On July 17, 2008, at 4:03 a.m., Hayley Elizabeth May came into this world. She weighs 7 pounds , 12 ounces, and 20 inches long. She is the most beautiful precious baby and absolutely perfect. I couldn't be more pleased!
I have some downtime right now and wanted to share our experience of Hayley coming into this world.
No one ever told me that my water could break in a trickle. I expected it to be a big gush, like in the movies. So on Monday, when I started leaking a bit more than usual, I really didn't think anything of it except it was another sign of things getting closer. I told my mother and she said I should probably call the doctor the next day during office hours. Well, Tuesday came and I was busy and doing all kinds of things, like helping Dave hang the railing in the basement stairwell and all sorts of other little things, and completely forgot to call the doctor. I told my mom about 7 that night and she was a little quiet, then we hung up. About 20 minutes later Asha called me and said she heard what I had told my mom and that I should page my doctor immediately. She said it could be serious, and that my water could have broken. She said, "I'll bet she sends you to the hospital tonight." Well, what do you know, the doctor did such that and Dave and I found ourselves in the labor and delivery unit of Middlesex Hospital, thinking we were just getting checked out. They ran a test and yes, it confirmed that my membrane had ruptured and they were going to admit me. Well, in complete shock, Dave and I went into rush mode and he left me at the hospital with my mom to go get our bag and get ourselves ready. Well, they ran a second test and the results were inconclusive. Since I was only 1 cm dialated, they decided to send my home. Poor Dave, next thing he knew, mom and I were arriving at home right behind him. We all laughed thinking this was good practice for the real thing!
The next morning Dave and I went to the doctor's office to get checked out first thing. I had been having irregular contractions since 5 that morning. She ran a quick test and said she would be right back. She came back into the room in less then a minute and confirmed that indeed my membranes had ruptured and I was going to be admitted. She said I probably had a pinhole leak, and that's why it was so hard to identify. Well now I know...your water can break in just a trickle. Shocker! She sent us on our way and we went home and packed our things and got ready to go. Peter came and got the dogs and mom prepared to meet us at the hospital later in the afternoon.
We arrived at the hospital around 10:30 in the morning and just strolled right in so calmly. We look back and laugh now thinking we both expected this to be chaos, and instead we were so relaxed and calm and easy. Come to find out, this is how everything ended up going through the entire birth.
The nurse gave me a half of a pill to slowly induce my labor, and I started having regular contractions about 2 in the afternoon. They continued on pretty steady all day. Dave and I watched a movie and played cards. We just breathed through each one, and progressively they became more painful. More then anything, it hurt in my back. I had no idea how badly my lower back would hurt. I took a couple hot showers to ease the pain, but the most soothing thing of all was Dave rubbing my lower back. It was just so calming and soothing. He was so perfect through this whole thing. He always did what I asked and well, words can't even describe how perfect he was. He was so amazing. I get tearful now just thinking about how supportive my husband was throughout this whole thing.
At 10 o'clock, the doctor came in and checked me and said I was progressing well and was 4 1/2 cm dialated. She decided then would be a good time to break the rest of my water and then I would be able to get the epidural then too. Wow - holy shit! This hurts! I burst into tears and began bauling. I had been holding back tears for hours at that point, and it all broke loose for me. The contractions got so heavy and intense and closer together. I couldn't wait to get the epidural. It took about 45 minutes or so to get the anestesiologist in and do it, and that was the longest most painful time of my entire labor. I can't even describe the pain I felt. Dave just sat next to me holding my hand helping me breathe and get through each contraction, one by one. Once I got the epidural, things really calmed down and I was actually able to relax a bit and get through the contractions again. They felt like pressure more then pain.
At 1 a.m. the doctor came in and said I was 6 cm and not progressing as quickly as she wanted my to, so she decided to give me a very low dose of pitocin. Well this really got things moving and at about 2 o'clock, I was begging my mom to let me start pushing. She was begging the nurse, and the nurse started bustling around getting the room ready for delivery. A more senior nurse came in at about 2:30 and checked me and said oh yes, I was ready to go, and I could push when I was ready.
I pushed for about an hour and a half, and at 4:03 a.m., out came Hayley, with a full head of black hair, like I had predicted, and crying her little head off. Dave cut her imbilical cord and they put her on my chest. I just held her and cried. I could not believe it was over, 9 months and here she is, alive and in person, a human that we created. I pure dose of perfection.
Well, that's the story! I know it was long, and I think i probably even left some details out, but as I reflex back to every moment of the day, this is the best I can describe it.
Some other comments:
- Dave was so amazing. He was so present and aware of everything and supprtive. I could not have asked for a better supprt person to be there caring for me. He helped me push and count and held my head. I just remember looking up at him into his eyes and he would say, 9 months we have been waiting for this moment, and we only have 12 hours left, we only have 2 hours left, we only have 1 hour left. You can do this.
- My mom was an awesome leg holder. I am so glad she was there with us.
- Hayley latched on about 10 minutes after she was born, and breast feeding has been a cinch since then. Everyone said breastfeeding was so hard, and it's been so easy for us. We are so lucky.
Coming home from the hospital has been such a relief. The first night in the hospital was so hard, but after that everything went very smoothly. We heard such stories of how hard things were when you get home. For us, coming home was a relief, and we are so happy to be a family. The dogs love her and sniff at her all the time. Our little happy family is even happier now.
I honestly feel like my life could not get better then this.
