keep me warm- and it worked! It was such a good feeling....and Sean sat there and watched the "WIPEOUT" show...the American version of "Extreme Elimination"...I couldn't believe that was what was on TV. About an hour later, the nurse then told me if I could pee- I could go see Connor...so by golly, I jumped out of bed- okay rolled...and tried to pee.....the nurse stood right over me. I was like; could you leave me be- stage fright- she said she couldn't so she turned the other way. I did everything in my power- and bamn- you would have thought they didn't just empty my bladder- 600 was the number I got- she said most women get 200...I told her I really wanted to see Connor! We were then off to see him- me being pushed in a wheel chair- which that was short lived- I didn't like that.
When we met Connor, he was sucking his thumb inside an incubator. He was pink at could be and the first words were "wow, he looks just like Sean, just like I thought". The nurse explained that he was doing great- "no oxygen was needed and Bubbie was doing amazing"...that's when it became official the nickname my sister Amy gave him that Saturday before; he would now be crowned "Bubbie". The love that I have for Connor was instant- it was so unreal that I could unconditionally love someone as much as I loved Sean...I didn't think it would be possible. I found as I spent 10 days, 9 nights in the hospital to make sure I was with Connor and every feeding (just about- I missed 3) I would go to the end of the earth for him...just as I would for Sean. I am so excited to be home now, and starting my family. Connor so far is a REALLY good baby- he does a lot of sleeping...which explains why it was hard to feel him moving inside of me....he wasn't an active baby inside me...and I guess not outside either. While we were in the hospital many of the nurses would fight over Connor. One nurse who was feeding him by bottle as I pumped explained- "you're a cute baby; you can come spend the night at my house anytime....you're not like some of the other babies in there- trust me- there are ugly babies in there". It was so funny- I couldn't help but laugh. That nurse was the one who also called him Bubbie.
I think I have made this post long enough- I will update more later- different entries....one on baby shower- which was amazing. And one on the hospital stay. More TBA later....
