Three weeks early
October 17, 2012 2:22 am
Calvin Daniel Crosby was born!
I'll explain the birth story and everything in this post, sorry if its TMI?
First of all at my 36 week appointment (oct. 9th) Dr. Rappeleye (my obgyn) checked me and discovered that I was 2 cm dilated and 80% effaced. WHOA! I was kinda freakin out at this point, was I really ready to have this baby? I still have so much to do, i havent finished everything! AND my brother was getting married the following weekend in California meaning my mom wouldnt be there! Also I was getting SUPER nervous about the delivery, I didn't want to do it anymore despite how desperately I wanted the baby out and off of my pelvis. The Dr. ordered me to really take it easy and try to keep the little man in for at least 2 weeks ideally. I thought that was going to be impossible. it was SO hard to sit around and hardly do anything. That weekend I had some more contractions, or Braxton Hicks, and cramping and had a few false alarms. Let me tell you, that made it worse!
I made it a week to my next appointment for my 37 wk check up. He checked me to see that I was dilated to 3 cm and 100% effaced. Well ok, I thought, I guess this guy is gonna come when he wants to and it didn't sound like he was gonna wait another week for mom to get here! The Dr. wasn't thrilled obviously but said I could go into labor any minute now, or my water could break at any time too. At least I was technically full term, but it would be best to keep him in as long as I can.
I went home coming to terms with the fact that I knew he was coming early and that my mom wouldnt be able to make it, but it was ok because I knew I could do it!
And the Dr. was right. I went into labor that very night the 16th. the time kinda seemed a blurr once I got to the hospital as to when things happened. But I know that evening from 6 to 7 i started getting more contractions, bearable but noticeable for sure. I decided to make sure I had everything ready for the hospital and text steven a heads up in case "this was it". At about 7 or 7:30 my water broke. Although I didnt realize it at first. I kinda felt a "pop", but thought nothing of it. until I felt that "gushing feeling". No its not like in the movies where you are pouring out water all over the place. But I was most definitely leaking. Then soon after that my contractions got worse! I could hardly talk through them or breath. Steven was at work, and I didnt want to make him leave work again (for another false alarm) SO I called my mom of course. She said "dang it you are in labor!" haha I tried to hold out a little bit thinking they would send me home if the contractions weren't that bad. 7:50ish came around and I couldnt do it, I called Steven and the only words I could get out through that contraction was "get home now". He hung up and I guess as he was so excited he ran out of the store and yelled "I'm having a baby". We raced up to the hospital and the whole time I kept telling steven to slow down, and he kept telling me this was the one time that it was actually ok. Luckily we only live maybe 5 minutes away so it was that far.
Once we arrived and checked in it was just after 8. my contractions were hurting real bad both in front and in my back. They couldnt quite give me the epidural then, becuase they had to fully admit me with the paperwork and what not, so they gave me some medicine that was gonna help but would only last about 45 minutes to an hour. I felt so weird on that stuff, and did not care what was happening. The contractions still hurt but not as bad as they were. Oh and when they checked me I was 31/2 cm dilated and my water for sure broke, there was no doubt about that.
Finally the little asian lady with the good stuff came in. maybe this was around 9:30? This was probably one of the biggest things I was nervous for. The epidural. the idea of a big needle going into your spine and possibly being paralyzed?! ok I didnt really think that would happen to me i was more scared about the whole thing hurting really bad. But with the numbing shot and what medicine I had left in me, I hardly felt a thing. Sure I felt the coolness of the medicine go into my back, but I was just relieved that I could relax and hopefully get some rest. Well about a half an hour rolled by and then an hr and I still was in pain with the contractions. It wasn't working. I started to panic in my mind thinking I would have to go through this whole thing with no choice but to feel everything that was happening. They called my favorite lady back into the room and she gave me another dose. Apparently I was progressing so quickly that they had to give me more epidural. And then, it was wonderful. I was relieved from the stress of my body tensing up every time a contraction came. But I did have to lay and sit in several different positions because his heart rate would drop if I was positioned otherwise. They said he was sunnyside up which was going to make it a whole lot more painful for me and harder as well. Great! The nurse told me at one point that if he didnt move or if his heart rate kept dropping they would do an emergency c-section. Before I ever went into labor I was totally ok with this option if it happened, but at that time when she told me I got a little discouraged or bummed. I wanted to do this. So they ended up putting fluid back in there to see if it would stop his heart rate from dropping. And it seemed to help a little.
From this point on I couldnt remember how much time had passed. Maybe an hour she came back and checked me and I was at a 6. My phone was ringing off the hook as well as Stevens. His sister Erica came for support and as well as his good friend Mark who was also our photographer. I'll get some pictures posted once I see them :) We all hung out, watched some ridiculous tv shows that were on way late at night. I hardly remember them because I kept dozing off. She came to check me again and I was at a 9. I was cruising! I could feel some more pressure down there but she said she would come back in an hour to check me. I was fine, I just kept hitting that button for the epidural :)
An hour had passed and she still hadnt come to check me, I was sitting up with half of my bed higher than the other, to try to get him to drop more and turn a little bit. I kinda felt like I needed to push, but wasnt quite sure. Steven asked if she could come check me to see if I was right, he came back in the room and said the nurse said she had been watching my contractions and didnt think it was time yet. well I heard and kind of felt this gushing noise. I told Steven to go back and tell her to come in and check me. He told the nurse what happened and she said to the other nurse as he was walking away. "oh these first time dads get so worked up over nothing, I'm sure she has awhile" Well did I prove her wrong on this theory. She finally checked me and then got some things together and said, Ok we are gonna have you start pushing now! I wanted to say, told you! haha but I didnt :)
I guess Dr Rappeleye, my obgyn, wasnt on call but Dr. Brown was, who was actually at the same office I go to, and have heard nothing but great things about all the Drs. there so I wasnt too worried. So my nurse called Dr. Brown and said I was going to start pushing but it was going to be awhile because of the position he was in and she would let him know when it was closer. Well I gave a few good pushes and she said ok I need you to stop because I'll get in trouble if I deliver another baby on my own. haha Once Dr. Brown finally got in, I was starting to feel my contractions some more, I just wanted this baby out! I gave a few pushes and the Dr ended up cutting me a teensy bit since I had already ripped a little. (thank goodness I didnt feel a thing!) Then I gave one good push and bam! out came my tiny little baby boy at 2:22 am. I couldnt take my eyes off him. I couldnt believe how tiny he was and that I made that in my stomach! Steven cut the cord and they laid him on my stomach while they cleaned him off.
The worst part of it all was the placenta I think. The Dr. told me not to push but that I would feel tons of pressure. he pulled on the cord that was still attached and pushed super hard on my stomach and out it came. I felt as though I got the wind knocked out of me! And it didnt end there, they kept pushing and pushing to get any extra fluid out of me as well as drain my bladder (boy was i grateful later they did that)
While I was getting stitched and cleaned up I watched as they checked Calvin out and wrapped him up. He weighed in at 6 lbs 4 oz 18 in long. I couldnt help but think in my head, thats all?! I thought for sure he would be longer maybe a little bigger. Then I hear them say "call Mary tell her to get in here. Call Mary!" I thought, who is Mary and why does she have to be in here, there are plenty of nurses. Well Calvin started to grunt and hardly cry anymore. they tried to get him to cry some more but he kept grunting. As a few of the NICU nurses were working on him the other delivery nurses kept telling me how cute he was and that he was going to be ok. I started to get worried. I wanted to start crying, but I couldnt. I then look over and see my dear husband holding his baby boy for the first time, just staring at him with a smile on his face so in love with him. He finally handed him to me and I got to hold him all of about 10 seconds before they wheeled him away to the NICU. I dont quite remember what they said as to why he had to go to the NICU at that point but something to do with his grunting wasnt normal, and off he went. I didnt know how to feel at that point because I didnt quite understand what was going on and I think I was still in shock at the fact that I just had a baby, and that I was no longer pregnant. Steven and Mark went with Calvin to the NICU and I guess as they were giving him the IV steven almost passed out and he had to sit down and drink some juice. haha Boy was that quite the joke between the nurses every time we went to see him. lol. Erica was so kind to stay with me until they got back and while the nurses gave me some pain meds and some crackers and this delightful juice cocktail thing. Well once I took the pills, nothing wanted to stay inside anymore. yes I indeed threw up luckily I made it into the bucket. boy has it been a long time since that happened and am I glad i doesnt hardly ever happen because I absolutely hate throwing up!
The boys got back and of course were starving so they went to go grab some food and then Steven would be back to stay with me. It seemed like they had taken forever! I got a cleaned up and in a new gown with those sexy panties that I love oh so much (they actually were quite comfortable) and up I went to my recovery room. It was about 4 by the time I got up there, and all I could think about was how Calvin was doing and when I would be able to see him. also I was STARVING. Steven finally got back and said the only thing that was open was Ihop, man some pancakes sounded so good right about then. But i was left with crackers, and I asked the nurse for some food ANYTHING. she managed to find a turkey sandwhich with chips and jello, and a cookie. yes I ate a turkey sandwhich at 4 in the morning , ok half of it. I finally fell asleep for about 2 hrs? I was woken up to try to pee and take more pain meds as well as the NICU Dr. came to bring me some pictures of Calvin and report that he was struggling and breathing really fast so he was going on a ventilator to help and go from there. I was bummed, I thought he would only be in there for a few days and come home! boy was I wrong.
Stevens parents decided to drive up that day to be with us Thursday until Sunday. As my mom couldn't come be with me until Monday. We had some great friends come visit us at the hospital and lots of love and support being sent our way via facebook, email, and texts. As for more info on Calvins NICU stay, I'll make another post because this one is getting ridiculously long, I just dont want to forget anything and want to be able to look back and compare from our future children :)
All in all, my delivery experience wasn't all that bad. about 7 hours of labor, and 20 minutes of pushing? I'll take it! Makes me that more grateful after hearing friends who've spend hours/days in the hospital in labor. I'm just happy at this point our baby boy is healthy and getting stronger each day. We love him so much!
