My doctor told me to prepare to have it similar to Bryson's birth. Overdue, induced but at least it should be "shorter" she said. Haha shorter? Hopefully shorter than 31 hours would be great!
Well 40 weeks came and went and I was not progressing past 1cm and barely effaced. I was discouraged but not anxious. Just ready to meet my sweet boy!
Well I went into the hospital to get "ripening gels" put in to hopefully help me progress a little so that if they had to induce at 41+ weeks that it would be easier.
Bryson was with my mom for the day (it was an 8 hour process) and we headed to triage to start the process (I had 7 rounds of gels with Bryson so I knew the routine!). We met with our nurse who was super nice and started the process. It hurts like HECK to get these gels in. Then you sit for an hour and then you have to walk for an hour and repeat the process 3 times.
I was having small contractions when I got there but nothing earth stopping. I did my 8 hours and the nurse said "well we are going to send you home. You might have actually regressed since you got here but who knows... maybe it will help a little."
I knew from the sound of that that we would be waiting another week. Bleh.
So we picked up Bryson and headed home. One the way home I started to really feel contractions. (I didn't have too many strong contractions with Bryson because by the time they kicked in after like 20 hours of induction, I got the epidural to help me rest.)
I told Jeremiah but he didn't seem too concerned simply because we had JUST left the hospital where they told me I had seemingly "regressed."
We picked up dinner and got home. I was in some intense pain at this point. Every 5-6 minutes. STABBING pain. Holy cow I had never felt this type of intensity in all my life.
I thought, surely this can't be it because I was just at the hospital. I decided to time them for the next hour and I don't even know how I made it through that hour. They got closer together and more intense.
Poor Bryson just stared at me in concern while I was laying on the ground, rocking on the ball and crying my eyes out. My mom was in an important meeting and I was just trying to hold on for another couple hours. Finally a few minutes later and a few strong contractions later I called my mom and said "I'm so sorry but you have to come get Bryson because we have to go, NOW!"
Got to the hospital, Jeremiah dropped me off as I had to stop halfway to triage and hold onto the wall and scream! I got to triage and they were all a little too calm for the volume I was screaming. They brought me to a room, Jeremiah met me and I waited for an hour to be seen. I know they could all hear me, the whole hospital probably could hear me!
Finally a nurse came in, asking me a million questions in between my agony. She checked me and I was at 5cm! I had never progressed with Bryson so this was exciting yet scary! He was coming and fast!
The anesthesiologist greeted me in my delivery room and I was never so happy to see someone! He was so confident and reassuring. Well once it was in, only half my body was numb. I was feeling everything. He kept asking "is it just pressure or pain?" and in between screams I would assure him it was INTENSE pain. (I admire you mamas who can do this med free!! I am just not one of those mamas haha).
Finally he took out the epidural and redid and then HEAVEN! Relief! Rest!
The doctor came in a few hours later and said "ready to have a baby in about half an hour??" YES PLEASE! Called my sister (this is 3am mind you) and she rushed over. The doctor came in and 4 contractions later, Emerson Thomas Hann was born.
He was full of dark brown hair (the first question I asked!) and he was nice and chubby at 8lbs 9oz and 22 inches long! He was perfect! He was ours!
The rest is gravy. We had a "normal" hospital experience (my fear since Bryson spent almost a week in the NICU) and now we are home learning what being a family of 4 is all about!
I can't wait to share his milestones and growth over the next year! Thanks to all of the support, family and friends, meals and encouragement!
