Then at 4:30 I woke up startled because I was pretty sure I had just felt my water break. I still wonder if it's because of the walk I took on Friday. Emma's due date wasn't until October 6, and I really didn't think that she would be coming early, so I hadn't even let the thought enter my mind. She was going to be an October baby and she was going to have a cool birthday since it's 2010 and her month would be "10" as well. But once I stood up and woke Adam up all that changed.
I called my mom and my doctor; my doctor told me that I didn't have to rush to the hospital but that I needed to head there in the next hour to 2. Did I tell you it was a monsoon outside as well? I wanted to take the time to take a shower and get myself all dressed in case so that if I was to deliver I would at least feel somewhat put together with my hair and makeup done. We got to Presby Dallas at about 7, said a prayer before we walked in that God would be with us on this special day, and the woman in the triage room confirmed that yes, my water had most definitely broken. For those of you who don't know, when you water breaks, it's no joke, your WATER BREAKS. Adam and I both knew the clock was ticking on us because once your water breaks you only have a certain amount of time before you start to run the risk of infection, so we were really hoping that this meant I would have a fairly short delivery time. Unfortunately I was not very dilated, but we thought given time I would progress.
Adam and I both felt really strong about having an unmedicated birth, and my OB, Dr. Liaci, was totally supportive of that as well as the nurses at Presby. They wanted to give me as much time as possible to progress on my own before we started medical intervention. Unfortunately, by noon, I had only progressed to a 2, and had been in labor for almost 8 hours, so we needed to start a small dose of pitocin. Once the pitocin kicked in I could definitely notice a change in the frequency and strength of contractions, but I felt confident I could handle it. Since my water had already broken, I wasn't been examined very often so as not to risk infection, but I thought, "I must be making good progress because these contractions are really starting to hurt".
Then by about 5, the pain really set in. I was going to get checked at 6 for dilatation, but I didn't think I was going to make it. Each contraction was so intense and just felt like my body was being torn apart. I really wanted to scream out in pain each time they peaked, and there was only about a minute of relief before then next wave came. Adam and my mom were trying to keep me calm and focused, but I felt like no one on earth could possibly understand the pain I was in. Only by a miracle I made it to six, and to make matters worse I was only a 4! I was so devastated. I said, I want an epidural NOW!. Part of me was upset because I know that I didn't to go down that route, but the fact that I was only a 4 meant that I had so much further to go, and I had been in labor for over 12 hours. I got the epidural and I can't tell you how much better I felt. It was like I had my second wind, and I was going to get this baby out......but I also had to have more pitocin in me to get me further along. And still no progress. By 10:30 I had made it to an 8, but I had also been in labor 18 hours, and at that point we needed to evaluate what the next step was going to be. I continued to labor until 12:30, when I was FINALLY a 10. I pushed for an hour, and of course, no luck. My nurse let me take a break and Adam and I must have passed out for a little while (keep in mind we got up at 4:30 the PREVIOUS morning). I woke up when Dr. Liaci got to my room around 2am. I pushed again for another 30 min, but for some reason nothing was happening. Dr. Liaci said I had plenty of room, but we couldn't tell if Emma was stuck or what. Each time they said it was time to push, I gave it everything I could, I wanted Emma out and I was ready to be done. After a while, I couldn't tell if I was more tired from pushing or from being up for almost 24 hours, but I didn't know how much more I had in me. By about 3, I knew what was going to come next. She said I was going to need a C-section becuase I had been in labor for so long and we were getting in that danger zone.
So they gave Adam a set of scrubs and we were on our way. I'm impressed at how quickly the doctors and nurses worked. Everyone was so wonderful. Adam sat by my side and told me that he was so proud of me and that he loved me and even though this wasn't how we planned it, all he wanted was to have a healthy baby and wife; he didn't care how. He is such a wonderful husband, I tear up even as I write this. The whole time he was there by my side saying he knew I could do this, that I was doing a great job, and that he loved me. I will say I caught him looking at the TV a few times because football was on, but I won't hold that against him :). At 3:44 am, our wish was granted. Our beautiful daughter was born. I was afraid I wasn't going to be able to stay awake to see her, but Adam brought her over to me and I FINALLY saw her. 6lbs 7 oz, 19 1/4 inches long. For the first time, this amazing miracle that I had been carrying for the last 38 weeks was here. There was so much anticipation of what she would look like, what her hair color would be, etc. And I couldn't have cared if she came out purple with spots. She was my daughter, and Adam and I were parents. Our lives were never going to be the same again. I never knew that I could love something as much as I do this wonderful gift from God.
I'll be posting more as I have time, so check back often!
Such a great story of Emma's arrival! You are amazing! Love you guys! And I love your blog :)
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