This was the first baby that I did not want to have early. March 3rd was already pushing it to be considered "spring," so although I actually didn't want him to come on his due date (I didn't think he would actually want to share his birthday with his mom), I didn't want him to come until March. Having also had some awful experiences with Brent in the hospital on weekends, I also didn't want him to come on the weekend. March 3rd was a Wednesday, so I figured March 1st or 2nd would be perfect days to have my baby.
So when I started having lots of contractions throughout the morning of Feb. 26th, a Friday, I realized that this baby wasn't worried about his mom's perfect birth date. The contractions were so constant, although not too close together, that my mom took me to lunch because she thought any time now I would be heading to the hospital and I better get some food in me.
Well, the contractions slowed down alot through the afternoon, but they kept coming now and then. As night approached, I tried to get some sleep, but was very uncomfortable. Brent had taken the kids to bed and had fallen asleep in their beds. I wanted so badly to get some rest, but kept having contractions wake me up. Since I couldn't sleep, I decided maybe I better get some things ready to go to the hospital--just in case. I was still hoping I could put this off until at least March 1st. I kept trying to go to sleep, but I couldn't. And finally at around 12:00, I realized these contractions were not "practice" contractions, these were the real deal. I started timing my contractions and getting everything ready to go. I didn't want to wake Brent until I was sure we needed to go, and I wanted to try to labor at home for as long as I could. I woke him up at about 12:30, but I don't think he really realized what I had said. I kept getting stuff ready, and went back in a few minutes later and told him he needed to get up. I called my mom to have her come over to watch the kids, but already I knew we wouldn't have time to wait for her to get there, this baby was coming. We packed everything in the car and headed for the hospital just before 2:00 a.m. I called my sister, Kim, on the way to tell her I was in labor and ask her to come.
We got to the hospital quickly, but it seemed like forever. I couldn't believe how quick and intense my contractions were coming. I remembered that with Sarah the contractions had slowed a little on the way to the hospital when I was sitting compared to when I had been walking around at home. But this time was different. They were coming fast and were very intense and very long contractions. I was a little worried. I was hoping I could try to have a natural birth. After my experience with Sarah when the epidural didn't work, I realized it was actually quite cool to see how my body worked to get the baby out. It was painful, but I also recovered much much better and more quickly. I actually really liked the experience and was hoping to be able to do it again.
But by the time I got to the labor & delivery desk, I could hardly talk. When I would have a contraction, I would have to stop talking or walking to get through it. The nurses seemed very surprised at how long I would stop. I told them I was hoping to try for a natural birth, but that I was going to feel it out. They thought I should try for it too, but it wasn't long after getting into my hospital gown that I realized my contractions were way too intense, long, and coming one after another. The nurses were even calling them "monster contractions," since they could see them on the monitor.
Kim got there just before 3:00 a.m. and about that time I asked for the epidural. I asked the doctor if there was any way to control how much numbness I got--if I could get just enough to take the edge off the pain, but still be able to feel to push. He said unfortunately it really couldn't be adjusted that way. He said the amount he was giving me should last for about 1 1/2 hours and then he would give me more if my labor lasted longer. The way things were going, however, we were taking bets as to whether I would have the baby before 4 a.m. or 4:30.
Well, the contractions kept coming--still long and intense, but luckily I couldn't really feel them. The baby wasn't coming down though. As they examined me, it seemed the baby's head wasn't facing the right way, it was turned to the side, and they thought that might be slowing the progression down the birth canal. For some reason, despite the epidural, I couldn't really relax or get too comfortable. Thank goodness Kim was there with me to calm me down and talk with me.
An hour and a half passed by and I didn't ask for any more epidural medicine. I was actually happy when I began to feel the contractions again and began to feel my legs and be able to move them. By this time, the baby was coming down, so I knew he would be coming soon and maybe the medicine would have worn off enough that I would get the experience I had wanted after all.
Actually, it was perfect. Ted was born at 6:32 a.m. The epidural had worn off just enough that I felt everything--I could move my legs and body, I could feel to push, but I didn't have pain. It was awesome. When they lifted him up and I saw him for the first time, I just cried. He was so beautiful and perfect. Knowing this would likely be my last time giving birth, I cherished having that new little body placed on my chest, holding my tiny newborn, being the very first person to hold him close and love him.
This time in the hospital was a different experience. With all the others, we had quite a few visitors and our kids had been able to come visit. This time, because they were worried about the spread of the H1N1/Swine flu, no kids were allowed to visit, which meant that my mom, who was watching them for us, also wasn't able to come. We spent our two days in the hospital, just me, Brent and the baby. I was sad that our kids, who were so anxious to see their new little brother (especially Ashley), couldn't come see him and be a part of his birth. But it actually was also quite nice to have some time to enjoy our little guy by ourselves for a couple days. The hospital wasn't busy at all, so everything was quiet and calm and I just enjoyed getting to know my little Ted and taking care of him those first two days.
Another thing that was different was that my tail bone broke during Ted's birth. Thank goodness I did end up having that epidural, because if the pain of breaking it was anything compared to the pain after, I am very glad I didn't feel it break. I remember trying to sit in my hospital bed to feed him and I couldn't--the pain was awful. I asked the nurse how long it would take to heal, expecting her response to be one or two days. I was shocked when she said a few weeks! I couldn't imagine having this pain for a few weeks! Little did I know that it would be at least a couple months and today as I write this, I still can't sit comfortably in my rocking chair to nurse and it is still very tender to the touch. That was really the only bad thing about Ted's birth though, so considering all that can happen, I feel lucky.
We brought him home on March 1st. It was a beautiful sunny spring day. My mom brought the kids home from her house shortly after we arrived. They were so excited to see Ted. They each wanted to hold him and play with him. It was so fun to watch them with their new little brother. I remember how sweet it was when we brought Sarah home to Ty and Ashley and it was so sweet to see each of their reactions now to Ted. Sarah instantly took on her new role as "big sister." It's kind of amazing to see that happen.
