I woke up Sunday morning and kept thinking she's coming soon. I packed and got most everything ready. I cleaned out the garage while Danny and the boys washed the boat. Finally, around 8 pm I started having contractions. I just knew she was going to make me labor all night long!!!!! The boys were easy on me!
I got in the shower to see if the contractions would stop and they didn't. I called my friend Jennifer to let her know we may end up at the hospital since she was nice enough to come over and watch the boys! I tried to lay down thinking I could sleep through it. Yeah right! I wish! Finally about midnight, they were 5-7 minutes apart and since this was my 3rd baby I went ahead and called my Midwife on call. After all, they say the 3rd one comes really fast!
Bridget was the midwife on call. Thank goodness. There was one at the practice I was avoiding and the midwife I'd seen throughout my pregnancy was oncall on Monday. Bridget told me to come on so we called Jen and loaded up the car. We were on our way about 12:30 am! I got there and they didn't want to admit me until I was checked and monitored. At that point my contractions were back to all over the place so Bridget said I could stay or go home. It was up to me. Since Jen was with the boys, I figured I'd stay. I didn't want to have to come back an hour or so later. I was 4 cm dilated when I was checked at 1:30 am. My labor and delivery nurse was horrible! She was the one who checked me and I have NEVER had it hurt so badly!!!!!! I cussed her every time she walked out of the room after checking me!
I got on the birthing ball and rocked in the chair and about 3:30 she checked me again and I was 6 cm dilated. Again, very painful. It was obvious this nurse didn't know what she was doing. I even told her that her checking me hurt worse than the contractions!!!!!!!
At that point, they admitted. I got into the tub since my contractions were consistent and were hurting like hell. I can't really say it eased them, but it was a change. I stayed there for a couple of hours or so before I had to be put on the monitors to check the contraction and heart rate. I also got checked again and around 5:30 I was about 8 cm dilated and was in quite a bit of pain at that point. It was taking forever and I was so sleepy!!!!!!
I was really starting to feel a lot of pressure by about 6:40ish. Nurse came in and asked me if I wanted her to check me again and I said NO!!!! I couldn't take her checking me again. No way in hell. I think she got the point because she asked if I wanted Bridget to come check me and I said yes that would be great!
Bridget apparently talked to Carrie before she came in and asked if I could hold out for 10 minutes until Carrie could get there since I had seen her the entire pregnancy and I told her I'd try. I mean I can't really control it at this point!!
I managed somehow. Carrie came in and checked me which by the way didn't hurt at all. I was 9 cm and my water was bulging. She knew I didn't want to augment labor in any way, so she asked if I wanted her to break it and I said YES! No hesitation there. It had been a long night and I wanted her OUT! Carrie broke my water and it was within a matter of minutes I was feeling the urge to push.
I was so hot and was telling them to fan me. Danny would start fanning me and then I'd start yelling at him to give me his hand. I needed something to squeeze. The last few minutes were rough. I was sorta waiting to see if I needed to push and waiting to see if I was going to get some guidance so I didn't rip, but I didn't get any. I just got that overwhelming urge to push and they couldn't get my legs in the stir ups fast enough. My left leg went up, but my right one was not going. I was having a calf muscle cramp mid contraction and trying to push. They were yelling at me to get my leg up and I am saying between gritted teeth that it isn't going up because of a leg cramp. Finally, I got it up and I don't think I even pushed 3 times and she was out. I was exhausted.
Carrie laid her on my chest and the first thing I said was..."She has hair!" I was so surprised by that. I just knew she wouldn't. Her umbilical cord was in a knot. Carrie said that was rare. It was cool looking.
Danny said I turned into the exorcist at the end and I am sure I did. It was rough, but I got the birth I wanted. I think next time I should have drank more water to prevent those cramps!!!!
I sure thought my 3rd birth would be quick, but it definitely wasn't! It was as long as the first. I think if my water had broken sooner it would have been much faster!!
