We arrived at the hospital (for the scheduled inducement) at 5:30AM. We were shown to our room around 6:15 and saw Dr. Cowan close to 7:00. He came in, broke my water and told us he'd be back to check later. (One of the neat things about where we are, is Dr. Cowan's office is one floor down from us). Brian and I were both expecting the labor pains to start slowly and increase in both intensity and frequency.
Oh Boy were we wrong!
After my water broke the contractions came immediately and they were awful. I waited for about 30 minutes before requesting the epidural (and received it about an hour later). I wasn't a fan of the needle in my back (it didn't hurt, but was VERY uncomfortable); however, I WAS a fan of the results...epidurals rock!
At around noon, the nurse, Carrie, checked and said I was dilated to a 5 1/2. She had told us earlier that her other patient was a woman who was having her 3rd baby and would probably deliver before I did so we may have some one else with us during delivery. Brian, his mom, my mom and I were all excited about how far I had progressed. Both moms left to get lunch and Brian and I had a few minutes alone. We were both too over-stimulated to realize they were our last :o) About this time, I started to have a lot of pain in my left side with each contraction and the pain started to move around to my pelvis. The anaesthesiologist was called back and he dosed me with an epidural so strong I couldn't move my legs. Carrie gave me a pillow to put under my knees to make me more comfortable, but the pain mostly subsided.
At 1:00, Carrie came in to change the linens and noticed the pillow was soaked with blood. She said it was referred to as "bloody show" and wanted to re-check my cervix. An hour earlier I had been at 5 1/2, but she pronounced me at a 10 and ready to push.
Brian flipped out!!!
So, Carrie got us ready and we started. We had some Christian music playing softly in the background, and in between pushes, we were all talking and laughing, telling stories. It was very relaxed and easy. Brian and I kept looking at each other asking, "isn't it supposed to be harder than this?" After about 35-40 minutes Dr. Cowan was called in and after 3 more pushes, at 2:09 PM, Maddie came into the world! It took about 50 minutes of pushing total. (AND we beat the mother of 3 down the hall...not that it was a competition or anything) :o) She weighed 6 lbs 15 oz and was 19 1/2 inches long with lots of black hair and beautiful dark blue eyes.
I love these pictures. It was so special to be there with you.
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