It’s been two weeks since my baby was born, I figured it was time I posted my birth story.

On Wednesday, August 20, I went in for my 38 week appointment and was a good 3, almost 4 centimeters dilated. Thursday night I started getting contractions. They ranged in frequency anywhere from 5-20 minutes apart, but never stayed regular. The next day, they continued all day long. My family and friends were pressuring me to go get checked out. I kept hearing stories of women getting to the hospital and being told they were 7, 8, 9 centimeters and it freaked me out. I was definitely feeling contractions, but they weren’t horribly painful at all. Everyone says you should wait until they are too hard to talk through or are 5 minutes apart for an hour. This was not the case for me.

I was getting stressed that I would go into labor in the middle of the night and we would have to worry about Jax and what to do with him. I finally decided on Friday evening, August 22, that we should go to the hospital and see what was happening. It was a gut feeling. So, we collected our bags, brought Jax to my parents’ house and off we went. The outpatient entrance was empty and we were sent right up to triage. I was hooked up to the monitors and given an internal exam. I was 6 centimeters!!!! Woah - did not expect that as I was still not in any pain. My contractions were so irregular and I was not making progress. I was so afraid they were going to send me home. Turns out that I WISH they would have sent me home. The night sucked!

After a biophysical ultrasound, which my son almost failed, and several hours of being monitored and probed, they decided to admit me. They wanted to see how I’d progress over night. I asked if I could walk around and try to get things going, but I was hooked up to the monitors and an IV so they didn’t want me to move. At 4:30 a.m. I had finally had enough and basically demanded that they unleash me and let me WALK!!! DH and I walked around the halls. It did nothing.

At 7 a.m., I was still 6 cm and my contractions were still irregular and not painful. I was absolutely starving having not eaten since lunch the day before, I had a horrendous headache and was very very cranky. I wanted to get the show on the road already.  Finally at about 7:30 a.m., they administered pitocen. Even though I was not in pain yet, I knew that the pitocen would really kick things off so I asked for an epidural.

It was really strange to not feel any pain. My legs were extremely numb and heavy from the epi and it was very uncomfortable, but I think it was better than being in pain. It takes about an hour for the pit to start working and once it did, well, things moved QUICKLY. My water broke and I went from 6-10 centimeters in about 20 minutes. At this point, I could feel my contractions on my left side. They were extremely painful, but didn’t last very long so I was ok. I couldn’t believe how fast everything was happening. The doctor came in and I literally pushed through 3 or 4 contractions and my precious new son, Jett Ryan, was born at 10:40 a.m on Saturday, August 23!!! He weighed 7 lb 1 oz and was 20.4 inches long.

I literally could have a category of it’s own for the funny things my three year old son says and does. His latest…..

I was giving him a bath the other night and he grabs his bucket that I use to wash his hair and says “I’m gonna take a whiz in this bucket”….and proceeds to stand up in the tub and pee in the bucket. OMG!

Yay! We’re home!!!

What do you think of all that hair?!?!
And here’s just a cute sleepy face…

C and I had our new son last night. She posted about it here. If you haven’t hugged a mom lately you should, they are amazing people. The birthing process is so incredible as most of you know.

I went for my weekly check-up today at the OB and I’m definitely making progress. Last week I was a good 1-2 cm dilated and today I was a good 3-4 with a “very squishy/stretchy” cervix. Ewww! Don’t you just love the descriptions that OBs tend to use?! Anyway, she (my Dr) is expecting to not see me again for another appointment, saying that it’s going to be “days”. She went so far as to say it could be tonight. Hmph. We’ll see…….

She did tell me that if I haven’t had this guy by Tuesday, that I can just come to the hospital at 6-7 a.m. and they’ll admit me and keep me. Since I’m already pretty dilated, it won’t be an issue. I’m hoping it happens before then because I couldn’t even get an appointment to see her next week. I’m seeing the Midwife who works in the practice, which is fine, but it’s disappointing that I don’t have an appointment with her, if I am still pregnant!!

I actually have been having contractions all afternoon and they seem to be somewhat regular, but not close enough together to be actual labor just yet. I’ll keep you all posted….

My best friend just had her first baby (a girl named Scarlet) on 08-08-08. If you think the birth date is interesting…

When we first found out she was having a girl, we decided to “betroth” her with one of my sons. However, we didn’t know which one, considering they are exact opposites. Robbie – my older son with dark hair and eyes – is high maintenance and very particular. The typical first born. Andrew – the younger - is laid back and always laughing. He’s my little Rastafarian, only blonde haired and blue eyed. So we decided that the boys will have to win her. Yes, win her. Forget compatible personalities and complimenting looks; they’re going to duel. When of proper age, Scarlet will be hidden away in a cottage in an enchanted forest, and my baby boys – I mean, the MEN – will have to overcome obstacles to obtain her hand in marriage. Each will battle a magical creature (you know, a dragon, hippogriff, etc.), engage in a verbal warfare with a sarcastic elf, and upon triumphing, will be rewarded with clues. The first clue will lead them to a key that opens the cottage, and the second clue will lead them to an engagement ring. The first boy (forget it, I can’t refer to my toddlers as men yet) to successfully defeat each obstacle and rescue her from the cottage wins.

Having that said, I find it ironic to say that neither she nor I read many books about pregnancy or childbearing. Oh, we read books. Obviously. But they were generally about boy wizards that attend Hogwarts, or lions that rule in the land of Narnia. We of course read What To Expect When You’re Expecting, and another one I read was called On Becoming Baby Wise. I have heard both ends of the spectrum – that every child is different and therefore, parents can’t rely on books to train them, and I’ve heard that books better prepare us for parenthood. So I have two questions. 1.) What books did you read and would recommend for other parents to read? And 2.) How important do you believe it is to read books before having a baby?

I wasn’t going to do it. I’ve been so calm and almost nonchalant this entire pregnancy (minus all my complaints of discomfort, of course). For some reason and I’m sure I’m totally wrong, but I feel like I’m going to need it soon. I mean, granted I’m 37 weeks pregnant, technically full term and absolutely can go into labor at any time now. I’ve had a lot of energy the past two days. Ok this morning just started, but I woke up EARLY and am not tired at all. I am anxious to pack a bag. It could all just be wishful thinking, but then again, it could not be.

TMI alert: I’ve been waking up every morning the past 3 days with something that may or may not resemble the mucous plug. I know it doesn’t mean much, but it means I’m getting close, which I know I’m getting anyway because of the time. So, why not be prepared, right?

I don’t think I need much for my bag. I’m going to pack a few outfits for baby. Maybe a couple onesies, some socks, a hat or two, a blanket (although I’m slightly obsessed with the standard hospital ones), and a couple of “outfits”.

For me, I never even changed out of my gown last time except to put on the most hideous nursing nightie known to man. I will not do that again. I’m going to bring a couple of comfortable pants and shirts, a robe, socks and some nursing bras. I know I don’t need underwear. Those mesh ones they give you at the hospital are the best!

I’m pretty sure they have good wireless access so I’ll be bringing my laptop. Of course I also need my cell phone and charger, some hair bands, toiletries and this time I’m bringing a minor amount of makeup. I looked so scary in all the pictures last time…..I want to look semi-decent this time when people come visit me and take my picture.