Nugget is Here!

February 28, 2013 was a day that I was working from home.  I, also was able to finish some blog posts and I even cooked dinner.  I haven't done either of these things in a really long time.  Something was different.  I felt good...I felt like I had energy.  I had my bags packed and the house was sort of clean, I was just waiting for a baby that I believed would probably be staying in there for a little longer.  Then things changed.  I was taking out my contacts that have to sit in their solution for 6 hours, I thought that I shouldn't put them in there in case I went into labor that night.

I assumed my third trimester sleeping spot on the couch and went to sleep.  I woke up around 4:00am to go to the bathroom.  I felt a little bit of leakage, but I thought that I just had to pee, but I wasn't sure.  I laid back down and started to Google "What happens when you water breaks".  I then got up because I felt like I had to go to the bathroom again.  I made it to the kitchen and then my water broke at 4:17am and I was sure this time.  I called for Dufda and he asked if I was sure.  The large puddle under me, confirmed that I was in fact sure.  At that moment I forgot what the midwives told me to do.  The water was clear and I was GBS negative, so I think I was good to stay home, but I called the on-call midwife anyway.  She told me to go back to bed and call again at 8am to assess my contractions, which hadn't really started yet.  GO BACK TO BED?!  I am having a baby soon and the best part...my dad insisted the baby would come mid March...he was wrong, yes this was one of the first thoughts that went through my head.

So I gave sleeping a try, but I was getting random, inconsistent contractions that were uncomfortable.  I got up to walk around.  Not to mention, no one told me that when your water breaks, it does not stop.  This is when I started my new outfit of Depends and birthing gown.  I would go to bed every once in awhile, but barely slept.  I texted my best friend Lauren who would be joining us for the birth, but had quite the drive from West Virginia to make it.  She got things cleared up at work and started to drive here.  Getting closer to 8 o'clock I showered and did my hair...the important things.  I then called the new on-call midwife to see what the plan would be.  She asked if I wanted to come in for a early labor progress check.  I declined and told her I would rather stay home.  She told me to pay attention to my contractions and that I would know when to come in.  There wasn't a formula she could give and I was o.k to stay home till I didn't want to anymore.  I was starting to get contractions that were timeable.  I walked around the house and did some squats to try to kick start active labor.  Dufda went to get some Chinese food for us around 2:30pm.  While I was eating, the midwife called me and asked if I would like to come in to have my progressed checked.  I agreed, after I finished my lunch of course, since rush hour was about to start and I didn't want to have to be stuck in traffic while I was laboring.  So we loaded up the car and I strapped on  a fresh pair of Depends and headed to the Birth Center.  I sort of thought we would go home to make more progress so I wasn't getting my hopes up.  On the way there, my contractions all but stopped.  I had one minute long contraction on Grant Street that hurt like hell.

My Birthing Room

When we arrived at the Birth Center I had Dufda park in the parking lot because I didn't want to take the unloading zone spot reserved for the birthing moms.  I stepped out the car and had a real bad contraction.  We didn't bring any of of bags in, because I really thought I had more time.  I was waiting in the Ocean room, my first choice of birthing room.  As soon as the midwife came to check me, I started to get contractions about a minute long each and they were three minutes apart.  It was as if my body knew I was allowed to have the baby now and kicked into gear.  Dufda moved the car, because we would officially be "unloading" my precious cargo sometime soon, Lauren was called and was given the go ahead to make her way down. 

When they checked my progress, I was 3cm at 4:00pm...12 hours after my water broke.  I needed to get to 4cm to get into the tub.  I labored with breathable contractions till 6pm. It really wasn't that hard.  At 6pm, I was checked again and I was able to get into the tub.  At this point, I was able to have a contraction, then laugh and chat with Lauren and Dufda.  It was like we were just hanging out...that would be  if we typically hung out with me naked in a tub and my best friend and husband chillin' tubside.  It was oddly normal.

At 7pm the shift changed for the on-call nurse and midwife.  This was also the turning point in my labor.  I went from super happy to a demon.  I felt pretty bad for the new staff.  At one point, Dufda tried to tickle my stomach and the voice that came out of me to tell him that he better stop and resume pouring water on my stomach was that of a gorilla, mixed with Satan.  I remember the new midwife, Abby, checking my progress and saying that I was about 6-7 or 7-8cm, I can't remember.  I sort of started to panic in the tub.  I was hot and couldn't get a good grip on anything.  I think at one point I actually kicked and screamed, like a child.  There may have been some tears.  I got out of the tub and Abby was able to check me again.  I was actually only about 6 cm and I did cry at this point because I felt like I was going backwards...this was far from the truth.  I labored on the birthing ball until about 8pm.  It hurt so bad, there was no sugar coating it.  Screaming was just wasting my energy, so I switched to a really low hum.  I would sleep in between contractions.  There were several times that I shouted out that I needed to push.  Abby said I was not ready and that I should not waste my energy.  At one point she was able to push my cervix back around the head so I was the complete 10cm and I could push if I wanted to.  I tried pushing on the toilet, on my hands and knees and actually ended up in the one position I didn't think I would like...sitting up.  Let me tell you...pushing is awesome. It gives you something new to do and feels like you are actually making progress.  I bet it really hurt...I say that because I honestly can't remember.

Nugget starts to emerge.  Dufda who said he didnt' want to see him coming out, was all over watching his little noggin come out of this very small hole.  I, on the other hand, was offered a mirror and told them to keep it.  There is a point at which you are able to see your baby's head, but you aren't able to push because you aren't having a contraction.  This was the point that I panicked.  WTF was up with my babies head.  He was either going to have one of those little miniature heads on a stick, or be a member of the Conehead cast.  Cue the oxygen, for mom.  Nugget's heartrate was dropping slightly while I was pushing.  I noticed commotion to the side of me and was pretty sure I may be dying and this was all reassuring to me, because I had a head half outside of my vagina.  This is wildly uncomfortable and felt like I was in fact on verge of death.  I found out a little later, an extra midwife was being called just in case Nugget had any issues.  Abby came over and looked at me, told me I need to push harder.  I think I looked at her like I would incinerate her face with my glare, but I pushed harder than I ever thought I could.  Low and behold, a baby came out.  Here is where my thought process went out the window.  They placed Nugget on my chest at 8:59 pm and my first thought was, "What the hell is this?"  I then kept Nugget covered up, although apparently Dufda wanted to see him, you know, this being his child and all.  I was so concentrated on pushing, that I forgot that I was going to get something at the end.  Shock, is the only word that I could use to describe the feeling of being handed a human...a human that you created...that you now are responsible for...for at least 18 years...yeah it was pretty overwhelming. 

Next, I basked in the bliss of giving birth au natural, that's right, in case you missed it, Nugget was born out of hospital, without pain medication, without augmentation, and was completely healthy.   I am told I don't get a medal for this.  Well, I tend to disagree.  My medal is pretty awesome.

    I then was served breakfast in bed, that was prepared by my wonderful nurse, Ashley.  The best freakin' omelette and English muffin I have ever eaten.  Lauren left after a little while and Dufda and I were able to enjoy the fruit of my labor.   We of course did what all other new parents would do.  We dressed him up and took pictures.

  
Then we napped.  We were able to go home 4 hours after the birth, so that made our entire stay a whole nine hours.  I probably didn't even need to have someone watch Dolce.  We loaded Nugget in the car and drove home from The Strip in the middle of the night.  When we got home, I fed Nugget and we all went to bed.  Nugget was pretty generous that night, allowing us to sleep until morning.  We woke up and started our life as a family of three!

There we are!  3-1 Jad