Once I got into bed, the nurse checked me to see where I was and also checked to make sure that my water did break. I was dilated to a 1 at that check, and she confirmed that my water broke and told me to be prepared for a long night...and long day the next day. They also asked me if I planned on using pain relief, I told them that I was undecided. I didn't want to rule anything out.
Doug & I called our parents to let them know that we were staying. About an hour later, around 10 p.m. they all got to the hospital and sat with us in the birthing room. I was having contractions, but nothing intense, yet. At around 11 p.m., the nurse asked our parents to go to the waiting room so I could get some rest. I was too excited to sleep! But, I tried. Around midnight, my contractions really started to kick in and get intense.
My mom and Deb came back in the room around then to sit with us. My dad and Paul had gone home for the night, and planned to come back the next morning. I'm not sure how to explain the pain that a contraction causes, but to me it felt like really intense menstrual cramps. I know from my experience with my monthly 'friend' that that pain would cause me to get sick. And it did. I got sick, I think, a couple of times that night.
Sometime around 1 a.m. the nurse came back in to check me. I believe I was only at 2 cm at that check. Things weren't moving too fast at this point. From all the pain I was in, it seemed that I should have been farther along than that. I tried to get some rest, but that just wasn't going to happen. The nurse kept asking me if I wanted her to have our mom's leave the room, but I didn't. I was and am so thankful that they were both in there while I was laboring. Deb was great at talking to me to distract me, and I don't know what I would have done without my mom in there to help comfort me! Doug was great as well to let me squeeze his hand! I wasn't ever grumpy with anyone (at least, not that I remember). At one point I was annoyed because they would leave the blood pressure cuff on my arm and it was too loose, so it kept falling off. I would roll over to get on my hands and knees, and the stupid thing was getting in the way, so I kinda threw it off of me. But, that wasn't anger toward anyone in the room :)
I knew from our tour of the hospital that the birthing rooms had jacuzzi's in them, so I asked the nurse if I could take a bath. She said that since my water had broken, she would have to ask the Dr. A lot of times they won't let you because they are afraid of you getting an infection. Well, good news, the nurse came back in and said that Dr. Fogarty gave me the okay to get in the jacuzzi. The nurse got everything ready, and at around 3:45 a.m. I got in to try to relax.
I could stay in for an hour, and I'm pretty sure I did. It was so relaxing, and it really helped! My contractions weren't as intense, and I actually could talk, so it was nice to have some time with Doug. After I got out, the contractions got pretty bad again, and I had to stay in the bathroom through a couple of them because I couldn't walk. Once I got back into bed, it was around 5 a.m. They checked me and I was at 4 cm. At this point, I'm pretty sure Doug couldn't handle seeing me in so much pain, because he kept asking the nurse about an epidural. The nurse asked me about it, and I said that I wasn't quite sure I wanted it. She told me that they could give me something through my IV that would help me to sleep, but it wasn't pain med, and it wouldn't take any of the pain away. So, I agreed to that. It made me feel a little loopy, and I don't really remember anything that went on during the next hour...I know they had a shift change. I did get about an hour of good sleep, and everyone else in the room was able to rest then, also.
When that wore off, I dealt with the ever intense contractions again. Probably a half hour later, I asked the new nurse if I could have another dose of the IV medication. She told me I could, but that it wouldn't be as effective this time, and reminded me that I would most likely be in labor most of that day. Well, I went ahead and took the med. Doug asked again about the epidural, and while I was out of it, they sent in the Anesthesiologist to talk to me. I really have no idea what he said while he was telling me about the epidural. I remember agreeing to get it, and then he had me sign some papers. My mom signed also, and I remember her telling him that it didn't look like my signature.
Probably around 7 - 7:30 a.m. is when I got the epidural. Doug stayed in the room with me while they did it. I have to say, one of the hardest thing's I've ever done is to hold still while having contractions while they stick a huge needle in my back. It was also hard to make the decision to have the epidural. I tried to use the hypnobirthing relaxation breathing and images, but the truth is, it didn't work for me. It was a great method for me while I was pregnant to help me relax, but when I went into labor it just didn't do it. And the truth is, I'm not superwoman. I needed the epidural to help me get through the rest of labor.
They checked me again as soon as they were done giving me the epidural. I still can't believe that they didn't check me before they gave me the meds. Well, to my surprise, and my nurses as well, I was at 9 cm! Oh my goodness - 5 cm in about 2.5 - 3 hours! Good thing they didn't check me before, because I wouldn't have been able to have the epidrual!!
Well, it was time to get things started...she told the Dr. that I was at a 9, and told me to be ready because very soon, I would be meeting my little boy!
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