Daddy has been marked....wearing like a badge!
Saturday, July 16, 2005
Sam's Birth Story
I had my 38 week doctor’s appoint on Tuesday, June 14. She told us during the exam that I was 3 cm dilated and 80% effaced. She said she could probably stretch me to a 4 and that she didn’t think I’d make it to the next week’s exam. We were so excited since Ray was due to leave early the next week and my parents were coming in on Saturday. Maybe, just maybe, there’d be a baby here soon.
I went home and sat, rocked and bounced on the birthing ball to try to get ready for the big day. I also stayed up late and finally burned my labor and delivery CD to put in my hospital bag (which I also finished packing). Wednesday morning Miranda and I got up, got ready and went to the free children’s movie with Wendi and her kids. I felt crampy and my Braxton Hicks contractions seemed to have a little more force behind them. I decided to wear my digital glowing watch to the movies in case I needed to write down times……and I did! My contractions were coming every 6 to 10 minutes, but they weren’t that painful at all. I let Wendi know what was up and went home for what I thought would be a long day or 2. At 1:00 I called my doctor and told them I thought I might possibly be having contractions, but I wasn’t sure and didn’t want to waste their time. The nurse suggested I come in and get checked just in case. Miranda was napping, so I said I’d be in around 3:00. Wendi insisted on driving us, and I was grateful for the company, but still felt bad that I might be wasting her time. I had 3 rather intense contractions waiting for the doctor from 3:00 to 3:15 and was pretty sure this was real. He examined me and told me I was at 5 cm and to go ahead and go to the hospital and he’d be there in an hour.
Wendi quickly called Ray, whom didn’t believe her, and told him to head to the hospital NOW. She had also grabbed my bags out of the van when she picked us up, so straight to the hospital we flew. I was in my room by 4:00, Ray arrived about 4:30, had my epidural by 4:45. I hung out the same 5 cm for about 2 hours. Then Dr. Alverez broke my water and I went from 5 to 10 cm in 45 minutes!!!!!! I pushed through 3 contractions (painlessly, I might add), and out he came. I actually delivered him myself. After the shoulders came out, I put my hands under his armpits and pulled him onto my stomach. The doctor yelled out that it was a boy and Ray cut the cord. I took me a good 3 hours to get over the fact that there was a penis!!!!!
Sam got to hang out with us for about an hour before it was determined he was having trouble breathing. He spent the next week in the Special Care Nursery being weaned from oxygen due to “premature lungs”, but he’s doing great now.
He’s a wonderful little eater. A true boob man, and for that I’m so grateful. The past month has been a blur. He is such a good baby, and Miranda just adores him. She loves giving him kisses and hugs and showing him off to all her friends. I can’t say she’s loving the time I have to spend with him feeding him, but she’s getting better each day. I just know she’s going to have a blast when he can start interacting with her.
I went home and sat, rocked and bounced on the birthing ball to try to get ready for the big day. I also stayed up late and finally burned my labor and delivery CD to put in my hospital bag (which I also finished packing). Wednesday morning Miranda and I got up, got ready and went to the free children’s movie with Wendi and her kids. I felt crampy and my Braxton Hicks contractions seemed to have a little more force behind them. I decided to wear my digital glowing watch to the movies in case I needed to write down times……and I did! My contractions were coming every 6 to 10 minutes, but they weren’t that painful at all. I let Wendi know what was up and went home for what I thought would be a long day or 2. At 1:00 I called my doctor and told them I thought I might possibly be having contractions, but I wasn’t sure and didn’t want to waste their time. The nurse suggested I come in and get checked just in case. Miranda was napping, so I said I’d be in around 3:00. Wendi insisted on driving us, and I was grateful for the company, but still felt bad that I might be wasting her time. I had 3 rather intense contractions waiting for the doctor from 3:00 to 3:15 and was pretty sure this was real. He examined me and told me I was at 5 cm and to go ahead and go to the hospital and he’d be there in an hour.
Wendi quickly called Ray, whom didn’t believe her, and told him to head to the hospital NOW. She had also grabbed my bags out of the van when she picked us up, so straight to the hospital we flew. I was in my room by 4:00, Ray arrived about 4:30, had my epidural by 4:45. I hung out the same 5 cm for about 2 hours. Then Dr. Alverez broke my water and I went from 5 to 10 cm in 45 minutes!!!!!! I pushed through 3 contractions (painlessly, I might add), and out he came. I actually delivered him myself. After the shoulders came out, I put my hands under his armpits and pulled him onto my stomach. The doctor yelled out that it was a boy and Ray cut the cord. I took me a good 3 hours to get over the fact that there was a penis!!!!!
Sam got to hang out with us for about an hour before it was determined he was having trouble breathing. He spent the next week in the Special Care Nursery being weaned from oxygen due to “premature lungs”, but he’s doing great now.
He’s a wonderful little eater. A true boob man, and for that I’m so grateful. The past month has been a blur. He is such a good baby, and Miranda just adores him. She loves giving him kisses and hugs and showing him off to all her friends. I can’t say she’s loving the time I have to spend with him feeding him, but she’s getting better each day. I just know she’s going to have a blast when he can start interacting with her.
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