where did the time go? my labor story

today, december 4th, was my original due date for miss berkley, and 2 weeks ago was when i was writing about going into labor........so sorry i never gave updates.  i can't believe its already been 2 weeks...........sooooooooooooooooooooo much has happened since then. 

my labor was so easy compared to stories i've heard and expectations i had set for myself.  that night, they started me on cervadil (sp?) at 5pm and said they would leave it in for 12 hours (i'll spare you the details).  they explained to me that it mainly just helps ripen your cervix to prepare for the dilation, and very rarely does it actually put anyone in active labor.  they told me to get some rest and that i'd be having a baby the next morning..........ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! REST?!?!?!  how in the world was i supposed to get rest?  the anxiety of what was going to happen took over me and all i could think about was that i was acatully going to have the baby i had been carrying around for 38 weeks.  we were going to be parents!  they brought in an extra bed for brian and he didn't seem to have a very hard time going to sleep.  i was hooked up to monitors and the nurses checked on me often.  at about 3am when the nurse came in to check on me, i had told her that i wanted a "night before belly shot" and she so kindly took a pic of me with the oh so nice sleeping husband background. :)

at 4am the nurse came in and checked on my pain level.  i wasn't feeling any pain.  she said that she was seeing some pretty intense contractions close together and told me to let her know if i was ready for my epidural.  contractions?!?!?!?!  i had no idea i was even haveing a contraction.  i mean my lower back sort of hurt, but i thought it was the awful bed and the position they had me sleeping in so they could have the monitor on my contractions and my babies heartrate. 

at 5am, they came in and took out my cervadil.  i had thinned to 75% and was dilated to about a 3. said they could not start pitocin for an hour so i got up and showered to pass the time and try to relax.  i still couldn't believe that i was going to have a baby........

they came in at 6 and started the pitocin on the lowest level possible and planned on easing into it slowly to see how me and the baby reacted.  the dr had planned on coming in around 10 to break my water and said we would most likey have a baby after lunch/early afternoon.

i was laying in bed trying to take it all in and brian and i were just kind of chatting about what was going to take place.  i started to feel some heavier cramping and could sort of tell something was going on.  at exactly 6:28.......i felt this huge release of pressure (almost like a pop) and then a gush of fluid........and more fluid.......and more fluid.  i looked at brian and said "i'm pretty sure my water just broke, go tell the nurse".  he went and got the nurse, and sure enough, my water had broke on its own.  immediately pain level increased and i was ready for the epidural. 

the epidural was in place at 6:58......oh so nice.  more power to the women who do that junk without the epidural.  no one should have to go through that amount of pain willingly!  i was feeling pretty good once the epidural was in place and i layed there during i suppose some pretty intense contractions.  at roughly 8:00 i told my nurse that i was feeling quite a bit of pressure and that i felt the need to push.  she looked at me like "there's no way, its not time yet" and then checked my status.  right when she started to do the exam, she looked at me, smiled, and said "there's her head.  you are at a 9 1/2, don't push yet, i need to call your dr."

dr or no dr, i was ready!!!!!  she let me go ahead and start pushing so i could practice and i'm not going to lie..........it was one of the hardest things i've ever had to do.  i took several 15 minute breaks while waiting on my dr, and when she arrived we were ready to deliver our baby girl.

at 10:03, berkley made her appearance.  there are no words to describe the emotions that poured out of brian and i during that second.  brian was amazing during that whole experience and we just cried and kept saying i can't believe she's finally here.  it was so nice to see her sweet face, hear that cry, and hold her in my arms for the first time.  you cant describe a love like that.

i was so thankful it went as fast as it did.  my nurses were incredible.  brian was a trooper.  berkley was precious!!!!!

the days that followed were very long.  eventually that saturday, my adrenaline wore off and i was exhausted!  my body was so focued on getting her here, i didn't really ever stop to think of the toll it would take on my body and how sore i would be!  ALL modesty went out the window.  i actually looked forward to the nurses helping me go to the bathroom!

to be continued..........it's time for me to feed the princess and i should probably get a quick nap in as well!