Well, mom posted little Johnny's (Juan Carlos) birth anouncment for me (but for anyone who didn't see that he was born at 6:36pm, April 30; 9lbs 3oz, 21 1/2" with tons of dark hair!) I guess he just wanted to "squeeze" into April! His EDD was April 26 - but when we went for our pregnancy confirmation they gave us a date of April 30 - so I guess they are the only ones who knew anything! 
Anyway..the story (hopefully I won't be too long winded!) *it is...sorry!*
Saturday (April 28) I started having noticable contractions that were 15mins apart beginning at about noon...I went to work thinking it was just "false labor" and when I got home that night (at 11:30pm) I stayed up to spend time with my hubby until 2am (I will never stay up late again if I am having regular ctx!!!!)
I woke up at about 6am on Sunday (April 29) with ctx 5mins apart that I could not sleep through...but did not require much attention. DH plays in the worship band at church and thought I had woke up to go with him (he must have slept through me telling him I was having regular ctx) so he says, "you are acting really wierd, are you ok?" And needless to say we stayed home from church! I still did not think I was in labor, so we went to breakfast and took a walk, rested...finally I called my mom to let her know "maybe" but they ctx never got any harder so after some socializing and walking she went home at around 8 or 9pm...I tried to go to sleep shortly after that and posting a frustrated question about prelabor - b/c I had given up all hope that anything was really happening!
I never fell asleep and finally around 1am (after my sweet hubby - Johnny) had been faithfully giving my back pressure with a heatpad every 5mins for an hour or so I got up to take a shower figuring I would decide after getting up if maybe I actually was in labor. I guess I almost bit him in his neck when we were in the shower so he got out and said, "I am calling your mom - you are definately in labour."
We arrived at the hospital around (4/5am??), and wad dialated 4cm I got a wonderful nurse who was so excited I wanted a natural birth and had soooo many ideas of various positions etc and has been in L&D for over 30yrs. ....I got the only midwife from my practice that I had not yet met - but she was great too.
***I lost total track of time after this!***
I was checked and still 4cm so Susan (MW) suggested I move around more. I tried to take a walk in the hall - but fell to my knees right outside the door I tried various other positions for a while and at one point the nurse (Judy) was using the doppler and really strugling to get a heartbeat and said "this thing is just dying" at first I thought she was saying the baby was dying but then I realized the doppler was dying!!
The next check I was only about 4 1/2 and baby too high for her to break my water so she gave me potocin...which dilated me more but she said I still wasn't progressing enough so she broke my water.
Then I got nervous because she found meconium in the water, I also had to be constantly internally monitored - but I actually liked these better b/c I could lay on my side and get back pressure - which is mostly where I felt everything.
I finally got so tired I could hardly cope with the ctx - I just laid on my side in the bed with my eyes closed - my mom thought I was sleeping and I almost was. I asked for pain meds twice because I started to feel like I just needed a little help being that I was so tired (that is why I will MAKE SURE to get sleep next time!!!) and the second time she gave my stadul and finigrin (not sure how to spell them).
That was actually just enough help because the next time I was 7cm...then I just remember one long contraction and thinking I would be in labor forever and finally everyone telling me I HAD to go to the bathroom and I didn't want to b/c I had been going inbetween ctx but now that I was "just having one long one" I didn't want to move. Finaly I got up and as soon as I sat on the toilet felt the babies head moving down and began pushing - but did not tell my MW b/c I was afraid I would not be fully dialated and she would tell me to stop pushing - and it just felt sooooo good.
But...when she checked me she smiled and said "you are well beyond 10cm and the baby's head is right here" (and showed me how far with her fingers - about 2") I was so relieved I felt renewed energy and pushed for all I had (MW had to keep reminding me to rest inbetween ctx). When his head began to show he had beautiful long hair that I could stroke I got on my hands and knees for a while (and aparently Susan left the room b/c another woman was delivering!) and my mom was able to get behind me and stroke her grandson's head before he was even born - beautiful.
Once I was tired I went back to laying on my back and they brought me a miror to watch...I loved seeing more and more of his head - a little frustrated when the MW told me to slow my pushing but I am glad I did b/c I hardly tore at all - just 2 tiny stitches were needed.
He came out all at once with his hand on his neck (which is why the labor was so long and my back was hurting so much) and turned his head directly to my sister! They put him right on my chest which was amazing (I was scared at first b/c he was so blue but as the rubbed him he pinked up and cried) and my husband cut the cord - both my parents whitnessed everything as well (which was an added blessing b/c they had told us only 2 support people but ended up allowing 4).
When they took the baby to get checked and wrapped up etc I thought I would mind but it was actually nice b/c they were poking and prodding me and stiching me etc - once baby was ready DH brought him over so I could stroke his head.
Before long all the staff left and I was able to enjoy nursing my boy and sharing him with my family (and my husband's family - his twin and twin's wife who is due in June with their first daughter).
Overall pretty happy with the delivery - I think nursing might have come a little easier if the baby and I weren't so knocked out from the drugs - but I don't regret taking them either because it helped just enough, and we still would have been knocked out from the long labor - or maybe I would have gone to a more severe intervention.
My dad's voice was wonderful and reasuring and my sister who has never had a baby was even a great support. My mom was amazing and I have fallen in love with my husband again - he was such a wonderful support and took such a beating from helping me move about etc.
Little Juan is beautiful and healthy and everyone is so right when they say you can never appreciate parenthood until the moment you hold your own baby. I melt when he smiles and my heart breaks when he cries...I can't stand not to hold him even for a minute.
...and I think he is in a deep enough sleep now that I can out him down and catch up on some rest too - DH and I are still making up for all the missed sleep! But I knew the second he was born I would do it all again!
Sorry this was so long...
Anyway..the story (hopefully I won't be too long winded!) *it is...sorry!*
Saturday (April 28) I started having noticable contractions that were 15mins apart beginning at about noon...I went to work thinking it was just "false labor" and when I got home that night (at 11:30pm) I stayed up to spend time with my hubby until 2am (I will never stay up late again if I am having regular ctx!!!!)
I woke up at about 6am on Sunday (April 29) with ctx 5mins apart that I could not sleep through...but did not require much attention. DH plays in the worship band at church and thought I had woke up to go with him (he must have slept through me telling him I was having regular ctx) so he says, "you are acting really wierd, are you ok?" And needless to say we stayed home from church! I still did not think I was in labor, so we went to breakfast and took a walk, rested...finally I called my mom to let her know "maybe" but they ctx never got any harder so after some socializing and walking she went home at around 8 or 9pm...I tried to go to sleep shortly after that and posting a frustrated question about prelabor - b/c I had given up all hope that anything was really happening!
I never fell asleep and finally around 1am (after my sweet hubby - Johnny) had been faithfully giving my back pressure with a heatpad every 5mins for an hour or so I got up to take a shower figuring I would decide after getting up if maybe I actually was in labor. I guess I almost bit him in his neck when we were in the shower so he got out and said, "I am calling your mom - you are definately in labour."
We arrived at the hospital around (4/5am??), and wad dialated 4cm I got a wonderful nurse who was so excited I wanted a natural birth and had soooo many ideas of various positions etc and has been in L&D for over 30yrs. ....I got the only midwife from my practice that I had not yet met - but she was great too.
***I lost total track of time after this!***
I was checked and still 4cm so Susan (MW) suggested I move around more. I tried to take a walk in the hall - but fell to my knees right outside the door I tried various other positions for a while and at one point the nurse (Judy) was using the doppler and really strugling to get a heartbeat and said "this thing is just dying" at first I thought she was saying the baby was dying but then I realized the doppler was dying!!
The next check I was only about 4 1/2 and baby too high for her to break my water so she gave me potocin...which dilated me more but she said I still wasn't progressing enough so she broke my water.
Then I got nervous because she found meconium in the water, I also had to be constantly internally monitored - but I actually liked these better b/c I could lay on my side and get back pressure - which is mostly where I felt everything.
I finally got so tired I could hardly cope with the ctx - I just laid on my side in the bed with my eyes closed - my mom thought I was sleeping and I almost was. I asked for pain meds twice because I started to feel like I just needed a little help being that I was so tired (that is why I will MAKE SURE to get sleep next time!!!) and the second time she gave my stadul and finigrin (not sure how to spell them).
That was actually just enough help because the next time I was 7cm...then I just remember one long contraction and thinking I would be in labor forever and finally everyone telling me I HAD to go to the bathroom and I didn't want to b/c I had been going inbetween ctx but now that I was "just having one long one" I didn't want to move. Finaly I got up and as soon as I sat on the toilet felt the babies head moving down and began pushing - but did not tell my MW b/c I was afraid I would not be fully dialated and she would tell me to stop pushing - and it just felt sooooo good.
But...when she checked me she smiled and said "you are well beyond 10cm and the baby's head is right here" (and showed me how far with her fingers - about 2") I was so relieved I felt renewed energy and pushed for all I had (MW had to keep reminding me to rest inbetween ctx). When his head began to show he had beautiful long hair that I could stroke I got on my hands and knees for a while (and aparently Susan left the room b/c another woman was delivering!) and my mom was able to get behind me and stroke her grandson's head before he was even born - beautiful.
Once I was tired I went back to laying on my back and they brought me a miror to watch...I loved seeing more and more of his head - a little frustrated when the MW told me to slow my pushing but I am glad I did b/c I hardly tore at all - just 2 tiny stitches were needed.
He came out all at once with his hand on his neck (which is why the labor was so long and my back was hurting so much) and turned his head directly to my sister! They put him right on my chest which was amazing (I was scared at first b/c he was so blue but as the rubbed him he pinked up and cried) and my husband cut the cord - both my parents whitnessed everything as well (which was an added blessing b/c they had told us only 2 support people but ended up allowing 4).
When they took the baby to get checked and wrapped up etc I thought I would mind but it was actually nice b/c they were poking and prodding me and stiching me etc - once baby was ready DH brought him over so I could stroke his head.
Before long all the staff left and I was able to enjoy nursing my boy and sharing him with my family (and my husband's family - his twin and twin's wife who is due in June with their first daughter).
Overall pretty happy with the delivery - I think nursing might have come a little easier if the baby and I weren't so knocked out from the drugs - but I don't regret taking them either because it helped just enough, and we still would have been knocked out from the long labor - or maybe I would have gone to a more severe intervention.
My dad's voice was wonderful and reasuring and my sister who has never had a baby was even a great support. My mom was amazing and I have fallen in love with my husband again - he was such a wonderful support and took such a beating from helping me move about etc.
Little Juan is beautiful and healthy and everyone is so right when they say you can never appreciate parenthood until the moment you hold your own baby. I melt when he smiles and my heart breaks when he cries...I can't stand not to hold him even for a minute.
...and I think he is in a deep enough sleep now that I can out him down and catch up on some rest too - DH and I are still making up for all the missed sleep! But I knew the second he was born I would do it all again!
Sorry this was so long...
