Labor started quite unexpectedly on Monday, July 25. Andrew and I were on our way to Wendy’s because I was having yet another craving for a hamburger and French fries. We were discussing how I was probably going to have to be induced because I hadn’t had one contraction, and there were no signs of progress at my last doctor appointment (my due date was July 27). Andrew mentioned he was getting pretty nervous thinking about the labor and what it was going to be like to be a dad. We parked and got out of the car.
That’s when my water broke right in the middle of the Wendy’s parking lot.
It was all quite sudden (and rather uncomfortable). Andrew and I got back in the car, and Andrew called our doctor. He got put through to our doctor’s call service, and he hurriedly told the guy on the other line that, “My water’s wife broke!” I busted up laughing, and I knew the guy on the phone was laughing too. Andrew looked rather confused and somewhat offended until he realized what he’d said. Oh man, it was funny! He was told to take me up to the hospital.
We got ourselves to the labor and delivery wing of the hospital, and, long story short, it was determined that my water had in fact broken. I was officially admitted around 7 p.m. with the promise that I would probably be there all night. The labor and delivery wing was hopping. The nurse told me I was one of 5 women who had come to be admitted in the last 10 minutes!
Once I was all settled in, Andrew ran back to our apartment to grab our hospital bag we had so painstakingly packed a couple weeks in advance (we thought it was ironic that we didn’t even have it with us when I got admitted). When he got back, we killed time by watching TV and playing some card games with our good friends the Barneys. Meanwhile, I was started on a small dose of Pitocin.
My parents and sister arrived from Utah around 11 pm. We talked for a while, and then the nurse came in to up my Pitocin drip. My family left to stay in our apartment, and the nurse told Andrew and me to get some sleep (easy for her to say). As the minutes ticked by while I lay there in the dark, I could feel my contractions getting harder and harder. It wasn’t too bad at first, but around 2:30 it started to get pretty awful. Andrew woke up, held my hand, and reminded me to breath. He was so wonderful. I couldn’t have done it without him.
Around 4:30, I was pretty miserable. I called for the nurse, and she asked me if I wanted some painkiller or an epidural. I opted for the latter. She called for the anesthesiologist, and I began to panic. Did I really want this huge needle pushed into my spine? Fortunately, the anesthesiologist was really nice and unbelievingly good at his job. I didn’t even feel the epidural go in. At first, I only felt relief on my right side. The anesthesiologist fixed that in a matter of seconds, and then I was in epidural heaven.
Me after getting my epidural. Oh, how I LOVED my epidural.
Want to know how much my body likes epidurals?
I progressed from 2.5 centimeters to a full 10 centimeters in a mere 45 minutes.
It was almost surreal. Suddenly, the nurse was telling me I’d be pushing really soon, and Andrew was calling my family to tell them to come quick. I pushed for an hour and five minutes (the quickest yet longest hour and five minutes of my life), and then my son was in my arms.
Me and my little man getting acquainted after the nurses washed him.
The first little feature I got a good look at was one of his ears. I couldn't stop talking about that perfect little ear! The nurses took him to give him a little oxygen and wash him. He was 7 pounds 10 ounces and 19 and a half inches long. He has a TON of dark hair and the cutest little face.
First family photo!
Nelson all bundled up with Aunt Sydnee and Grandma Glade.
Nelson with Grandpa Glade. We think Nelson is my dad's mini-me. :)
Um, did I mention his cute little face?
Nelson getting dressed by his dad to go home from the hospital.
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