the birth story (censored version)

At 2:30 am on Saturday, January 5th my eyes shot wide open. I had just felt a contraction and rolled to my side when I felt a small gush. I laid awake thinking, "Did I just pee myself or did my water break?" I laid there to be sure when I soon felt another gush. After a few minutes of convincing (and trying to calm myself down) I woke up Andrew and told him we needed to go to the hospital. Poor guy was in such a deep sleep he thought I had said, "The power is out."

Soon we were on our way to the hospital. At my doctor's appointment on Monday I was 100% effaced but not dilated at all, so at the hospital I began to doubt myself just a little bit as the nurses checked me in and I told them I thought my water had broken. I was not having regular contractions and only about 10% of women have their water break. After what seemed like forever the nurse confirmed that I was leaking amniotic fluid, but was only dilated to a 1! I was checked into a labor and delivery room where we were going to wait 30 minutes to see if I would progress any further, if not, they would start pitocin.

 My contractions were not regular at all and I wasn't progressing so I was started on pitocin. Soon after those contractions became harder and closer together. Thankfully I was able to control them for a few hours with breathing techniques. I was put on oxygen, soon the contractions were pretty painful and my nurse asked if I wanted pain medication to take the edge off until I could get an epidural. I said no, thinking I could handle them and sent her away. But just as she closed the door I had a hard contraction as if my body was saying, "Seriously?! We want this to be enjoyable! Get some medication!" Andrew ran to get her and she gave me some Fentynl which was to last about an hour and I could only get it once an hour. It made me nauseous right away so she pumped some Zofran into my IV, but not after I threw up a lot of water and apple juice onto myself and the floor...

Unfortunately the drug only lasted 20 minutes. Thankfully when my nurse came back to check me I was dilated to a 3 and could get the epidural! I was terrified when the anesthesiologist was inserting the catheter into my spine because my contractions were about 30 seconds - 1 minute apart and I was having a hard time holding still! I would let him know when one was coming on and he was patient enough to wait for me to get through them. I could feel automatic relief on the right side of my body but nothing on my left. They had me lay back down but for another 15 minutes I could feel everything on my left side, I was so scared I would feel delivery! Thankfully it kicked in and Andrew and I could relax for the next little while.

Or so I thought. As it turned out I had lost a lot of amniotic fluid from my water breaking and our baby was a little stressed. I could tell the nurses were more worried than they were letting me know. They inserted an internal fetal monitor and decided to put more fluid into the sac. That was quite uncomfortable but our little girl perked up once it was there.

Before we knew it the nurse told me I was dilated to a 10 and I would start pushing in 15 minutes! She called the doctor to have him come down and I began pushing. After 3 pushes Andrew could see her head! After a few more rounds of pushes she had me stop pushing so the doctor could make it in! Within just 11 hours of labor and 45 minutes of pushing I had a screaming, tiny little girl placed on my chest. It was amazing to say the least. I could not believe she was finally here!

Charlotte Ruth Wilcox

1:33 pm

6 lbs 14 oz

18.5" long

first bath from daddy

Going home!

xoxo