Here's the story:
I went in for my weekly appointment with my doctor at 37 weeks, 6 days. It was another normal appointment for me. I hadn't really been feeling any contractions (which was weird because I had been getting them for months). The doctor checked me and was a little startled. He asked, "Have you been having any contractions today?" When I replied, "No," he hooked me up to a monitor and told me at was dilated to 4.5 centimeters and 75% effaced! That kind of put me in a surreal state-of-mind. I was supposed to have 2 weeks still!
I was monitored for about 30 minutes. Sure enough, I was having contractions and the baby was handling them really well, however I couldn't feel the contractions one bit! As I left the office, the doctor told me to stay nearby, as he would probably see me again soon. YIKES!
I called Paul right away and told him what was happening. He asked, "What does 4.5 centimeters mean?" I explained that, at 10, you're ready to push. That put things into perspective for him. I got off the phone and ran a few errands in town (while I still had time) and went home to wait.
Paul was working in Twin Falls that day which is about 3 hours away from Rexburg. We were both so nervous that I would go into labor that day and he would miss the whole thing. When I got home from running errands, I started getting contractions and thought that this was it---the baby is coming! I called Paul and told him he needed to come home. He started the long drive but didn't get home until about 5:30. That whole day waiting for him was just horrible. I was so nervous and anxious! The second he walked through the door though, I calmed down and the contractions stopped.
On Sunday morning, I went into labor. The contractions came all of a sudden and were so painful that I knew this was it! We raced to the hospital and, after what seemed like FOREVER, were admitted at about noon. The next couple of hours were painful. I had asked for an epidural as soon as possible, but due to an anesthetic emergency in the E.R., I would have to wait a few hours. My doctor gave me an I.V. drug to take the edge off of my contractions. I could still feel them (especially in my back), but they were manageable. Paul thought I was HILARIOUS on the drug. He said that I kept giggling and talking really softly. At one point, I said to him, "Am I talking really loud? I feel like I'm talking really loud!" Apparently, I was pretty much whispering. He just laughed at me!
Finally at 5pm (that's right, I had to wait for FIVE hours), the anesthesiologist came in. I was SOOO grateful when he walked into the room. My new best friend, Jared! Ha ha. Paul sat with me on my hospital bed as Jared administered the drug. Soon I felt sooo much better.
At about 8pm I was at 7 cm and the doctor started pushing Pitocin. Some time later that night, the doctor broke my water and about 30 minutes later, I was at about 9.5 cm. We were so close! At this point, the nurse started teaching me how to push and was shocked by how fast I learned. After 9 pushes, she called the doctor to come in and deliver the baby.
One problem...the doctor had been called to an emergency in the E.R. Have I ever mentioned that I now HATE the E.R.? He could not come and deliver me. The nurse had me "labor down" which means lie in bed and let the contractions come, but don't push. yeah...DON'T PUSH! Even though I had an epidural, the pain was excruciating! Hayden wanted to come and there was so much pressure that, after 45 minutes, I couldn't take it. I started crying because I was so frustrated! I didn't care who delivered Hayden...but I wanted him out! The nurse was so angry with my doctor. She called him and had him in my room within 2 minutes. The second I saw him walk in the door, I started pushing. He was still putting on a new gown. He rushed over and, within 1 minute of him coming to my room, Hayden was born. So crazy!
The nurse put Hayden on my chest and I just didn't understand that he was now mine! It was so strange to have a new baby. I kind of patted his head and looked at him and then let the nurse take him to clean him off. Awkward first meeting! Paul got to cut Hayden's umbilical cord (which he thought was awesome and weird). Hayden ended up weighing 8lbs 5oz, and measuring 21in long. How crazy is that?!? I'm so glad that he came early!
I think we were both in shock that I had actually given birth and that we now have a son. The whole experience was hard, amazing, shocking....the best word I can come up with is that it was traumatizing. Good trauma and bad! Once the dust settled a little bit, we realized that having Hayden in our lives makes everything complete. We just can't wait for him to start growing a personality and turning into the man that he will someday be.
A few hospital pictures:
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| Me holding Hayden in the Mother and Baby Unit at the Hospital. |
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| My cute lil boy! The nurse had taken him for his first PKU test and apparently he got upset and spit up on his hat. So the nurse gave him this one---it was BRIGHT yellow (as you can see), and so big that it wouldn't stay on his head. |
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| Lesley came to the hospital to visit us. She stayed for a couple of hours while Paul ran errands in town. He also drove down to Pocatello (about an hour drive) to pick up our new couches and ottoman! (I swear, babies prompt such expensive spending! We bought a second car, house, washer and dryer, and couches and an ottoman to prepare for Hayden coming!) |
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| Paul was sooo excited to hold Hayden. He called his family right away to tell them the good news! |
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| Grandma Sutton (Paul's Grandma) came to visit Hayden. |
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| Can you just see Paul's excitement?!? |
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| Apparently Hayden was really comfortable in that position! |
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| This is my FAVORITE picture of Hayden in the hospital. He HATED to be undressed or have his diaper changed, but my sister Deena called and wanted to hear him cry. I undressed Hayden and Lesley snapped this picture! |
