On Monday, July 26th, I had my usual weekly OB doc appt. Everything checked out great. I was still at about 2-3 cm dilated (which, I'll admit, disappointed me). Not long after I got home from the appointment, I began to have contractions. These were very low on the belly so I figured it was the beginning of labor since I was only a couple of days from my due date. However, they weren't very hard or painful so I just proceeded on through my day thinking it would be a while before I would need to do anything or go to the hospital. I did end up calling Daniel to come home though because I was having trouble putting any weight on my right leg. I figured it was the baby sitting on a nerve.
I had contractions until about 9:30 that night and then they stopped. They were about 6-8 minutes apart and had been all day long. I would have periods of about 30 minutes where I wouldn't have one. I still wasn't concerned since Charlie's delivery took so long. Daniel and I did discuss calling parents but decided to wait and see what developed during the night. I had decided I would rather call them at 3 am than call and them not sleep that night, waiting on the phone to ring. I was never awakened during the night because of a contraction. I actually got the best night's sleep I had had in months.
I guess Daniel had a sense as well that baby Philip would be here soon so he got busy that night finishing up some of the little things in the nursery. We got letters and trucks on the walls, the curtain hung, etc. I promise pictures are coming soon!
The next morning, I woke up feeling really good. My contractions did resume about 8:00 or 8:30 am. But, they still weren't strong or any closer together. Charlie and I ate breakfast and he was watching PBS as usual. All of a sudden I got really tired so I decided to lie down on the couch for a bit. Around 9:30, I felt two thumps "down below" and gush...my water broke. I immediately got up, grabbed a towel or two and made all the important phone calls. I was, surprisingly, calm. My contractions at this point though became very strong and starting coming very fast.
My friend, Kathy, came rushing over to help and to take Charlie for us. She was a Godsend. I mentioned that I would like to take a shower so she kept Charlie busy while I did that. Looking back...not a good decision. But, in my defense, I thought I had plenty of time. Kathy was so sweet to stand there and dry my hair for me. By this point, Daniel had made it home. I realized my contractions were closing in on each other and knew we needed to go RIGHT THEN. I was unable to walk though. The contractions were too hard and were making me lightheaded and nauseous. Kathy got on one side of me and Daniel got on the other. The two of them walked me down the hall, down the stairs and helped me in the car. Charlie was behind us saying, "Mommy, going to the hospital?" "Hi Mommy." "Mommy, you sick?" He wasn't sure what was going on.
As Daniel and I were pulling out of the driveway, he asks me, "Do you want me to take it slow and easy or just get you there?" My contractions were really hard and I just wanted to be there so I of course said, "Just get me there." Trying to get to the hospital quickly but still obey the traffic laws I'm sure was hard for Daniel to do.
We arrived and had to wait for someone to bring a wheelchair down since there were none available in the lobby. This seemed like an eternity. I knew I had progressed a good bit just by the intensity of my contractions and was anxious to get inside and see just how much. And, as seems to always be the case, I had to wait in the waiting room a while for registration to open up. I have no clue how long I sat there. I just breathed through each contraction in agony and waited. Once we made it into registration, I think they realized I was really struggling so they left Daniel to finish registration and took me to the triage. They debated whether to examine me there or to get me in a L&D room. My contractions at this point were almost back to back. To my disappointment, they put me in a triage room. The nurse could barely manage to get the monitor on me since this is normally done between contractions. She examined me and said I was about 6 cm dilated. They then immediately took me to a L&D room.
The nurses had to lift me in order to transfer beds. I had already asked for an epidural atleast ten times (not really but it seemed to be taking forever). They got my IV in and informed me that I had to get atleast a half a bag of fluid in before they could do the epidural. That was not what I wanted to hear.
Somewhere amongst all of this, I realized that Daniel hadn't brought the suitcase in. I remembered that our camera was in the suitcase. I had decided that he could go and get it after I got my epidural since with Charlie, it slowed my labor progress. As they were working on my IV, Daniel told me he was going to get it. At this point, I didn't care. I was in too much pain to care what anyone was doing. I was about to pull the rail off the bed as I pulled on it with each contraction. Not a minute after Daniel walked out of the room, the nurses began looking for him and asking each other where my significant other went. No one knew. This was a moment of humor for me because they had a sense of panic in their voice but then I realized...panic!?!
I soon began to feel the need to push. Talk about chaos in the room! I was afraid Daniel wouldn't make it back but as soon as I thought it, he walked in. I can't imagine what went through his mind when he walked back in and the nurses are frantically trying to find the midwife because I was wanting to push!
The midwife, Vivian, finally came in and just looked at me and said, "Are you ready to just push and get this baby out?" I remember thinking...do I have any other choice? I realized that since it was time to push...no epidural. I asked the midwife if she could give me anything for the pain at this point. Her response was that if she gave me anything this late that it would most definitely affect the baby and making him very sleepy. I decided it wasn't worth it and got it in my head that I was going to push and push hard to get this baby out as quickly as possible. I was going to have to do this "au naturale".
I began the series of pushes. Push and hold for a count of ten then breathe. Repeat two more times then rest and wait for the next contraction. Daniel claims I only did this for 6-8 times and the baby was out. It was a completely different experience for me just because I could feel everything. With Charlie, I had to be told when to push due to the epidural. I think it helped me this time to know in what spot I needed to push because I could feel where. I was straining/pushing with all my might to get this baby out. I never looked over at Daniel. I knew he was there but I was too focused on pushing. I think my eyes were closed the majority of the time anyway. I remember each time I would rest between pushes, he would lay a wet washcloth on my forehead. I also remember his encouragement. He just kept telling me that I was doing great and kept reminding me to breathe or to slow down my breathing and to relax between pushes. That encouragement really helped because I so wanted to give up but had no choice but to keep pushing.
I never thought I would be a screamer during labor. The baby's head crowned and I had to wait on another contraction in order to push. At this point, it was pure torture. I was hollering to please get the baby out! Just pull him out! I was begging. My next contraction came, I pushed and out came the baby's head. I was still in agony but the midwife was able to pull him on out as I kept pushing. The feeling of him being delivered and out was an incredible feeling though. That feeling made all the pain worth it! Philip was born that Tuesday, July 27th, at 12:12 pm.
The midwife laid the baby up on my belly and I remember thinking, "Oh! Baby." I wasn't expecting that since that didn't happen with Charlie. I didn't quite know what to think. One of the nurses reached down and moved him up onto my chest and I was able to really hold him and love on my little boy. The midwife cut the cord and they took him to be weighed, measured, suctioned, etc. Philip weighed 9 pounds and 3 ounces. He measured 20.5" long. He was beautiful. They don't bathe babies in the L&D anymore so they brought him back to me pretty quickly. I realized he favored Charlie as a baby but Philip was Philip and not a spitting image of Charlie. The first thing I noticed that was different was, of course, the dark hair. Charlie's was light brown/blonde and was very thin to the point that you couldn't really see it. Philip also has a different nose. Charlie has Daniel's nose.
Needless to say, since my water broke at 9:30 and Philip was born at 12:12, none of our family made it for the delivery. I didn't call any family until my water broke just because I didn't think I was that far along until then. Daniel's parents and my parents and grandmother were all on the road when Philip was born. We called them back after his birth to tell them that they could slow down and take their time getting to ATL since Philip was already here! My sister was in PA at the time visiting inlaws' family but had intended on flying back when I began labor. Yeah, that didn't happen. :\ She wanted to be there for the delivery just as she was with Charlie.
As we were sitting in the L&D room waiting to be taken upstairs to a Mother/Baby room, Daniel and I talked about how we hate that no family was there but that it was kinda nice for it to just be the two of us. We were able to take a few moments for ourselves and enjoy the birth of our son. I think that's something we will both always cherish.
We were moved upstairs about the same time as my parents and grandmother arrived at the hospital. They met us there and had a look of just pure joy on their faces. We got settled in and the visitors began to come and go. Daniel and I were proud to show off our newest addition. Kathy brought Charlie to the hospital that afternoon. He was so cute meeting his little brother for the first time. He wasn't quite sure at first but fell in love rather quickly I think. :)
Daniel and I are blessed to have a wonderful church family. Not only did we have our physical family there to celebrate with us, we also had many of our spiritual family there too. These visitors included Neil & Emily Richey, Derek & Kasey Brown, Troy & Anna Golden and Michael Kingsley. Kathy and Morgan brought Charlie to visit each day. Daniel's parents were there the whole time we were in the hospital as well as my parents and grandmother. My uncle, Dale, came to visit the next morning. I also had MANY well wishes on Facebook when we got home.
Our family is truly blessed...we have a wonderful God, we have each other, a great extended family, a great church family, great friends and now two precious little boys. For that, we thank God each day.
I had contractions until about 9:30 that night and then they stopped. They were about 6-8 minutes apart and had been all day long. I would have periods of about 30 minutes where I wouldn't have one. I still wasn't concerned since Charlie's delivery took so long. Daniel and I did discuss calling parents but decided to wait and see what developed during the night. I had decided I would rather call them at 3 am than call and them not sleep that night, waiting on the phone to ring. I was never awakened during the night because of a contraction. I actually got the best night's sleep I had had in months.
I guess Daniel had a sense as well that baby Philip would be here soon so he got busy that night finishing up some of the little things in the nursery. We got letters and trucks on the walls, the curtain hung, etc. I promise pictures are coming soon!
The next morning, I woke up feeling really good. My contractions did resume about 8:00 or 8:30 am. But, they still weren't strong or any closer together. Charlie and I ate breakfast and he was watching PBS as usual. All of a sudden I got really tired so I decided to lie down on the couch for a bit. Around 9:30, I felt two thumps "down below" and gush...my water broke. I immediately got up, grabbed a towel or two and made all the important phone calls. I was, surprisingly, calm. My contractions at this point though became very strong and starting coming very fast.
My friend, Kathy, came rushing over to help and to take Charlie for us. She was a Godsend. I mentioned that I would like to take a shower so she kept Charlie busy while I did that. Looking back...not a good decision. But, in my defense, I thought I had plenty of time. Kathy was so sweet to stand there and dry my hair for me. By this point, Daniel had made it home. I realized my contractions were closing in on each other and knew we needed to go RIGHT THEN. I was unable to walk though. The contractions were too hard and were making me lightheaded and nauseous. Kathy got on one side of me and Daniel got on the other. The two of them walked me down the hall, down the stairs and helped me in the car. Charlie was behind us saying, "Mommy, going to the hospital?" "Hi Mommy." "Mommy, you sick?" He wasn't sure what was going on.
As Daniel and I were pulling out of the driveway, he asks me, "Do you want me to take it slow and easy or just get you there?" My contractions were really hard and I just wanted to be there so I of course said, "Just get me there." Trying to get to the hospital quickly but still obey the traffic laws I'm sure was hard for Daniel to do.
We arrived and had to wait for someone to bring a wheelchair down since there were none available in the lobby. This seemed like an eternity. I knew I had progressed a good bit just by the intensity of my contractions and was anxious to get inside and see just how much. And, as seems to always be the case, I had to wait in the waiting room a while for registration to open up. I have no clue how long I sat there. I just breathed through each contraction in agony and waited. Once we made it into registration, I think they realized I was really struggling so they left Daniel to finish registration and took me to the triage. They debated whether to examine me there or to get me in a L&D room. My contractions at this point were almost back to back. To my disappointment, they put me in a triage room. The nurse could barely manage to get the monitor on me since this is normally done between contractions. She examined me and said I was about 6 cm dilated. They then immediately took me to a L&D room.
The nurses had to lift me in order to transfer beds. I had already asked for an epidural atleast ten times (not really but it seemed to be taking forever). They got my IV in and informed me that I had to get atleast a half a bag of fluid in before they could do the epidural. That was not what I wanted to hear.
Somewhere amongst all of this, I realized that Daniel hadn't brought the suitcase in. I remembered that our camera was in the suitcase. I had decided that he could go and get it after I got my epidural since with Charlie, it slowed my labor progress. As they were working on my IV, Daniel told me he was going to get it. At this point, I didn't care. I was in too much pain to care what anyone was doing. I was about to pull the rail off the bed as I pulled on it with each contraction. Not a minute after Daniel walked out of the room, the nurses began looking for him and asking each other where my significant other went. No one knew. This was a moment of humor for me because they had a sense of panic in their voice but then I realized...panic!?!
I soon began to feel the need to push. Talk about chaos in the room! I was afraid Daniel wouldn't make it back but as soon as I thought it, he walked in. I can't imagine what went through his mind when he walked back in and the nurses are frantically trying to find the midwife because I was wanting to push!
The midwife, Vivian, finally came in and just looked at me and said, "Are you ready to just push and get this baby out?" I remember thinking...do I have any other choice? I realized that since it was time to push...no epidural. I asked the midwife if she could give me anything for the pain at this point. Her response was that if she gave me anything this late that it would most definitely affect the baby and making him very sleepy. I decided it wasn't worth it and got it in my head that I was going to push and push hard to get this baby out as quickly as possible. I was going to have to do this "au naturale".
I began the series of pushes. Push and hold for a count of ten then breathe. Repeat two more times then rest and wait for the next contraction. Daniel claims I only did this for 6-8 times and the baby was out. It was a completely different experience for me just because I could feel everything. With Charlie, I had to be told when to push due to the epidural. I think it helped me this time to know in what spot I needed to push because I could feel where. I was straining/pushing with all my might to get this baby out. I never looked over at Daniel. I knew he was there but I was too focused on pushing. I think my eyes were closed the majority of the time anyway. I remember each time I would rest between pushes, he would lay a wet washcloth on my forehead. I also remember his encouragement. He just kept telling me that I was doing great and kept reminding me to breathe or to slow down my breathing and to relax between pushes. That encouragement really helped because I so wanted to give up but had no choice but to keep pushing.
I never thought I would be a screamer during labor. The baby's head crowned and I had to wait on another contraction in order to push. At this point, it was pure torture. I was hollering to please get the baby out! Just pull him out! I was begging. My next contraction came, I pushed and out came the baby's head. I was still in agony but the midwife was able to pull him on out as I kept pushing. The feeling of him being delivered and out was an incredible feeling though. That feeling made all the pain worth it! Philip was born that Tuesday, July 27th, at 12:12 pm.
The midwife laid the baby up on my belly and I remember thinking, "Oh! Baby." I wasn't expecting that since that didn't happen with Charlie. I didn't quite know what to think. One of the nurses reached down and moved him up onto my chest and I was able to really hold him and love on my little boy. The midwife cut the cord and they took him to be weighed, measured, suctioned, etc. Philip weighed 9 pounds and 3 ounces. He measured 20.5" long. He was beautiful. They don't bathe babies in the L&D anymore so they brought him back to me pretty quickly. I realized he favored Charlie as a baby but Philip was Philip and not a spitting image of Charlie. The first thing I noticed that was different was, of course, the dark hair. Charlie's was light brown/blonde and was very thin to the point that you couldn't really see it. Philip also has a different nose. Charlie has Daniel's nose.
Needless to say, since my water broke at 9:30 and Philip was born at 12:12, none of our family made it for the delivery. I didn't call any family until my water broke just because I didn't think I was that far along until then. Daniel's parents and my parents and grandmother were all on the road when Philip was born. We called them back after his birth to tell them that they could slow down and take their time getting to ATL since Philip was already here! My sister was in PA at the time visiting inlaws' family but had intended on flying back when I began labor. Yeah, that didn't happen. :\ She wanted to be there for the delivery just as she was with Charlie.
As we were sitting in the L&D room waiting to be taken upstairs to a Mother/Baby room, Daniel and I talked about how we hate that no family was there but that it was kinda nice for it to just be the two of us. We were able to take a few moments for ourselves and enjoy the birth of our son. I think that's something we will both always cherish.
We were moved upstairs about the same time as my parents and grandmother arrived at the hospital. They met us there and had a look of just pure joy on their faces. We got settled in and the visitors began to come and go. Daniel and I were proud to show off our newest addition. Kathy brought Charlie to the hospital that afternoon. He was so cute meeting his little brother for the first time. He wasn't quite sure at first but fell in love rather quickly I think. :)
Daniel and I are blessed to have a wonderful church family. Not only did we have our physical family there to celebrate with us, we also had many of our spiritual family there too. These visitors included Neil & Emily Richey, Derek & Kasey Brown, Troy & Anna Golden and Michael Kingsley. Kathy and Morgan brought Charlie to visit each day. Daniel's parents were there the whole time we were in the hospital as well as my parents and grandmother. My uncle, Dale, came to visit the next morning. I also had MANY well wishes on Facebook when we got home.
Our family is truly blessed...we have a wonderful God, we have each other, a great extended family, a great church family, great friends and now two precious little boys. For that, we thank God each day.
5 comments:
Wow, what a great day you had. Hope you all are healthy and happy. God Bless!
My goodness, you're now in the truly natural class! I can't believe you took a shower, talk about cutting it close but hey, you were clean! My friend had four boys all completely natural. She's superwoman!
Beautiful story! What a wonderful birth! You did a fantastic job, and your son is perfect! Good job:)
Wow, enjoyed reading your story...you have my admiration! So happy for you guys. You have a beautiful family.
Melissa,
This was so well-written, and will always be there as a record of the events leading up to Phillip's birth. Neil and I are so happy for you and Daniel--you are blessed with two beautiful little boys!!
Love,
Emily
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