A Labor of Love

This is how I spent the day before Cayden's arrival:

I spent all of Thursday, June 4th with my parents. We went to eat lunch at Souper Salad. We then went to the mall for a little while (I got a new pair of flip-flops out of the trip). We then went to Wal-Mart to get groceries for the evening and do a little more walking.

After our Wal-Mart trip I came home and laid on the floor with my body pillow--my favorite activity in recent weeks. I started having contractions. I thought to myself, "is this it? Could this really be happening."

Alas, much to my diapointment my contractions stopped. Chad came home from work, we ate dinner and went on yet another walk. After the walk I took a shower. The contractions started again. This time they were closer together and more painful than before.

About 8:00pm we decided it was time to go to the hospital. We packed all of our bags in the car and away we went. We got to the hospital about 8:30 and I was checked into triage. I was asked numerous questions and was put on a couple of different monitors. One monitored the contractions the other monitored Cayden's heart beat. I was examed and I was about 4.5 centimeters dilated. I was instructed to walk and get re-examined 45 minutes later.

It must have been quiet a sight...seeing me (in a hospital gown), Chad and my mom and dad walking up and down the hospital halls. Each contraction was growing stronger and stronger; I couldn't even walk through some of them.

Our 45 minute walk was over and I went back to my triage room. The contractions were now 3 minutes apart and were each about 1 minute long. I was re-examined and had dilated another half centimeter. The nurse called the doctor on duty and asked if I should be admitted.

Much to everyone's surprise the doctor on duty sent me home! I couldn't believe it. None of us could believe it. I was completely frusted. The doctor on duty never even came to see me. I was given a sheet explaning when true and active labor has begun and I was experiencing everything on the sheet! I was frustrated because I didn't know when I should come back.

Feeling completely defeated we headed back home. The drive home was nearly 30 minutes. It was a long and painful drive. Once we got back to the house I was in dire and desperate pain. The contractions were so painful and so long and so frequent. I didn't know what to do.

We only stayed at the house for an hour and Chad took charge and said that it was time to get back to the hospital. We drove (once again) the 30 minutes to the hosptial and re-checked into triage. I was re-hooked up to the monitors and re-examined. I was up to 6 centimeters. The contractions were 30 seconds apart and lasting two minutes long.

This time I was actually admitted into labor and delievery. Chad and I got to the room and the anastegologist was called to administer my epiduarl; which did not come a moment too soon. I was losing my mental focus. I couldn't stand the pain. After the epidural was adminstered I felt immediate relief and had already dilated to 7.5 centimeters.

Progression slowed after the epidural was administered. Luckily I was able to get some rest. I had a long job ahead of me.

About 7:30am I was fully dilated. However, my water hadn't broken. The doctor manually broke my water and we waited about an hour to see if baby Cayden would make his way further down the birthing canal. Around 9am the nurse checked and Cayden had successfully made his way down the entire birthing canal. Now it was time to push.

Chad and my mom were my pushing coaches. They did a wonderful job. I pushed for about 30 minutes and then I had a son. It was the most amazing experience of my entire life. I still can't believe it. Everything with the delievery went perfect. Cayden was born beautiful and healthy and we couldn't be happier to have him.

So, that is it in a very small nut sheel. I still have so much to talk about. I can't wait to share it all.