The Story

Normally I wouldn't post something like this on my blog. However, I think it is a crazy story and that some of you might be interested in reading it. So, here you go!

September 20th I started having contractions.

I started keeping track of them because they were quite frequent.

After 3 hours of contractions that were 3 minutes apart, I woke up Regan. It was 2:00am. We packed our bags, grabbed the car seat, arranged plans for Brooklyn, and were on our way to the hospital.

We may have taken a slight detour but eventually made our way over.

Psych! It was clear that not a single person at the hospital thought I was in labor. To be honest some of them were quite rude. I just had no idea that 6 hours of consistent contractions could be "false labor." I guess you learn something new every day.

They sent us packing with a bright yellow piece of paper stating not to come back until my contractions were 5 minutes apart for 1 hour and strong enough that I couldn't talk through them. Don't worry, they drew a big circle around that part too.

Fast forward through the longest 3 weeks of my life to October 4th. I had a contraction at 1:45pm. I had another one 20 minutes later. They were different. After 4 or 5 texts to Regan, and a few phone calls I finally got a hold of him at around 3:00pm. He got an ear full for sure.

He came home around 5:30pm. The contractions were about 15 minutes apart and were getting stronger. Once again we packed our bags, grabbed the car seat, arranged plans for Brooklyn, and were on our way. We decided that instead of taking a walk around our neighborhood to keep the contractions coming, like I had originally planned, we'd better go somewhere closer to the hospital.

We walked around Fashion Place Mall stopping every few minutes for a contraction. I tried on some Uggs at Nordstrom and then we grabbed a bite to eat at Chick-fil-A. As we were finishing up our dinner, out of nowhere, I had a pretty intense contraction.

"Lets go" I said to Regan. "If that is any indication of how the next twelve hours are going to be I want an epidural right now."

He was skeptical. He had been documenting the contractions on his phone so I asked him to read me the times. 8 min, 2 min, 6 min, then 3 min, etc. As far as I was concerned it rounded out to be 5 minutes and I was calling the shots.

We arrived at the hospital and I knew this time was different. As we were checking in to the front desk they printed off a hospital bracelet for me. Apparently they had paid attention the contraction that I totally played up as we were signing in.

As you can see I was starting to feel a bit uncomfortable. I was answering some of the nurses questions when I felt a huge gush. Seriously? I would have had to buy those Uggs had this happened 30 minutes earlier. Dang. I totally wanted them.

The nurse checked me right after my water broke and I was at a 4+.

The next contraction was crazy. It was amazing the difference of intensity from before my water had broke. After demanding the anesthesiologist be called in immediately, I pulled Regan's face in close to mine and said "Regan, I am scared of these contractions. They hurt me." He lovingly tried to comfort me but deep down he thought I might die.

I had one more contraction before the anesthesiologist arrived. I signed the papers and he started doing his job. The next contraction was insane. All of the sudden I couldn't not push (double negative intended). It was like my body had a mind of it's own. "I can't NOT push, I can't NOT push, I'm pushing!!!" I yelled. The nurse explained that I might just be moving very fast. I wasn't really sure what she meant. It took 12 hours of intense labor after my water had broke to have Brooklyn.

She checked me and, sure enough, I was a 10 and she could feel the head. What the? I had been there for 30-40 minutes. I was so angry that I had gotten the epidural at this point. I just thought I was going to have to have monster contractions for hours. Turns out I was just in transition.

It was crazy. Regan and I kept looking at each other and I could tell we were feeling the same thing (minus the contractions). We were excited, confused, surprised, and could just feel the addreniline rushing through our bodies.

The nurse called in for a table and a doctor. "Has the epidural kicked in yet?" the doctor asked. "Don't worry, my big toes are numb" I said. I started pushing during the next contraction. It took around 4 contractions for him to get here. The epidural kicked in after he was born and I didn't feel anything for about 4 hours after.

I finally was able to hold the little guy after waiting a whole 9 months.

I really wish I knew what Brooklyn was thinking the first time she met him.

Our little family of 4 was finally together.