Monday, April 23, 2012

Birth Story Part 2!

Cruze' Birth Story PART 2


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Part 1 ended with us on our way to the hospital. I had no idea if I was truly in labor and I was about 80% sure we would be back home within a few hours. As I mentioned in part 1, our birth plan was to labor at home as long as possible and I made sure my doctor was okay with me going home if labor wasn't progressing.

So we arrived at the hospital and I insisted that I walk with my husband through the front door so I refused to let him drop me off. Yes I was having contractions. Painful ones. But I wanted to walk as much as possible while it was still possible. The four of us (Me, Phillip, Mom and Aunt) met at the front doors and although I was IN THE MIDDLE of another contraction, I paused to.... TAKE A PICTURE. Haha. Like I said in part 1, I wanted to record these memories. And that's just what we did. We took pictures/videos all the way into the lobby, up the elevator, into the labor and delivery room.... you get the idea. Tons of pictures. Imagine the faces on the people in the emergency room waiting area. Stunned, shocked, thinking I'm nuts? Yup. Here I am huffing and puffing and having trouble walking but you better believe I posed about 5 times for pictures. Their mouths were literally open and some of the women were giggling/ gasping in amazement.

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So we get to the counter to check in. My hubby says, "I think my wife is in labor". The lady says "okay have her sign right - OH MY SHE NEEDS A WHEELCHAIR" But guess what? She didn't have a free wheelchair! Yes. You read that right. In a hospital there wasn't a free wheelchair. Here's the craziest part. She then goes over to an elderly woman sitting in a wheelchair and tells her that I need the wheelchair. I was mortified. I WAS TAKING A WHEELCHAIR AWAY FROM A POOR OLD WOMAN. I even said, "no I don't need it". Well they didn't believe me so into the wheelchair I went. From the lobby to the elevator things progressed. THAT FAST. The man rolling me up was shocked at how I changed from one minute to the next. I think he even told me to stop talking at one point because I was in pain. Silly man. Little did he know I would be talking up until I was 9 centimeters... ya know, before the screaming began.

Once we were in the labor and delivery area I made sure they knew that I had a birth plan on file and that I wanted the room with the tub (to labor in).

My Mom and I

We got checked in and the nurse checked me. I wasn't sure how far along I would be but I was hoping to be atleast 4 centimeters and close to 90% effaced. Well she one upped me because I was 5 centimeters and 100% effaced. BAM! I was in labor. This was happening for real. As soon as she checked me she asked, "so what are we doing for your pain management? We can get an epidurrr-" To which we quickly said "NO." in unison. Ha, I think we scared her and it probably sounded wayyy more dramatic than it needed to be but I was IN THE MIDDLE of another contraction and I had to stay strong. I told her, "we have a birth plan. I don't want anything for pain and we would prefer it if NOONE brings that option up again". I was nervous that I would cave once the pain got bad enough and if I had people suggesting it at just the right moment it could make it much more difficult to stay strong.

As soon as they gave me the okay we started walking around the halls. RIGHT THROUGH MY CONTRACTIONS. They were getting strong - fast! Every contraction was a little longer, way stronger and closer together. I was determined to keep walking even through the worst parts. I was succesful! I felt so strong. Stronger than I've ever felt in my life. Every time she checked me I was further along. Significantly.

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It's funny how time seems to stand still when you're in that place. Every hour felt like 5 minutes. I wasn't even a little tired. At 3:41am I was 8 centimeters. I know this because I tweeted it. How crazy is that?! I don't know what I was on. My contractions were hurting like I never thought I could hurt but I was doing my best to either walk through it or completely relax my body no matter how bad the pain got. I breathed slowly and with as much control as possible. It was around this time when I was considering getting in the shower to have the water run on my back to help with the pain. I looked over at the door, back down at myself, over at the door - hold that thought, one more contraction - and then decided I did not have it in me. As close as my contractions were, I didn't have the time to make it to the bathroom. My doctor came through the door and it was like that's all I needed to let my body go. Within seconds my contractions got so bad I thought my body was going to levetate off the bed. My eyes were rolling back and the once calmish girl was gone. Crazy Eliza was in and ready for business!



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The moment I truly realized that my dreams were coming true
When my doc checked me she let me know that although I was now 10 centimeters, the way the baby's head was pushing down was getting in the way from me being ready to push. I'm sure it's a bit more technical than that but I was in too much pain to fully get it. She gave me two options. Either I let her break my water or wait it out. Again, I was in too much pain to get it. It was like I was in some sick dream. A few minutes went by (or maybe an hour - who knows) and she looked at me and said, "I'm going to break your water now. Is that ok?". YUP. As soon as she broke my water I felt the warm gush of fluid and OH MY GOODNESS!!!!! The most intense, out of this world pain EVER!

"I NEED TO PUSH RIGHT NOW!!!!"

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The EXACT moment pushing began


With the height of that contraction I started to push. I had no idea what I was doing or how it should feel. I pushed for about an hour and most of that hour I was thinking he would never come out. That and other things that I should NEVER REPEAT. I was determined to be nice to the people around me. Did that happen? I don't know. You'd have to ask my husband about that. I know that I used his fingers for pain management. It felt sooooooo good to crush his fingers. Doesn't that sound down right evil! I don't care. It felt amazing. I felt bad for him. sure. but oh boy did it feel good. Other than that, I tried not to say mean things. Oh and I flung a towel at him. What?! I asked for a cold towel and it was room temperature! But yeah other than THAT I was nice...ish.

I should add that while you're in that kind of mind-blowing agony you should be allowed to fling whatever you want at your significant other. RIGHT?! He didn't mind though. At least that's what he tells me.

Okay back to my story. Pushing. I've read how a lot of women think that's the easiest part. They say it's the most amazing sense of relief. What I want to know is what kind of crack those women were smoking (crack gets smoked right?). There was even a moment in there where I thought about how amazing a c-section would be. Other things I was thinking: how in the WORLD is this planet populated?!, who would do this TWICE?!.

But you know what? I would. I would do it twice, three times, as many times as I can because the end product is so so so amazing. And doing it natural? So worth it. I felt like SUPERWOMAN. And I did it all for this precious gift in my arms. AH, SO WORTH IT INDEED.

I pushed for about an hour. And yes, I felt EVERYTHING. I even felt his shoulders come through. A bit graphic I know. They brought in the mirror as he was about to come out (per my birth plan). The moment his head came out was so special but I only had half a second to catch my breath because in the blink of an eye his whole body was out. I can't explain the rush of emotions I felt. My baby boy, the one I cried to one day have, was here. He was about to be handed to me, crying and so very healthy. In that one moment our lives were forever changed. As they placed him in my arms all I could say was, "we waited so long for you". We had. So long. And here he was, in my arms. All 8 pounds 7.6 ounces of him. He looked up at us and even gave us a little grin. He was my baby and I was his mama and for a few minutes the world stopped. The doctor, the nurses, the cameras all faded into the background and it was just us. Our happy little family just the way we were meant to be.

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Mima and Cruze

Read Part 1 HERE
Read the story about when we found out we were pregnant HERE

11 comments:

  1. so beautiful! What a beautiful story!!

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  2. Eliza this is such a beautiful story! I'm so thrilled for you!!!

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  3. Your story made me laugh and cry... maybe it's the pregnancy hormones. I love, love, love your story and it makes me feel so much better about my birth plan. I've been doubting myself (who doesn't) but hearing you do it without meds and without ACTUALLY breaking your husband's fingers makes me feel like I can do this... either that or I will return and call you a big fat liar in July. Either way, thanks for sharing!

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    1. Haha, I actually dont know how my husband made it through with his fingers in tact. I doubted myself a lot too. But you can do it! Our bodies are designed to do this.

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  4. that was the most amazing birth story I've read. I almost cringed in pain for you, I felt like I was there!

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    1. Im so glad you liked it. :) it was the most incredible day of our lives. That's for sure.

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  5. Haha, I laughed so hard when you talked about posing for pictures in the middle of contractions, that's exactly what I would do too. I could see that looking so nutty too! And...she kicked an old lady out of a wheelchair? What?

    That sounds like an awesome (actually ideal - i know i say that now) birth experience. You must feel so blessed!

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    1. We are so happy with how the birth went. It couldn't have been more perfect for us :) all pain aside haha

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  6. I absolutely loved reading your birth story. I am so happy for you and your family!

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