January 10, 2023
While our journey to get pregnant wasn’t at all what we expected or planned for, I truly could not have asked for a more perfect pregnancy or birth. The waiting only made me more thankful for those nine months I got to carry our baby boy. Just the thought of pregnancy and birth had once terrified me, but I would do it all again in a heartbeat.
On January 10, I woke up to what felt like two rubber bands snapping in my stomach. I immediately went to the bathroom and on the way, muttered to Chad, who was very much asleep, that I thought my water may have broken. I tried to get back in bed, not really knowing what to do or if that’s what had happened, only to have to go right back to the bathroom. I remember telling Chad, "I’m not peeing." So we started calling our OB. The automated message said something about if you were 38 weeks and your water breaks to go to the hospital. I told Chad I wanted a shower before we went anywhere!
Chad’s timeline of the day:
5:15 AM Feels like a rubber band snapped and a gushing feeling. Ran to the bathroom.
5:55 AM We both showered before leaving. Emily said she was really hungry and wanted a bar to eat on the way. I’m running around getting stuff packed into the car (and creating this timeline). Emily is currently blow-drying her hair upstairs, and I’m waiting downstairs. I don’t want to rush her, but uhh…her water broke! She had me taking out the trash, and she was organizing the kitchen before we left.
Luckily, the hospital we were delivering at is only about 15 min from our house because apparently, when your water breaks, you don’t stop leaking until you give birth (or that’s at least what the nurses told me and what I experienced). We entered through the emergency entrance, and I was taken by wheelchair to a room to be checked.
7 AM Emily is 4cm, 80 effaced, and 0 position for the head or something. Her water did break. Things look great so far. Contractions are happening, but they aren’t causing pain. More just slight discomfort. Makes Emily feel like she needs to go to the bathroom. The nurses are finding us a room and will move us to it shortly. They are currently transitioning to the day shift nurses.
8:30 AM We are checked into our room and settled in. Emily was excited that we were able to order breakfast. We both ordered French toast. Her contractions are beginning to be more uncomfortable but not too painful yet. She wants to be able to close her rings on her watch. She’s doing amazing so far!
10 AM Dr. Tobin just checked Emily. She is 5cm, 100% effaced, and +1 station (head is really low). The contractions are a little more spaced out currently, about 5-8mins apart. Earlier, they were closer to 4 mins apart. The only difference is Emily is laying down on her side, trying to rest some.
1:15 PM Emily tried a warm bath. It was relaxing at first but it didn't really help with comfort during the contractions. After about 30-45 minutes, she got back in bed, and we tried nitrous oxide, but she was in a lot of discomfort, so I called the nurses in and asked them to start the epidural. It took the doctor a while to get the epidural in place because of her size and scoliosis, but he got it in, and it took effect pretty quickly, all the way to just above her belly. She is feeling much better now and is trying to rest. In 20 minutes, they will come to hook her up to a catheter.
Our labor and delivery class said a warm bath could provide similar relief to an epidural, but from my experience, you can’t even compare the two. I can’t really give any input on the nitrous oxide. I put the mask to my face once and was done. Nothing like covering your nose and mouth and trying to learn how to breathe while you’re in pain. Once I got the epidural, it was smooth sailing, except not being able to eat anything! Apple juice never tasted better!
3:30 PM Emily is cruising through contractions now with the epidural. Around 2 PM, they checked, and she was 5-6cm. Contractions are about 4 minutes apart, but Emily doesn’t even really know it. I went to the cafeteria around 2:30 PM to grab a sandwich and chips. Now we’re just in waiting mode to see when he will arrive! The last lady who checked how dilated she was said she could feel the baby’s hair. Haha, I guess we will see how much hair he has when we comes out!
4:10 PM The nurses came in and checked Emily. She was about 9.5cm. We were both about to fall asleep before they came in to check. They said at this point, they are really just waiting for it to get a little more dilated and for Emily to have constant pressure.
7 PM Started pushing at 5:19 PM. Still pushing.
The day shift nurses were with me when I started pushing, and I was so sad when I was told they were leaving and the night shift was coming in. But, it turns out, the night shift nurses were just who I needed to get me to the end. They pushed me a little harder to give my all. When the doctor came in, she said, “Let’s have this baby before 8!” Chad counted for me while I pushed, which he sarcastically says is the job they give the dads to make them feel like they’re doing something useful, and he cut the cord when it was time.
7:54 PM baby was born! 6lbs exactly. Baby and mom are doing great. Emily is just very tired from the pushing.
Labor was not at all what I had imagined. There was much more downtime during active labor, between contractions, and zero pain thanks to an extremely effective epidural. (I was a little put off by the cockiness of the anesthesiologist when he came in to have us sign the paperwork just in case I wanted an epidural later. But according to him, he would see us again for the epidural. I wish I could have proven him wrong, but I can’t hold a grudge because he nailed my epidural.) It worked so well I couldn’t feel the contractions and had to be told when to push. And all the nurses who took care of us were so kind! Dana and Brenda will forever be two of my favorite nurses! The hardest part of all of this (besides having to watch our baby’s feet get pricked over and over again for glucose tests) was probably deciding on his name. We were between Cade and Walker. The morning we left the hospital, we finally decided on Cade Stevens Patterson.
Cade’s life has truly been covered in prayer since before he was born. And looking back, the waiting was hard but filled with sweet memories of Chad and I growing closer and growing in our faith. Learning what it means to trust God, be patient for his timing, and know that whatever the outcome, our God is bigger than anything we go through in this life. We wouldn’t change God's plan and timing for this little one! We went from planning to have kids after a year to trying at three and getting pregnant at eight. Cade was every bit worth the wait!
Commentaires