Smith...Party of Four!: Thinking Back

I have been wanting to do a blog post about the day Nolan came into this world for some time now. I guess am afraid I will loose some of that day as time passes. With my first day back at work just around the corner, there is no time like the present....so here it goes. Warning: it's a doozie!

I was set to be induced on August 13th at 5:00 p.m. My little guy was a week late, and mama was DONE! My mom and sister flew in that day to be here....and thank GOD for that. I would have been a nervous wreck without them here to keep me company that day. Brad wasn't able to get off of work until 4, so it was just me and the girls for most of the day. We went to J. Alexanders for some illegal lunch. My doctor told me not to eat past 10 that morning, but I knew that wasn't going to happen. I would die...starve...kill someone. I don't do well when my belly is empty :)

We (mom, Elise, Brad and myself) arrived right on time. Of course, there was a wait. Like almost an hour. We sat in the waiting room on the labor and delivery floor. Time just ticked by...very slowly. There was a HUGE family there waiting for their baby to be born. Apparently, they were also the "Smith Family". When my poor nurse called out for Smith they all jumped up thinking the baby was here and cheered for joy! Sorry to disappoint folks...its just me! :)

Walking back to the room where I would deliver my boy, I felt like I was in someone elses body. It almost felt fake. I was in the furthest...and I am not kidding....the furthest room from the lobby. Compare it to the long walk from death row :) My nurse was okay. She was not the warmest human being, but then again I really didn't care at that moment. I was freaked out! I guess seeing the bed, monitors, baby cart thingy made it all seem VERY real. I WAS GOING TO HAVE A BABY...TODAY....ohh how I wish that was how it all played out!

Thursday night came and went. Long story short...I was suppose to get some medicine to get things started, but it turned out I was already having some contractions on my own so they couldn't give it to me. Why they didn't send me back home I will never understand. My night nurse was so sweet...poor thing had to come in every hour to help me go to the bathroom. They were pumping me full of fluids...and I mean FULL!!!!

Friday morning at 6 a.m. I started pitocin. I was greeted with a new nurse (if you are counting this is nurse number 3) with wide eyes and a perma-smile. She was strangely calm, cool, and collected. She would come in ever hour or so to up my dosage and help me use the restroom. The contractions didn't start hurting until they broke my water, and they were just sure it would "get things going"...not so much!

Really, Friday is all a fog. I remember hurting sometime that morning, and taking a nice, nice, nice little pain reliever. Knocked out! Thank goodness I slept those few hours...I might not have had the energy to endure what was to come. I remember getting HOT HOT HOT. Sweating. I think the thermostat was on 50 or something. Everyone was so cold. Sorry folks...I'm the one having the baby so I get to pick the temperature! By the time the epidural lady came, I was hurting pretty bad. It took her a few tries to get it in there right, but I didn't care. The contractions were hurting worse than that little needle, so bring it on. Sadly, a few hours went by and I could still feel my contractions on my right side. The second epi guy came in...he was an actual anesthesiologist ...and he gave it another try. Reinserted that needle, but this time I could not feel a thing. The contractions were gone, and I was good to go. Visiting with folks and having a grand ol' time. Some time that evening, I started getting "hot spots" in my right hip. The worst burning, intense pain. Ohhh it hurt so bad!! They came back in to adjust things, but it didn't help. By this time, I had not eaten since Thursday at noon was getting sick just from having an empty belly. Sorry to all of you who had to watch as I threw up...four times....didn't know you signed up for that now did ya??? :)

I fought through the "hot spots" and was able to have an okay evening. I just could not believe I was still in labor. Every time my doctor came in to check me, she would get this look on her face. She was thinking the same thing I was: "this is going to be a long night". Fortunately, she was the doctor on call that evening, so I didn't have to deal with some random doctor.

My poor family...and sweet Leeah. I am sure they all thought I would be in labor for maybe 10-12 hours. Don't they know I do most things the hard way??? ;) We tried to cut up and have a good time, but let's face it...we were all done!

At 7:00 my night nurse arrived (yup..that's number 4). THANK GOD FOR HER! She was wonderful! Kept spirits high, and didn't have that "she's going to have to have a c-section" look on her face. Sometime between 7-9 p.m. my contractions started coming back. They were painful, but I was able to breathe through them and continue enjoying time with everyone. Oddly enough, my Aunt Rhonda was there seeing a friend of hers who was also having a baby. It was one big party in my room! Little did I know that party was about to come to a halt!!

The next few hours are a blurr. I remember being checked by my doctor and hearing talk of a c-section if things did not progress. My water had been broken for sometime now. My contractions picked up tremendously. One minute I was talking to everyone able to breathe through my contractions, and the next minute I was in the most intense pain I had ever been in. I kicked everyone out of the room, and just held brad's hand. No talking. No noise. Silence is what I needed. Apparently, this is when I was going through transition labor. You know...the kick your butt kind. I went from being 5 cm to almost 9cm in about 30-40 minutes.

My entire pregnancy it was just going to be me and my husband in the delivery room. I wanted to experience the birth of our son together...just our little family. Well, all that went out the window when the time came. My doctor came in and was amazed that I had progress that much so quickly. I heard the words "pushing" and "hour" in the same sentence and freaked out. Immediately I wanted my mommy. HAHAHA! Isn't that funny. Guess no matter how old you are you revert back to that stage. Brad called mom and she and Leeah both came. I am so happy they were both there. I don't know why, but I just really felt the need to have women with me who have had babies as well...not sure what they could have done for me...just needed to have them there. None of us were aware that they would take part in the delivery. My wonderful nurse gave them each a job...and that was that!!!

I really don't know how much time passed, or the events that led up to little man being born. I was in so much pain. I had to put myself somewhere else mentally. I was told that I pushed for an hour...good for a first time mom...go me! I didn't open my eyes and I didn't do all that yelling crap. Really like an out of body experience. My nurse was the best...she talked me through everything. God put her there....I have no doubt.

Nolan arrived at 1:59 a.m. Saturday morning. Took him a minute to start breathing...scarred this mama to death. He eventually figured it all out and let out this little cry. I held my breath my entire pregnancy, so I guess he thought he would do the same ;)

I was able to hold him for a little while before he went to the nursery. I needed to sleep and eat. I was wheeled up to the postpartum floor, and asked not to pass the nursery on the way. If I saw my little bean crying, I don't think I could have left him in there. The best thing for me was to get some rest. Fat chance...I didn't get to sleep until around 5 that morning and the doctor came in at 7 am to check on me. Shortly after, they brought Nolan in to be with his mommy. Who needs sleep????

Needless to say, it was a LONG labor and delivery process. I was in active labor for 22 hours. If you count the stupid night I spent in the hospital the night before it tallies to 35 hours. That's almost 40 hours of not eating...A BITE!!!

Wouldn't change a thing...all these events led up to having the most beautiful, sweet, cuddly little boy. Brad was a trooper...hung in there the entire time. Didn't pass out or get sick one time! :) I posted a few pics...beware...I am not looking my best. Many hours without a shower!!!!

Before leaving for the hospital...good thing I didn't know what was about to occur. I may not have gone!

Dr. Cothern and I. He is the doctor who delivered me!! He happened to be in the hospital that day. Calm, cool, and collected nurse went and found him. Note the baby doll. Mom brought my first baby doll and baby book...she saved all kinds of stuff from then day I was born. My calm, cool and collected nurse rounded up all the almost retired nurses on staff that day to come look. They had a party in my room reminiscing about the good ol days...don't mind the chick on the bed...I'll just hang out right here :)