Finally, Trey's birth story

As you can imagine, it's been a bit of an exhausting week. We came home last Sunday and it's been kind of a blur since. Taking care of 2 kiddos, even with help, can be a challenge at times and is going to take some getting used to (any tips BTDT?). Hopefully, it gets easier?

So, the birth story...

As you know, we scheduled our induction for Friday, Sept 14th. We were set to be at the hospital at 7. We dropped B off at my IL on the way, grabbed a quick snack at the gas station and headed in. We got all checked in and in our room by 7:20 or so. Our nurse Kristi, who was AMAZING (and as a side note is studying to be an NP-CNMW and will graduate in April- hence why she was so awesome!), went over everything with us for about 30 minutes, got me in a gown, in bed and started IV and pitocin at 8. At this point Batman made an outlandish prediction that baby boy would be born by 1pm. I kind of rolled my eyes at him thinking it was going to be a bit longer than that.

Just like with Brynna, pitocin without having my water broken, was uneventful. We "labored" like this for what seemed like EVER! Even when she cranked things up (which she only went up to 20 {out of 40units}) and my cx were 1 min apart, I could barely feel them. Didn't have ANYTHING stronger than a good BH. After a bit, she turned it down a little, but still kept them consistent at every 2 min. Batman and I walked around the room, played cards, joked, watch a little TV, took some terrible pictures, and tried to figure out a name for our little man. At 9:30 I was really getting antsy to have my doc come back and break my water. I knew NOTHING was going to happen without it, but he was having a bit of a busy office day (apparently) and wasn't able to get over.

Finally, at 10:30 Kristi paged him and told him I was begging him to get things moving ;-) She was my best advocate LOL. I was still "laboring" (I put it quotes because, while I was technically in labor, I wasn't feeling ANY.THING.) and hanging out in our room with Batman just twiddling my thumbs (sometimes literally). At 11 Dr West showed up and and checked me. I was only at a 4/ 80-90% effaced. A little progress from Wednesday, but not much (but still farther along than I was when I was induced with B- I was only at a 2 with her when he broke my water).

And here's when things started moving, which I knew they would. Water was broken at 10:55. Kristi strapped on the telemetry monitor so I could do some laps around the hallway about 11:15 (she had to have a good 20 minutes ofHR/ CX on the dinosaur monitor before I could move to the "movable" one). I was finally starting to feel like cx were actually making progress. Batman and I walked the hallway for about 20 mins. Cx were still coming every 2 min, but much stronger than before. Obviously, I could still walk and talk through them, but they were definitely making themselves known. At this point, Batman realized he needed to take care of some *ahem* business before things got really moving, so he walked me back to my room and headed to the bathroom. Kristi sat me on the ball and had me rock for a while. I think by the time Batman got back to my room it was a little after noon.

I was really feeling cx now and was having a hard time talking through them. Kristi had turned the pit completely off a little earlier, so I knew my body was taking over and little man would be coming soon (or at least I was hoping!) She suggested I try sitting on the toilet backwards for a while and laboring there, holding on to the handicap bar. OMG this was really a godsend! (oh and PS I had/have this total fear of shitting myself while in labor- since I did with B and was TOTALLY disgusted with myself- so this was a great way to circumvent that issue) Here's where the timeline gets a bit fuzzy. Batman says I labored there for about 20-30 minutes or so, moaning quietly and breathing through each one. I started to feel like I was going to be sick (never did throw up though) so they got me up and I moved to the edge of the bed and swayed for a couple cx, which was REALLY difficult. I can remember thinking to myself "standing is NOT helping the pain- I just want to get into bed!" Kristi and Batman both put some pressure on my hips and talked me through breathing. After what felt like the LONGEST 2 cx ever, she asked if I wanted to crawl into the bed- *nods vigorously* and of course another cx hit while she was lowering the bed enough for me to get up into it.

Just as I heaved my body (and I do mean heaved- it was all I could do to get myself up there, even with it at normal height) my doc walks in. Apparently, right after I got off the toilet Kristi paged him with the "get here ASAP" message. He immediately got into his paper gown and said "let's have this baby!" I was on all fours in the bed and at once felt the need to push (later Batman addmitted to me that he was afraid I was going to push little man out that way ;-)

Between Batman and Kristi they were able to get me on my side while my doc checked me (the only time since he broke my water that I was checked... it was kind of awesome not being prodded all morning long) and I was at a 10! I pushed with the next contraction, gritting my teeth, telling myself "I can do this" even though I felt like my vag was ripping in half (well, it kinda was). Then again with the next and the next and then... Little Man was HERE! At 1pm almost to the second (per Kristi) Trey arrived and was laid immediately on my chest where he remained for the next 45-60 min. No whisking away to get poked and weighed, no crazy hubbub. Just me and my 2 men (well, and Kristi and Dr West and another nurse- who took some pics).

We hung out, discussed names (he was almost an Evan), nursed, talked, and just explored the wonderment of our new little guy. I had a small tear that required 2 stitches, but nothing big. The afterbirth euphoria was AWESOME! Everything about Trey's birth was SO nice and what I wish every l&d was like. (don't get me wrong, I had no issues with B's birth, but this time it was so laid back and "easy" and serene and calm... almost perfect, to be honest) I wish I could express in words how awesome the whole experience was.
Depsite having the cord wrapped around his neck twice, Trey got apgars of 8 and 9. He officially weighed in at 8 lbs 2.2 oz and measured 20.25 in long. Bigger than his sister, but just the right size for a little boy a week overdue, if you ask me ;-)

Nursing is... well that's a post for another day. Needless to say, it's been a struggle, like with Brynna, but we are working on it and determined to make it a year.

I've got a slide show in the works with all the pics from the hospital. I hope to have it up in the next day or so ;-)

Whew! I hope I didn't forget anything!