Friday night Adam and I went out to dinner at a local Mexican restaurant. I ordered my usual + cheese dip with peppers (LOL). Well as I was eating I just teared up and got "that face". Adam said, "contraction?"...o yes it was and it was like none I had had before. It was painful...but no more contractions that night. Well Adam had been working a lot of hours this week at work (like usual) so he came home and decided to take 2 melatonin so he could get a good nights sleep. I forewarned him saying you know this would be the night...that's how our luck is. Sure enough, I was right.
We went to bed around 10:30 (lame old folks I know). Well about 1:30 I was woken up with pain. Pain like no other...okay was this it? I started timing them. Contractions were about 8 minutes apart. Knowing that if it was false labor that taking a bath would stop them, I decided to take a bath (2 am). I text our doula and let her know indeed the bath had not stopped the contractions (all the while Adam was asleep). I'd like to mention while filling this said bath, Benny was barking at the faucet (on the other side of the wall from his bed). Well Que (our doula) called me to hear my voice/breath and figure out pain scale. We had just about a 10 minute conversation. I was still timing these contractions, during the bath they were now 5-6 minutes apart. I got out of the bath and back in to bed around 2:30. Okay...still timing. I remember going how long do I let Adam sleep? What if they stop? I decided to give it another 45 minutes, if they were still going, I'd wake him. Well they did...so I woke him up. Little to my surprise he knew of nothing that had been going on the past 2 hours (never heard water, Benny, phone conversation, grunting/breathing). He immediately took two and asked if I had talked to Que. I filled him in...well Que was out DDing, she told me to let her know if they continued and to keep her up to date with timing (she meanwhile took a nap). Adam and I started practicing everything we learned, breathing, relaxing, positions, etc. He was a huge help during this time. The contractions were getting worse (still 5-6 minutes apart). Well I think it was about 6 am (from this point forward time was last thing on my mind), and I told him to go ahead and tell Que to head to our house cause I needed more support. Apparently, I passed out during contractions from this point till Que's arrival. The rest of this flew by to me, I remember bed, downstairs, ball, lunges, swaying, and trying to eat an apple. It was about 12 pm then Que said okay I think we should head that way (to the hospital iow). She had guessed I was at least 5 cm at this point (now remember I started at 3cm 80% effacement -2 position). Adam packed up the car and we were off (I'll spare the details of the car ride).
Upon arrival at the hospital there was just a little bit of paperwork to fill out. One thing I will not forget is when Adam and I were walking in (yes, I walked, from the parking lot, not valet crap), there was a couple leaving with their baby, I will never forget the face that lady gave me LOL "O GOOD LUCK" face. Well back to said paperwork, I sat on the ball and filled out forms. During which contractions still occurring, this lady was beginning to piss me off on how long she was taking (answering phone, dealing with non-preggos walking in asking questions). I had to pee so bad too, I was eager to get to the room! How long just all of this took, I had no idea. I do know that my midwife (MW), Valerie, was on her way at this point. Once we finally got back to the room, I immediately used the bathroom then a nurse came in to check me. I was 5 cm- almost 6 really!!!! Que was right! Speaking of Que, at this point, she snuck out to go get some food (and me a chocolate shake :) ). She arrived back in the room just after the nurses had gotten all the monitors and stuff hooked up. She immediately went to work making my room more "homey" like. I was hooked up to the monitors and IV lead put in (that took them a while) for about 30 minutes then I was "free". The first thing I wanted to do was get in that awesome Jacuzzi tub!
Apparently, I was in that tub for a while...the time literally flew by to me. I have no concept of how long anything took. All I know is once I got out of the tub, I was checked and was at 10 cm! Here's where my memory gets really shady...Adam says I pushed for a good two hours. Remind you- all of this, since 1:30 am, has been without any drugs. That was our intention, our plan. Well two hours into pushing (16.5 hrs into labor), I was exhausted and in so much pain, I gave in. There was no way I was going to get her out without some medication. I cannot describe just how much pain I was in. I was that women you could probably hear down the hall screaming. I did not care. The worst part of the pain was the doctor's hands, not the pushing/contractions. All of this would make sense later...Getting the epidural seemed like forever. The anesthesiologist had just gone in to do a C-section...great timing! I kept thinking "just make it through one more contraction". Well about 10 later, he finally showed up. I know it took 3 more contractions (my time line) before that needle went in my back. 2 more contractions before I couldn't "feel" them anymore. Now- I want to interject here- while I did get the epidural- something I said I would never do...since I was already 10 cm- none of the drug went to my little girl (the main reason I was against the epi). So I was okay with my decision- I knew I did it- I made it past transition- I could do this in the future. I think the biggest obstacle with me at this point was my mind- I had no idea how much longer or what it would take to get her out, so my mind/body was resisting letting her move down and out. Anyways- I had an epi. Well it still took 3 more hours of pushing before our little girl would appear. Apparently, the reason I was in so much pain was she was sunny-side up (meaning face up). Even with an epi- having the doctor's hands in there to turn her head was uncomfortable. Now I understand why I was in so much pain prior. It took two contractions to get her turned the correct way. I will never forget the support and coaching I had during these times. This part of labor was definitely the toughest for me, and without my husband there is no way I think I could've done this.
Pictures (courtesy of Que):
Bathroom shot (Que added the lights)
Support during a contraction
Rest between contractions
My team (plus Que taking photo)- Nurse, Dr. Kasparek, MW Valerie, Adam)
Valerie pulling out her first baby at Northside as a midwife (she had been a nurse prior)!
On Mommy's chest right away :) Best moment of my life
Daddy cutting cord (I had NO idea when this happened, I never took my eyes off of her)
"What are y'all doing to me?"
7lbs 12 oz!
Daddy's Little Girl
Valerie and I
Kinsley Kathy Trombly
8:52 PM
7 lbs 12 oz
19"
I would like to add that after 2nd degree tears and a fractured tailbone, that giving birth is the most satisfying experience ever. That moment that she was put on my chest was indescribable, love at first sight. After 9 months, I finally got to see what had been causing me so much agony LOL. And with the next kid, you better believe that I know I can go all the way without medication. Now I know what it takes, and I know that I can do this! The nurses and staff at Northside were truly amazing and the whole time I was there, were amazed and supportive of me and my birth plan. I highly recommend Northside Forsyth to anyone!
That's all for now...
~ADK
