So, here’s the labor story you’ve all been waiting for…

As you know, Wednesday I was back in the hospital for another round of Cytotec.  It got the contractions moving along nicely all day. I was 100% effaced and had dilated up to 3cm by evening! My doctor kept me for the night to watch for more developments. In the morning they would be breaking my water if it hadn’t already broke in the night, and we could expect Marco soon!

Wednesday evening we spent trying to keep relaxed; all the contractions were now in my lower back and becoming more painful. Thursday morning I took a shower and brushed my teeth, and by 8:00am, Dr. Henry was back to break my water and give me some more Cytotec. Unfortunately for me, the combination made the contractions so strong and painful that I could just barely keep it together. We tried all kinds of techniques to get Marco to release my sciatic nerve, but he was facing up and his skull just crushed it. I tried to get back in the shower, hoping the warm water would help with some of the pain, but I almost pulled the towel racks off the wall during my contractions. No good.

I was hungry too, and wondering why the breakfast I’d ordered hadn’t come in yet. Finally, I asked the nurse to check, and she informed me that even if she called, it would be too late for me to eat it. With the epidural, I would be on a clear-liquid diet (ice chips, water and jell-o!), and she’d just called the anesthesiologist to come and help with my pain (woo-hoo!!).  SHE WAS AWESOME. I loved her. She explained in exacting detail everything she was doing. The contractions were more painful than inserting the epidural, sadly! I was put on a good drip dosage, and given a fun little button to push in case I needed some extra meds to get through the pain. I only used it a few times, and in fact it was pushed for me by the nurses and my midwife more!

I stayed in bed all day, but couldn’t sleep. I hadn’t slept more than a few hours the night before, so was really exhausted; just too keyed up and anxious to take a nap. Finally, at 5:30 I was 10cm dilated and ready to push my little baby out! I was so happy to learn that I had made it! My mom, sister and Christopher (closest person I have to a father) had been pacing anxiously in the waiting room all day, so it was wonderful to give them the good news!  I was even more thrilled when I learned that Sue, my midwife, was on call that evening to deliver! I really liked Dr Henry and Dr Geary, but I love Sue…she’s simply amazing.

When she made it there, she informed me that Marco still hadn’t turned the right way (he was still facing up) and we’d need to do a lot of extra work to get him to move. I pushed for 2 hours, and by 9pm he was further along the canal but stubbornly refusing to change positions. He was stuck, and Dr. Henry would need to come in with the forceps. He’s actually one of the foremost-experts on using this tool, and had developed some techniques of his own (luckily!).  Sue would still be there to help talk me through the pushing. Up until then, I’d been able to talk calmly in between the contractions and pushing, so was not too miserable; once the forceps came into play, not so much the case. It was so uncomfortable it was bordering on painful, and it took another 45 minutes of pushing before my baby made his way into the world.  Dr. Henry is a big believer in having the dads help with the delivery (as long as I was comfortable), so once the head was through, Tim got to sit in the chair and help guide Marco out.

Then he was handed to me. OH. MY. GOD. I have never in my life felt so overwhelmed. He’s the most beautiful baby I’ve ever seen. I cried a lot, and couldn’t stop staring at him! He cried for a couple of minutes, and then he just stared back at me, and listened to me talking to him. I loved it! Tim cut the umbilical cord, and we just couldn’t believe how gorgeous our baby was! I expected him to look goofy, but he was already perfect. TMI TIMEUnfortunately, he was also huge, and I’d had to have an episiotomy during the last part of pushing to get him out. Even more unfortunate, once he fully crowned, the small cut ripped further down. TMI TMI TMI – I APOLOGIZE!

They took Marco to do a quick measurement check, and he came in at 8lbs, 6.4 oz and 21 1/2 inches in length. How did he fit in my body? I’m only 5’3″! I’d come into labor with a total weight gain of 23lbs – turns out it was mostly Marco!

Finally I was able to rest and let my family come in to see him. My lovely friend Adrienne had been anxious to come up, so she’d been waiting with my family as well.  Everyone noticed how beautiful and perfect my baby was (how could you not!?), and we decided that he looks like Tim. He has my eyelashes and, so far, my hair color. Otherwise, it’s all Timmy.

I couldn’t sleep at all that night. I stared at Marco and Tim all night long. I was so happy I couldn’t stop crying and smiling.

Go HERE for a quick video we took after Marco was born (nothing graphic or crazy in the video, don’t worry).