Another Day Stronger.: Jackson birth story

Tuesday May 8th- I was in pain. It hurt to walk, hurt to stand, hurt to sit, hurt to lay needless to say I stayed in bed most of the day. I didn't get anything done that I wanted to do that day. I was feeling so much pressure I kept thinking my water was going to break (remember I was 4 cm and 50% effaced). James packed up the car for me that night and we attempted to go to bed ( we had to be up at 4 am to call the hospital and see if they had any beds). I thought I was wasn't going to be able to sleep due to anticipation of being induced the next day, but I couldn't sleep due to what I now know were contractions. I was in pain all that night. I kept telling myself I only had a few more hours and to suck it up. I laid in bed that night and mostly moaned in pain finally at 2:00am I got up and decided it was enough pain and it was time to shower and call the hospital. Around 2:30 I woke up James and told him to get dressed. I was having very sharp pains but my stomach never got hard so I didnt think I was contracting, I wasn't going to take any risks because I was already 4cm dilated. I was not going to have him at home! This is funny now looking back. I took a shower, blow dried my hair , put on my make up and straightened my hair all while contracting every 2 minutes!! I was in so much pain but I wanted to look cute for pictures. Finally around 3:30 I called the hospital. They told me to come on it they were not going to send me home.

On the way to the hospital I started hurting more and more. It felt like it took a year to get there ( it really only took 30 minutes). My mom had already beat us there. She was so excited for Jackson to be here. She was waiting outside the hospital waiting for us. It was 4:00 in the morning when we arrived so we had to go in through the Emergency room. I dont know why you have to pre-register because I had to sit down and talk to the admission people while contracting every 2 minutes (not so fun). Finally after what seemed like forever a man with a wheel chair came to take me up to labor and delivery. After winding around the halls of the hospital we finally reached the elevators and all I remember is them going so fast. It was like a shuttle and we were zipped to the second floor. Finally we reached labor and delivery. They were ready and waiting for me (they even knew my name!). At 4:45 we got into our room I changed into the lovely hospital gown and they hooked me up to the monitors. I was scared they were going to tell me I wasnt contracting and that I was just having pressure from the baby, but I was surprised. I was contracting ever 2-4 minutes. Thats when I realized that Jackson was picking his own birthday and that I wasn't going to need to be induced.

The nurse checked me and I was 4cm and 75% effaced (so I didnt really change any from the day before). They tried to start an IV and I started to feel very nauseous. I really thought I was going to throw up. I was dizzy and just didnt feel good. My sweet nurses put cold wash cloths on my head and tried to help me feel better, but it didn't work. They ended up giving me some Zofran.

After my IV was in and I was feeling better. I told my nurse my doctor said I could get an epidural before we started anything. She didnt really want to believe me. I kept telling her over and over and over again. She probably thought I was crazy, but I made it to 38 weeks and I had stopped taking my blood thinner shots and I was not playing around. Poor nurse she finally decided to call my dr. and ask her if it was ok for to have an epidural and see if I needed to start Pitocin or just let me labor. My doctor finally called back and said yes she did tell me I could have an epidural before they did anything and we were going to try and let me labor for while before starting Pitocin. Around 6:30 ( I was still 4cm) the most wonderful lady came into our room (the anesthesiologist). The nurse had me sit up and hug a pillow. She even let me hold her hand. Everyone was so nice and I was so nervous. My mom stayed in the room with me but she didnt watch. The anesthesiologist talked me through the whole thing. It really didnt hurt. It just felt really weird. Everything was in place and she asked me to lay down to do a test dose. I felt fine and everything was great and boom it hit me... I felt so bad. I felt like I was going to throw up again. They tested my blood pressure and it was very low. They gave me a few minutes to calm down and relax then they re took it and it was still really low. I could tell my mom was getting scared at this point so I was kinda scared to. They gave me something not sure what it was to make my blood pressure rise back up and I felt better almost instantly. The epidural started working and my legs were really good and numb. That is such a weird feeling but I was happy and not in pain anymore.

Maddie was watching over us

I was in a great mood. No more pain and still contracting every 2-4 minutes. I liked watching the contractions on the screen. It was cool to know I was having them and not feel them. At some point I asked James and my dad to go get my straighter out of the car so I could fix my hair ( the nurses put a wet rag on my head when I didn't feel good and it was all wavy).

At 8:15 my doctor came in and checked me. I was still 4cm so she went ahead and broke my water and started Pitocin. That drug is mean! It really really really jump started things. My doctor predicted I'd have him before noon. Not even 5 minutes after my doctor left I could feel my left leg. I buzzed the nurse and she hit the bluster button on my epi pump. She told me she lay a certain way and she would come check me in 5 minutes. Well it didnt work I could still feel my left leg. I was also feeling a lot of pressure and it hurt!!! She decided to check me at 8:30 and I was 6cm and a 0 station. I went from 4 cm to 6 cm in 20 minutes after Pitocin was started. I could still feel my left leg so my nurse hit the bluster button again and decided to call anesthesia so come look at me. At 9:00 I was in a lot of pain. My left leg was STILL not not numb and I was hurting! I was feeling contractions and they hurt. I called my nurse and she checked me again I was 9cm. She told me to get ready I was going to be having him soon! Everything was happening so quickly. My nerves started to kick in and I started to cry. Am I ready ready to hold another baby? I was just so scared. Can I do this with no drugs again? My nurse was so nice. She knew our story and had read our blog. She calmed me down and told me she was there to help me. I am so thankful for her she was so sweet.

At 9:05 my doctor was called to come over for delivery. Her office is right across the street . I don't know how she got to the hospital so fast but she was there before I knew it. They nurses started coming it and reality sunk in. It's time to have a baby. I was scared..so scared. How could I love another baby as much as I loved Maddie? But I knew our Hope was coming. So I started pushing. 20ish minutes later Jackson was born sunny side up (we didnt know he was sunny side up all my ultra sounds said he was head down). The nurses put him on my chest and I was in love. He was perfect. He had the darkest brown hair and there was so much of it.

Then my freak out mode kicked in. I kept asking the nurses if he was ok. He really didnt cry that much and it really scared me. I kept saying "cry Jackson cry". Finally he did and they took him over to the warmer to check him out. He got a 9 on his apgar score. He was fine.. our Hope was finally here. Jackson weighed 7 pounds 15 ounces and was 21.5 inches long and just perfect!