Monkey’s Birth Story

**Some may find this graphic**

Around 4:00 Sunday morning, I woke up not feeling well. My back was killing me. I kept trying to go back to sleep, but the pain was bad enough I couldn’t get comfortable. I kept asking myself if this was it. About 4:30, I started having cramping and had some pink mucous when I went to the bathroom. At about 5:00, my contractions were really painful so I woke Hubby up. I said, “I think I’m in labor” very calmly. He replied, “What makes you think that??” I told him what had been going on. We got up and got A-man up. A-man got dressed for church, as he would be going with Oma Jean, a coworker of Hubby’s. Hubby called the hospital and they said since I hadn’t dilated any at the last dr’s appt that I needed to wait longer. Hubby called his mom and told her so she could make her way over. I helped Hubby get stuff for A-man to take and then I got in the bathtub, as had been suggested by the nurse on the phone. Hubby called Oma Jean and then he took A-man to her house while I took a bath. I got out of the bathtub and got dressed and made sure I had everything in my bags. I got the heating pad and sat in the recliner in the living room with it and watched TV. On the way to Oma Jean’s, Hubby called to let Sunday School know that we wouldn’t be there to teach and we needed a sub.

Hubby got back and timed my contractions a few more times. The pain was getting so bad and I wondered how much longer I could handle that intense pain. Hubby said we don’t need to time anymore, because we’re going to the hospital now. It was chili outside and the leather seats in the Explorer were so cold. We got to the hospital, Hubby dropped me off at the lobby and I waited for him to park. We went up to L & D. I got the gown on and they hooked me to the monitor. They checked me and I was a “fingertip”. That was discouraging. Dr. Golden came in a little later and checked me and then said I was 2 cm!!! He stretched my cervix, which was extremely painful! They came and put me in my L & D room. I had to go to the bathroom and I felt nauseous. I ended up getting really sick, which was so painful! I felt so sick! The pain was just so bad! I calmed down and then the nurse put my IV in. She gave me fluids and then the stedol, which made me very sleepy. I could still feel the contractions, but I kind of just “slept” my way through them.

A little later the Dr. came in to give me my epidural. I told them I had to go to the bathroom, but they said I could go after, which never happened because you can’t get up after having an epidural. In turn, they put a catheter in which I could feel! The Dr. also broke my water and there was meconium, which made me worry about when he was delivered. I felt numbness in my left leg, but the right leg was still normal I started to get worried that the epidural wasn’t going to work fully. Finally, I was completely numb and all was good. I was still really sleepy, so I just dozed and listened to Hubby and his mom talk. They came and checked me a couple times, I was a 4 cm and then 7 cm.

Then around 11:30 the nurse said she wanted to see what was going on because the heart rate was showing signs that he was ready! She looked and his head was real low. They raced around getting things ready and then it was time to push. I pushed 3 or 4 sets and they stopped so they could suction him since he had meconium and then he was born. They held him up and then brought him over to the baby area to clean him and do all the things they needed to do. He was doing great. I watched with complete aw and satisfaction! He had black hair, and lots of it! After they got him cleaned up and stuff I got to hold him and tried to feed him. He latched on for a few seconds, which was good. We stayed in the room for an hour or so. They admitted me to my room and then they came and took him for his bath and stuff.