It is a day that I will never forget.
It all started the night before.. I was having contractions that were consistently 10 minutes apart all night long. I kept squeezing Layne's hand every time it happened. My Doctor told me not to go to the hospital until they were 3-5 minutes apart. It was a very long night. Not only because the contractions were not coming in shorter intervals, but because just the week before, at my Dr. appointment, she told me that I was for sure not going to have an early delivery... So while I was laying in bed cramping up every 10 minutes I was thinking "I cannot handle this for 2 more weeks" The next morning finally arrived and I did not have contractions all morning until 1:00pm.
They were still 10 minutes apart. I had a Dr. appointment later that day at 2:20, so I figured I could just ask her what was going on. From 1:00-2:00 my contractions had gone down to 8 minutes apart. I drove myself to my Dr. appointment and I'm sure I had people looking in my window wondering what bad food I ate that was making me look like I had to poo. It was snowing a little, traffic was slow, and I was in a hurry!
I'm known to be late everywhere we go.. so I'm usually late to my Dr. appointments, which means I am in the waiting room 30 more minutes than I should be. I can't complain though because it's my fault.. but I did not want this to happen today! I needed to know if baby was coming, or if this was normal and I had to live with these contractions for two more weeks.
I was hoping that she would tell me the baby was coming, but at the same time that terrified me. The only thing I had been worried about the whole pregnancy was delivery day. I have never been terrified to be a mom.. I have always been terrified of pain. I arrived at my appointment just at the right time. I only had to wait 5 minutes in the waiting room. The Doctor came in and she could tell I had a worried look on my face.
No small talk, we just got down to business. She checked to see how far I was dilated and then she had a worried look on her face and said she'd be right back. She came back in with an ultrasound cart and said she thinks the baby's feet are down, not the head.. I SOOO did not want a c-section. I prayed and prayed that this was a mistake.. sure enough it was false.
She said that the baby's head is down, but it's sideways. My doctor thought that what she felt was a baby's bottom, but really it was just her cheek :) whew! We went on with the appointment and my Doctor said "If I don't see you tonight, I'll for sure see you by the end of this week." I couldn't believe it! I didn't want to get my hopes up that I could have a baby by the end of the night, but now it was exciting, now it was real, could I really be a mother tonight?
So much was rushing through my head. I called Layne and told him the news. He was SO happy! he still had a few things to do at the office, but he said to call him if my contractions were 3-5 minutes apart. I drove home and NOTHING was happening. I had no contractions on the 25 minute drive home. I was starting to think it wasn't going to happen. I got everyone excited for nothing.
I got home and I felt one.. 10 minutes later another one.. then 8 minutes.. then 10.. then consistently 8 minutes for awhile.. then 5. I was freaking out!!! I called my mom and told her to come help me pack my bag. In her head she was thinking this was probably false labor. She had been at jury duty all day and so she didn't know anything that happened at my Dr. appointment earlier that day.
She said she had a few things to do at home, and then she'd be right over. 5 minute contractions turned back into 8 and then 10. This was so frustrating!! Finally my contractions were consistently 5 minutes apart for an hour. My mom and sister came over, helped me pack my bags, rubbed my back during contractions, and cleaned the kitchen for me.
I hadn't been outside since my Dr. appointment, so I had NO idea that it was snowing a ton outside. I called Layne and told him he needed to hurry home. I was not going to the hospital without him. I waited for him.. contractions turned into 3 minutes apart and then 2 minutes. Layne was 2 minutes from our house and I was going to wait for him. He finally got home and we rushed to the hospital.
WOW it was snowing so much. I couldn't remember a time that I had seen so much snow in Boise before. Layne was so sweet during the drive. He was so excited. He kept telling me to soak everything in. He wanted me to remember everything. I could only think of 3 things.. 1)I hate chinden road.. it lasts forever!! but this night it especially lasted forever. 2)Wow I'm going to be a mother tonight, hopefully tonight. 3)How did I get so lucky to have an amazing, caring, gentle husband. Layne is so sweet, but please stop rubbing my leg!!
My contractions had gone down to 1 MINUTE apart. I hoped that Layne did not have to deliver this baby in our car. Layne is usually a fast driver. He likes to find short cuts and safely cut in front of cars just so he can get to his destination quicker, it's like a game to him.. he picked the wrong night to drive smooth and steady and slow. I guess the snow kind of played a huge factor in that, but still, this drive seemed endless.
If someone has a blinker on towards the hospital and it looks like they're in a hurry.. you should let them go!! car after car kept driving by.. we couldn't pull into the darn hospital for what seemed like far too long. I was tempted to get out and waddle to the front door.. that would have been a bad idea, but most temptations are.
we pulled in, left the car for valet parking, Layne got me a wheel chair and we were off. Layne was pushing me so fast that I don't think he realized the revolving doors were actually revolving.. My wheel chair wheel almost got clipped. Of course I couldn't talk in between contractions, so I just went with it.
The guy at the front desk was a real treat.. he was on the phone, looked like he was having a casual conversation with his grandma, he looked at me and then back at the spot on the wall he was previously staring at.. WOW come on. I knew I for sure did not look calm, I don't normally breathe hard and hold my stomach. Some guy saw that we were wanting some help and told us where to go. (thank you guy)
We found registration.. signed papers.. and went into the room where they check contractions, dilation, baby's heart beat, blood pressure.. all that stuff. I finally was able to calm down, talk to Layne, watch the severity of my contractions on the graph. Layne loved being able to watch the contractions and feel my hand squeezing his at the same time. He would tell me when a big one was coming.. I quickly told him "please don't do that."
When all the check up stuff was done we went into the delivery room. I could not believe I was finally in the delivery room. 9 months seemed so long at times, but the moment I sat on the delivery bed it was like 9 months flew by.
I was so excited to get the epidural.. these contractions were killing me. Epidural man came in.. did his stuff and left. Layne was amazed at the size of the needle. Glad I didn't see it. Layne helped me get through contractions until the epidural kicked in.
The epidural definitely helped ease the pain of the contractions, but I was worried because I could still feel my legs (they weren't even a little bit numb) I could still feel some of the contractions. Were all these women that told me epidurals were amazing lying to me? I was nervous.
A little bit of time went by and I felt like I needed to push! seriously push! my nurse told me to have a few trial pushes. She didn't think that the baby was coming anytime soon.. I could see the look on her face change.
Baby was coming, but my Dr. was still either in another delivery room, or stuck in the snow. I don't remember. My nurse kept paging my dr to come quick. Not only could I feel everything, but my Dr. was not in the room. I was worried no one was going to be able to catch my baby. ok, I was being dramatic.
I knew I needed to stay focused, I needed to have a goal. I looked at the clock. It was 9:50pm. I was born at 10:10 pm, so that was my goal for this baby. How cool would it be if we were both born at 10:10pm. I stayed focused, but only with the help of Layne. I was so amazed at how much easier he made things. He was so amazing.
There were a few times when I wanted to give up, but I couldn't. I was in this for good now. My focal point was a light on the ceiling, which was probably not the best idea, but it was working.. On my last push I couldn't believe the instant gratification of hearing baby's first cry. It was a miracle. She was so beautiful. simply beautiful. I stopped to realize how truly peaceful this night became. The snow was perfect, my baby was perfect and healthy, she seemed to be so aware of her surroundings. The moment she looked at me and stopped crying was the perfect remedy to a long, hectic, stressful, painful, scary, emotional day.
at 10:10 pm my world changed forever!!
Nora Noel, you have a mom and dad that will forever show you their love. You have Grandparents that will cherish you and your every accomplishment. You have aunts and uncles that will teach you things that maybe they shouldn't, but that's what aunts and uncles are for. You have cousins that will stick up for you, stand by you, and be your friend forever. Nora, you have truly blessed all of our lives!! I'm so glad you are finally here. My heart is feeling a happiness that I never knew was possible.
