Hello friends and family!
I wasn't sure how this blog would evolve once our wee man was here - but I've decided to try and keep it up as best I can (with a newborn and all ;) While Maxwell was born two weeks ago (holy moly time is already flying)...I think I'm ready to tell his birth story. As I learned throughout my pregnancy - things don't always go as planned and Max's birth is another example of life teaching me to go with the flow...
After our 41 week appointment and the non-stress test - we were pretty sure that our little guy wasn't going to arrive on his own - so, we were ready for the induction on Wednesday May 8. It's so crazy to go to bed one night as a family of two and wake up the next morning knowing your life is going to change in such a crazy way. The morning of May 8 - we set our alarms, showered, packed all the bags in the car, and I ate my "last meal". Once they start the pitocin at the hospital - you can't have anything to eat...so I cooked up some eggs and toast for breakfast. We drove to Riverside Hospital in semi-silence...each thinking about the day ahead of us I'm sure. There was some traffice on 315 and I started to panic like we weren't going to make it on time and somehow that would mean that we wouldn't get induced..but we pulled into the parking lot at Riverside Women's Center with a couple minutes to spare. Even though we took the hospital tour and knew to ride the elevator to the third floor and follow yellow - we stood in front of the wrong elevators for a couple minutes until a hospital staff member directed us to the correct ones.
We stepped out on the third floor and made our way to the nurse's window. A nurse checked us in and then directed us to the waiting room. We only had to wait about ten minutes until a nice man came to register us. He took our insurance card and hefty payment - then gave us wrist bracelets and turned us over to a nurse. The nurse walked us back to our birthing room and told me to put on the hospital gown. Once she left - I sat on the edge of the bed and looked at Rob. I think I was still trying to be modest at this point (this makes me laugh now...as I'm sure by the time I left the hospital everyone had seen my business) - but I did what she said and got dressed. The birthing center was very crowded this particular morning and a bit short staffed...so we got the head nurse! Nurse Robin encouraged me to lay back in the bed as she asked me my medical history. Once that task was complete...my IV needed to be started. I have never had an IV before and apparently I'm a bleeder! She stuck the needle in and blood squirted everywhere!! She was trying to tape the IV into place and blood was still oozing all over my arm - gross. The IV was connected to saline drip and the pitocin. They started the pitocin dose at 8:40 am...very low and turned it up every half hour. At this point, Robin turned us over to Charlene - our new nurse and on her way out said - "my shift ends about 4, let's try to have a baby by then!" I said, "that sounds great...I hope so!" (again - this makes me laugh now too...)
We were Charlene's only patients so she could really spend some time with us and monitor everything via the computer. I should also mention that Robin had hooked me up to a fetal heart rate monitor (around my belly) and also a monitor for contractions. Charlene was closely watching the pitocin drip and turning it up. From about 8:30 am to 12:00 pm, I was feeling pretty good. In fact, I watched an episode of Scandal, pinned some things to my pinterest boards, texted, and chatted with all those that came in the room. Charlene was a little concerned because my contractions were getting closer together...but not increasing in intensity (which is unusual). Everytime I felt a contraction, I would just mentally count to 40 and it would usually be over - again, they were bearable at this point. Stacy texted that she was leaving work and my parents were also enroute from Dayton.
Once Stacy arrived, my doctor also popped in. Dr. Vanek was on call the whole day - so it was nice to see a familiar face. She decided it was time to break my water around 1:00 pm. I was initially very nervous about this, but she said the bag of waters has no nerves around it...so I wouldn't feel anything really. She used what I can only describe as a crochet looking hook - inserted it and gave a little tug. I felt a huge gush of warm water. Afterward she said because of how the bag of waters was situated it probably would have never broken on it's own - so I guess it's a good thing she intervened. As we learned in birth class - the water acts like a bubble - keeping the pressure of the baby's head off your cervix. So...once the bag is gone...the pressure builds - and it certainly did!
Stacy and Rob got me through the rest of the afternoon with magazines, tv shows (Ellen!), changing labor positions (I liked bouncing on the ball and sitting upright in the rocker), and just in general making me laugh. It should be noted that my parents got in a HUGE traffic jam on the way to Columbus - it took them two hours to go about ten miles. Yikes! It was also around this time that I started to feel a lot of pressure in my lower back - thank goodness Charlene was able to secure me a "sweet sock". It's basically a sock that is full of rice. You can heat the sockin the microwave and put it on your back...which is just what I did :) This eased the pain for a little bit....it also helped to have unlimited popsicles! You know I love me some popsicles...and they had cherry! I blew through about four of those and a cup of chipped ice - at this point I was starting to feel what I would consider real pain...
Charlene was on her way out and my new nurse Lauren was in! I liked Lauren immediately - she was young like us and expecting twins herself! She checked my cervix and told me that I was in good shape to get an epidural if I wanted one (I was at 5 cm) and I definitely did. My parents also arrived around this time - with beautiful orange roses from Poppy (my 90 year old grandpa). Since I would be getting the epidural soon - they left to get dinner in the cafeteria with Stacy. Not long after they left, the anestheologist came in. I had to sign my life away in order to get the epidural. I scooted to the edge of the bed and bared my back to her....and then I got really nervous. I was shaking really bad and the anestheoglogist had to remind me to stay still. (but really - they are shooting a really long needle in your back...so....I'm not sure it's possible to stay still). Once the needle is in - they tape it down and give you a game show like clicker. You can press the clicker to receive a little boost of the epidural (only every 20 minutes). Also, because it's numbing you from the waist down, I had to get a catheter...sweet!
Everyone encouraged me to try and "get some rest" and "sleep" during this time as I would need my energy later. My parents and Stacy left to take their bags to her house and watch Survivor (and yes, they are probably the only people still watching this show). Lauren helped me get into the side lying position with one leg up and I tried...I really did...to sleep. But an hour into things - I was in a lot of pain still. I kept thinking that something wasn't right...I shouldn't be able to feel this. Lauren said she could check me again and I about lost it when she said..."well you're almost at 10 cm"! What?!!! I went from 5 cm to 10 cm in about an hour! Rob texted my parents to hurry back. However, baby's head was still facing the wrong direction. He was face up instead of face down. So, before you can push, they want you try different labor positions to turn the baby. Unfortunately the labor position of choice for this task, involves your bottom being high in the air with your forehead resting on your hands. At this point...my modesty flew out the window because I just wanted the baby to be here!! I stick my tush out in the air for all to see for about twenty minutes. The whole time I can definitely still feel contractions and was fighting the urge to push. I tell Lauren I can't do it anymore and she tells me I can sit more upright in the bed to relieve some of the back labor. She also gets the okay from Dr.Vanek to start pushing when I'm ready.
The pushing process is no joke. We begin pushing at 10:20. Everytime I feel a contraction, Rob goes to one leg and Lauren the other. They hold my legs as I push three times - each time counting to ten. I tuck my chin to my chest and exhale, while pushing with the same muscles you use to poop (gross but true). Occasionally, Lauren will check my progress while I'm pushing - she says I'm making progress...but I feel like it's three steps forward and one step back. I'm a sweaty, heavy breathing mess - and I'm so tired. So, so tired. I push for an hour and half and I swear I'm feeling everything (is the epidural even working??). At this point, Lauren brings in Dr. Vanek - she says that while I'm making some progress, the baby's head keeps getting sucked back up the birth canal. She offers me some choices - I can rest and keep pushing or I can have the c-section we've talked about since 36 weeks. I feel awful because I know Dr. Vanek's shift ended at 8:00 pm and it's now 11:40...but she's so kind. She tells me to stop worrying about her and concentrate on the baby. Lauren and Dr.Vanek leave and I turn to Rob - with tears in my eyes I say "I don't think I can do this any longer...I think I want to go forward with the c-section". Smart man says, "whatever you want to do, I just want you and the baby to be healthy".
Once we tell Lauren we would like to move forward with the c-section - it's all business. I say a quick good-bye to my mom and Stacy. Rob is thrown some scrubs and I'm quickly wheeled to the operating room. In the operating room, it takes four people to lift me and roll me from the birthing bed to the operating table. The anestheologist ups the dose for the epidural using the same port on my back. Dr. Vanek starts brushing a scalpel lightly against my abdomen and asking if I can feel it. Yes, I can feel it. I start to panick, thinking they will cut me and I will feel everything. Dr. Vanek reassures me they will not. However, I know time is of the essence. So, the anesthologist hovers over me with an oxygen mask - she tells me to take two deep breaths and I might feel sleepy. Next thing I know - I'm out! Apparently I had to be completely intubated and put under...what??!!
I awake in the recovery room. I see Lauren in front of me and Rob to the side of me with our son! He explains they had to put me under (and later tells me I was acting like a nut job as I was coming to). I immediately ask if Max has a pig nose. I had convinced myself because of the weird profile picture on the 41 week ultrasound that he would have a pig nose. Rob says he doesn't - he's beautiful...which he is! He is 8 pounds 13 ounces and 19.5 inches long...a big guy! Rob places him on my chest and we do some kangaroo care (chest to chest). It's so surreal to have this baby...who grew inside me for ten months...now be on the outside. And, he's so cute and perfect...and has great hair! We stay in the recovery room for about an hour - soaking in our son - Maxwell James Hauck. I just can't stop thinking about how Rob and I made this perfect little human - and I swear it's like my heart grew three sizes. Maxwell has certainly captured our hearts and we can't imagine our life without him... so many great adventures ahead...and memories to be made...we can't wait!
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