[swt1899]

Our son arrived April 8, 2008 at 11:09pm.
Here's his story... Sorry if I ramble... going on 3 hours of sleep and pure adrenaline!

Sunday we went to the hospital and were sent home because I wasn't dilated enough. I was only 4cm. Tuesday my contractions were getting to be 5 minutes apart so we went ahead and went to the hospital. I hadn't made any head way with dilation so they had me walk around the hospital for an hour. I was getting a bit depressed because I really was afraid of being sent home again.
Well, after being checked and making some progress I was admited. I was taken into the labor and delivery room and was being monitored. Well, after a while my water hadn't broken so my Dr went ahead an broke it for me at 5:30pm. He had to try two different times with two different instruments. He said I had tough membranes. Then the contractions REALLY got going... and man they were getting intense and painful. They ordered Pitocin for me, but didn't turn it on just yet. They wanted to see if my contractions would get into more of a pattern. I got an epidural at around 7:30. That is some FINE medication! And it did not hurt to get it done. I don't know what some people find so scary and painful about it. What hurt about it was my contractions and me being put into a ball over my belly to get it done. But the procedure itself was not painful... and I know exactly what is done when you get one.... but that didn't matter to me. I was really hurting with the contractions! After I laid back down it was almost instant relief. The nurse watched me as another contraction came and told me I was having another... My response was "I am?" My legs were numb all the way down and it was weird because I had a lot of control over my legs, but couldn't feel them.
The Dr turned on the Pitocin... but on the lowest setting. Just to get my contractions going. And it worked. I started pushing around 9:00 and then began to feel a lot of pressure building up as the baby was moving downward. (We had been watching Forrest Gump on TV and that's how I kinda kept time in my head and remember it! Then Patch Adams came on and then another movie... so I was pushing for a while)
My nurse was great. I loved her... very encouraging and patient. She helped me actually 'learn' how to push... you really have no idea how on your first child! After pushing for a while and Steven and the nurse holding my legs the nurse said that you could see the baby's head. Steven looked and told me that he had a lot of hair. Then he asked the nurse if I could touch. I did. It sounds gross, but it was an amazing feeling. Sorry but it was. I chose not to have a mirror... didn't need to see my self like that. With in minutes the Dr came in and checked me and he started suiting up for delivery. I won't lie... the epidural doesn't eliminate all the pain. The part that hurt was the pressure of him crowning. It was painful, but the pressure served as an urge that I needed to push with each contraction. So it felt natural to push... and the only way I was going to get past it was to push.
Finally after pushing for nearly 2 hours, and getting really tired, the baby's head came out and Steven said that his right hand was also coming out. It was against his cheek. They after the shoulders passed, he came right out. The Dr suctioned his nose and mouth and then put him on my belly. Robert cried immediately and I got to touch him and say hello. And I cried. Steven got a bit teary eyed looking at me. The nurses then took him to get assessed and he scored an 8.9 on his APGAR (highest is 10). Steven took many pictures, which I will post soon. Robert weighed in at 7lbs 12oz and is 20.5in long.
I got to breastfeed Robert right after, which is a good thing because it helps the uterus begin to shrink back down and stop bleeding. And he knew how to latch on which was great! Many don't. After about 30 minutes Steven went to tell my parents, who were in the waiting room, the news. They came in and got to meet their new grandson. Very exciting.
We had to spend the night in the labor and delivery room because there weren't any post partum rooms available, but by the time my parents had left and Robert had been taken to get tests done it was around 1am and I didn't care where I was sleeping. I was also VERY hungry. I hadn't had anything to eat since lunch that day. I got to have a snack and water. Then got to try and sleep. Robert roomed in with us as we requested. But every move or noise he made woke me up and I got up to see about him. The next morning around 7am we got to order breakfast (which was VERY good at this hospital) and Robert went in for his hearing test and scored great on it.
That afternoon we were able to go to a postpartum room and get more comfy. I also got to take a bath in the jacuzzi tub they had. It was nice to get clean! I also walked around to get my body back in gear... well somewhat. My mom came to visit along with Allison and then our neighbors.
The next day, April 10 th we were discharged right before lunch to go home. We were so ready to get home.
Our first night at home was rough, but it was mostly me worrying.
We have Robert's first pediatrician appointment Monday at 9:30am. He'll get his first check up.
Life has changed for us forever, but we are enjoying our little guy. He's adorable. I love his big yawns, his cute noises, the way he stretches and curls up, his little feet, and so much more. We are trying to see who he looks like more.
For the rest of our lives we will be his parents. We are totally head over heals in love with our Robert.