Saturday, December 26, 2009

Due Date!!!

Crazy to think that today was my due date! We've been blessed to have Ben as a part of our family for 10 days now and I really can't imagine life without him. He is a very sweet baby and so laid back. He loves milk, snuggling, his big brother, and sleeping and he hates getting his clothes and diapers changed. He mostly sleeps, but when he is awake his eyes are so bright, shiny, and alert. He definitely started out looking like an old man baby(in a good way:o) but as he continues to fill out, he has lost most of that old man look already. Sometimes we affectionately call him Benjamin Button!
As for labor, here's my story...
I woke up around 4 on 12/16 feeling crampy. I changed position a couple of times and got up to go to the bathroom. Around 5, I decided to turn the light on to read and noticed the contractions were about every 6 min. About 5 min later, Owen woke up and came into our room to watch TV. He was particularly loud and wild and at about 5:30 I sent him and Mike into the living room so I could go back to sleep because I was supposed to work 12 hours that night. I did back asleep, but I got up at 7 and was still noticing crampy contractions. I decided to take the dog for a walk. Unfortunately for the dog, the windchill was -10. About a block or so into the walk I called my sister to see if she could possibly come over. The contractions were about every 2-3 min and still feeling crampy. I also called the doctor. My doctor wasn't on call, but the doctor who was said I could go to the hospital whenever I wanted. I walked for 25 min before I returned home with a frozen dachshund. The contractions were still frequent and continuing to get stronger, so I got in the shower and got all cleaned up and ready to go. My sister arrived and I eventually was able to get my hair into a ponytail. I think it took about 20 min because I kept having contractions. I was definitely getting more uncomfortable at this point which was starting to concern Owen. I had to bend over or squat down during the contractions, which my sister thought was hilarious. Mike was great. He sprang into action giving great counterpressure on my back and Owen tried to help, too. He kept asking me if my belly and back were okay. It was so sweet, but I was pretty sure it was time for us to go to the hospital or Emily to take him elsewhere, so they left for the library and I laid down for a little bit. I think this was probably around 9. When I was laying down, my contractions were about 7-8 min apart but more intense. At this point, I decided that I probably wasn't in labor. After I got back up, they came back to be about every 2 min again and so we decided it was time to go to the hospital. We left the house around 10. Between our house and labor and delivery I had about 10 contractions. We took Em's car because she had taken ours with Owen's carseat. I took some towels because I was so nervous my water would break in her nice car (it didn't, thank goodness!) We parked in the parking garage and walked down the long hallway and people kept coming by and offering me a wheelchair. Mike signed in and I went right to my room and changed. The doctor came in and checked me. I was 4-5 cm dilated and he said he didn't think my doctor would make it from their Glenview office because things seemed to be progressing quickly. I asked him to break my water and keep things moving. After he broke my water I was 7cm. I got in the tub for 10 or 15 min. I loved it when I was in labor with Owen, but truthfully this time I wasn't too impressed. Maybe it was just too late and nothing would have helped?! After a few contractions, I felt the urge to push and I really don't know how I was able to get out of the tub, but my nurse, Malkie, was great and she just told me that I had to. I did get out and I got into bed and had Ben after pushing for 4 contractions. We checked in at the hospital at 10:15 and he was born at 10:59.
No IV, no epidural, no nothing! I have to say that I always feel like this is the way to have a baby. And I didn't have to be induced! Not that there is anything wrong with that, but I was just hoping things would happen on their own (and I really didn't think they would, especially after my last check-up which you can read about in my post 12/15 if you missed it.) To be completely honest, I was really wishing I had the epidural for the last two contractions I had in the tub and then while I was pushing, too. Poor me! Sorry for being a whiner! Really, things couldn't have gone better. Every time I saw or heard about a nice labor and delivery for at least the last several months of my pregnancy, I would tell Ben that is how his labor and delivery should go, too! Apparently he was listening. A special thanks to baby Ben for having a small head and for coming 10 days early! I really didn't want to work that night! What an accommodating little boy!

1 comments:

The Trans said...

Congratulations Katie!! We are so happy for you. I read your post outloud so Baby T could start taking notes ;) Have safe travels to KC... and a great time at the wedding!