On January 28th at 10:20pm we welcomed our precious new son Carter Michael into the world. Hearts were crushed, smiles flew around the room, and an enormous sigh of relief was breathed by both Randy and I simultaneously. A.healthy.baby.
How did we get to that moment? Stick around and read more if you want to hear his birth story. (I promise nothing tmi).
For the week prior to Carter's birth I had a few false starts, contractions that would start and stop and get me thinking that today was the day. Poor Randy was sick of me calling him at work and saying I think it's time! When I woke up on Monday morning and went to the washroom I *knew* it was the day. (Told you I would spare the gory details). The contractions started at 8:30am. They were mild and I carried on as normal around the house. At 10am I let Randy know it was definitely time to pack it up and head home from work and I hopped in the shower. He got home, showered and started loading our hospital bags and Ethan's overnight bag in the truck. He went downstairs to get something and let out a war whoop, Ethan had set up a 'washing station' for his trains and had virtually flooded the whole basement.(On our new flooring to boot). So a slight delay while they mopped up the mess and we were off to drop Ethan off at daycare.
We made it to the hospital around 1pm and I was sent to OB Triage where they hooked me up and tracked my contractions, I was having them about every 3-5 minutes. So she checked me and I was only dilated 3-4cm. I was shocked, I had been dilated 3cm for two weeks already, the all morning contractions didn't do much for me obviously. The nurse tells us to get up and start walking around to get it moving along. So I walked, and walked, and walked; for 2 hours! The contractions were getting pretty painful with me having to stop walking with every one and grab the wall rail. We headed back after 2 hours to see where we were at...no change. What?!?! I almost cried. So go home or keep walking...I didn't want to go home, I was already there and obviously it was going to happen that day. I asked about inducing me as I was scheduled to be induced the next morning anyhow. Nope, not happening. So we walked for another 2 hours and had supper before going back again to be checked. The contractions were VERY painful at this point. I actually scared some guy in a hallway when a particularly tough one hit me and my hip snapped out and I almost fell in the hallway. Randy caught me and braced me against the wall but the guy came running thinking I was dying or something...poor guy!
So we head back to triage at 6:30pm and guess what? Now I'm at 4-5...whoopee...so again I ask to be induced and again they decline. I asked for my OBGYN to be called but they wouldn't because there was an on call OB to take me. On a side note, this is my most frustrating part of delivering a baby in Grande Prairie, you don't get your OB for delivery, you get whoever is there and on call. So again she tells us go home or keep walking here. By this time I'm exhausted and Randy is frustrated so he convinces me to go home. I really, really didn't want to...I was having monster painful contractions but I went. I popped a Tylenol when I got home and crashed on the couch; I even snuck in a cat nap!
At 9:30 I got up off the couch to use the washroom and *knew* we needed to get going to the hospital. We arrived and I was rocking some seriously painful contractions that on a scale of 10 were an 8. Into triage we go again and guess what? I was 6cm..what the heck! She said my waters were bulging though so they gowned me up and sent me to delivery.
The delivery nurses asked me what I wanted for pain and I asked for an epidural and refused all narcotics (morphine etc). They make me feel stoned and I didn't want that. So she heads out to call the Dr and person for the epidural and to prep to give me an IV. She comes back a couple minutes later and tells me my worst nightmare...no epidural. The person that gives it was gone for the day and wouldn't make it back in time so the Dr refused to call them back. They offer me phentenol (sp?) and I agree, the pain was unbearable. So she tries to start the IV and misses, fml! So the Dr comes in, breaks my water and proceeds to try to get the IV. He had Randy help him hold my arm and put pressure on the other IV spot. I have almost perfect finger mark bruises on my wrist as a result...
Apparently it's been awhile since the Dr put in an IV because a) it took like 10 mins, b) he spewed my blood all over the delivery room when he screwed up the first try. So by the time he to the stupid IV in I was screaming in pain and begging for drugs and then felt the need to push. So what does the Dr do? He crossed his arms on his chest and said 'well then push, no time for the drugs now'. I died inside at that moment...there was no turning back now.
I won't lie. It was the most excruciatingly painful thing I have ever felt and I hope to NEVER feel that kind of pain ever again. Thankfully I only endured about 30 mins of active labor and he was delivered in 3 pushes in under a minute.
The Dr let Randy announce that it was a boy and he was immediately placed on my bare chest. They no longer do suction at all or take baby away to be weighed etc right away unless you want. I wanted tummy time right away and to be able to breast feed right there. 10 fingers, 10 toes and everything else just right, Carter Michael came into this world at 10:20pm, Jan 28th weighing 7lbs 6oz and 20 inches long. A full head of dark hair; no doubt the cause of my endless heartburn in the pregnancy!
We stayed in the hospital till the 30th before being able to go home. He was checked out by Dr Odaibo who was Ethan's pedeatrician after his surgery. He did find that one of Carter's hips may be out so we are scheduled for an ultrasound at he end of Feb to see. If it is he will need to wear a leg brace for around 6 weeks to correct it and prevent a permanent limp. I'm not worried at all about it, it isn't life threatening so I can handle it!
It's been almost three weeks now since his birth and we're getting to know each other. He likes chest time with both Mom and Dad and has trouble sleeping between 10pm to 3am. He thinks it's party time! He is gaining weight like a champ and we're pretty confident he is going to be a very active, rough little boy...not at all like Ethan. One thing's for sure, there will never be a dull day in this house with 2 little boys running around! Here are my cute little guys!
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