David's birth story #1

i was inspired to write out David's birth story by Stay at Home Mommy's series of posts about hers.

David has always done things a bit slowly. He's been the type of baby where he exhibits all sorts of signs of an upcoming phase, but it takes him FOREVER to get there. This was also true in utero. i was due on Feb 10, 2007. Starting around the early middle of January, my doctor noticed i was 1 cm dilated. i was pumped, because i was DONE being pregnant. Seriously. i was totally over it. So i started telling people! i stopped making plans to spend time with people, went on maternity leave early, and sat there and waited for the impending early arrival of my son.

January 15- At the next doctor's visit, i was still at 1, but the doctor said something else this time, something that gave me (false) hope. "I don't expect you to make it to next week's appointment." This was thrilling! i was very excited, but by the next appointment i was getting very impatient. i had read all my pregnancy books cover to cover, had watched all my movies, had my bag packed, and had meals frozen. My entire kitchen was clean, and i was starting to take David's newborn clothes out of his little dresser and just hug them, wishing he were wearing them right then!

January 22- The next appointment was the same.

January 29- So was the next. It was becoming a joke. "You're still at 1 cm! This time, I really don't think I'll see you next week!" my doctor would cheerfully sing.

February 3, i took a CPR training course taught by my husband and father-in-law, one i was hoping i wouldn't be able to attend. i played the part of the pregnant choker. (If you're doing the Heimlich maneuver on a pregnant lady, do it between the chest and the belly, not under the belly.) i am now CPR certified. i brought made-from-scratch cupcakes to the training, because i had been that bored.

February 6- The next appointment very exciting, because i was 4 cm dilated and David was due in 4 days! i had to have the baby by then, right?


February 10 *The Due Date*- i hadn't yet had contractions, but my stomach would occasionally tighten up for 10-20 sec. My mom told me these were contractions. (She was lying.) i couldn't feel them unless i put my hand on my stomach, but when she said i was having contractions, i got pretty excited, because this was happening quite a bit! That day, Kris and i were at Babies 'R Us at a clinic on how to install a car seat properly, and i noticed that every 5 minutes or so, i had one of my "contractions"! So we quietly went to the hospital and Kris called his work to let them know he wouldn't be there that night. After checking me out, the nurse left and came back about 4 hours 20 minutes later, with the news that my baby was not coming yet. She was nice and left for a bit, while i cried on Kris' shoulder. i was just so upset and miserable.

We left the hospital and started doing all those myths to get the baby out. We went to the mall and walked for a couple hours. We got castor oil, which ended up being funny because i didn't know of the effect it has on your digestive system! We had sex, ate spicy food, all of that.

February 13 *OVER DUE*- That appointment seemed to be encouraging. The doctor said "Well, are you very uncomfortable?" which was a silly question. Then he looked at his schedule and said "Do you want to induce on Thursday?" Another silly question. Of course we did! The nurse gave us the instructions that we were penciled into the system at Southdale, and they would call early Thursday (Feb 15) if they didn't have too many mommies actually going into labor. We were very excited. Finally something we could count on!

February 14- It was a lonely day. Kris was working, as he had been a lot, trying to get as much money before David came as possible. i sat there and watched my tivo'd episodes of Bringing Home Baby and A Baby Story.

February 15- 5:30 A.M. i was already awake, something i was used to since sleeping was so uncomfortable. i went downstairs and sat at the edge of the couch, clutching our home phone tightly. And i waited.
9:30 AM Kris came downstairs and told me i should call my nurse, something i was supposed to do if it was later in the morning and i hadn't heard from the hospital. i called her. And no, they could not fit me in for an induction, as i was pretty low on the priority list, not being quite one week overdue. Devastation surely followed. i don't ever remember crying that hard. Kris was great, and understood that in horrible situations, spending money will generally ease some of the pain. We went to Target and bought a baby monitor. Then we went to Olive Garden and had lunch. i felt horrible. i can't remember the rest of the day. It seems silly, but i remember that day feeling like one of the lowest points in my life. The baby would never come out, and i would be pregnant forever. All i wanted to do was meet my little guy!

February 16-i got a call from my nurse, my beautiful nurse Stacy! She had beautiful news for me: i was to be induced on the next day, Saturday! i was higher on the priority list as i was now one week overdue. Much more than that would mean the placenta would deteriorate and not provide adequate nutrition to li'l David. i was to call the hospital at 6:30 AM this time and make sure my "appointment" was still set. An appointment to have a baby!
That night i went to don Pablo's with my parents (yum! My fav restaurant) and visited my aunt, who had just had back surgery, in the hospital. My parents got me a Medela Pump 'N Save at Babies 'R Us.

February 17- 5:15 AM. i woke up, and was all nervous and butterfly-y. i was supposed to eat breakfast, but was too nervous and only ate an apple rice cake, which i would regret later.
5:45. Checked my watch.
6:00. Kris got out of the shower and joined my nervous couch-sitting. We watched something on t.v., not sure what.
6:15. Is it too early to call? Probably.
6:25. You know what? Screw it. i'm calling.
6:26. They answered, and yes, i was going to have a baby! i needed to get there as soon as possible, because they were waiting. They were waiting at the hospital for me to come so they could get my baby out!
6:30 i was showering and getting all that last minute stuff ready, like a toothbrush and my laptop, things i was too chicken to pack earlier in case i couldn't give birth that day.

More to follow!