BIRTH STORY

On 08/08/08, I awoke at about 3:30 AM just like every other night. I got up and played on the computer for about an hour, then I headed back to bed. I laid in bed no longer then a couple of minutes when I heard a weird gush sound. I thought nothing much of it. Then a about a minute or two later I heard a "POP." As I was laying there trying to figure out what was going on I had the urge to go to the bathroom. I thought it was weird because I had just went before I laid down. When I stood up I felt some leakage. I thought to myself, OH NO, I'm peeing on myself." I had never done that, so I was almost distraught over it. I went to the potty then put on new panties and again I was wet, so gross...so weird. I was now laughing at myself b/c I couldn't figure out if I was peeing or if maybe the was "IT." After the third time of getting new panties I awoke Dan and begged him not to believe that I was peeing on myself, I said it over and over, "I'm not peeing, I'm not peeing..." I looked the dog in the face and plead to her, "I'm not peeing on myself" After Dan and I discussing this weird situation we came to the conclusion that this was it, my water must have broke. I was confused as to what to do next. Its 4:30 AM, who do you call when you confused as to whether your peeing on yourself or your water broke, and if it is the water then what are you to do? I texted (welcome to 2008) my best friend, Kellie, in New Jersey. I felt that if I was peeing on myself she couldn't tell anyone. She didn't wake up. Then we decided to call the my doctor, well the emergency line that answers during the night. The pleasant lady abruptly told me, "if your water broke mam' you need to go the hospital." We decided to head her advice and head to EJ. Dan and I packed a bag, and high fived and we were out the door. We were so excited, I will never forget that moment. On the car ride to the hospital, I was still confused b/c I still had not felt a contraction, which I associated with the water breaking and going into labor. I was still concerned that maybe I was peeing on myself. We went to the labor and delivery and the ladies knew right away what we were there for, after all is was about 5:00AM. The first question they asked was, "Did your water break?" I replied, "I think, I mean I don't know but I'm leaking and I'm not peeing on myself." She escorted me to a room. Once in the room she said that she was going to check to see if my water broke by taking a litmus test. How embarrassed would I be if I had been peeing on myself and she sent back home. Well, I wasn't! My water was leaking! It didn't break all the way so that's why I had a steady leak, hahaha. I was issued my blue hospital gown and ordered to get into the bed so they could hook me up to see if I was having any contractions at all. Well, I was. I'm not sure how strong they were but they were about every minute, I wasn't feeling them though. Then the nurse checked me to see how far I had dilated, I was 2 cm on Tuesday, I was 3 cm that morning. So we were making progress. As I sat back wide eyed and curious as to what comes next, I remembered my plan...GET THE EPIDURAL AS SOON AS I GET THERE. I asked the nurse, when I could have it and she said whenever you would like, I informed her that I was ready, NOW! By the way, I knew my nurse, she's my cousin Erin's best friend and she was the sweetest most perfect nurse! She doubled checked with b/c I wasn't feeling anything, but I was sure I was ready. I did not want to feel the pain of one contraction if I didn't have to. Right away, Renee (nurse) ordered the epidural and the began to prep me for it. IV in arm/hand, holy COW..that was the absolute worst part of giving birth. Renee was as gentle as can be, but I cannot bear getting shots, blood taken, much less a stint in my hand that stay there. Once that was in and I got down a bag of fluids the anastiealogist came in. He too was great. He got me all set up with the worst part being when he gave me the shot to numb me. So now I'm all ready, not feeling any pain. Time to just sit back and let everything take its course. And that's what just what happened.

At some point and time I was 5 cm and then in NO TIME I was 10 centimeters. When I reached 10 centimeters my nurse had me do a practice run on pushing. I was ready, I knew I would be good pusher and I look forward to this part. After the practice run I asked my nurse, now Lauren, how I did. She gave a me, "Alright." She might as well have told me that I was no good, and no help, but she tried to be nice about it. I expressed to her that I really wanted to be a better pushed and I wasn't sure what I was doing wrong. She decided to have me sit straigh up for 30 minutes and then we would try again. (Look the only reason I was a pitiful pusher was b/c I couldn't feel anything down there. They tell you to push to a certain spot, but I coudn't feel that spot to try to centralize my push..excuses, excuses, I know.) Anyway, those 30 minutes were up in no time. We had all the family and friends step out of the room and now it was show time. We were going to meet the little man in no time. PUSH, PUSH, PUSH... RELAX, RELAX, RELAX... over and over again. This all started at about 12:45 PM. I still wasn't the best pusher, so Lauren decided to turn off the epidural and let me get some feeling back. Lauren also informed us that Baby Dan was facing side ways. Most babies are face down and that makes for an easy delivery, some are faced up and that makes things more difficult, we were sideways so I guess we are somewhere b/t good and not so good. I pushed and pushed as she tried to reposition him to face down, and Lauren was successful. She got the angel face down and ready to just about pop out. Dr Schiavi was on her way and now it was just minutes unil Dan Michael made his debute. I was instructed not to push, hold tight for the doc. Now that I had my feeling back I was given a thumbs up on my pushing, I was almost too good. When Dr Schiavi arrived she suited up and had me give about 2 or 3 sets of 3 pushes and just like that we had us a baby! It seemed too easy and I was truly amazed that was all it took to get our little man.

THE DAN STORY
My poor, poor husband had a tough go with this. Although he was stoked and ready to be a Daddy, he had no stomach for the delivery. I totally didn't expect this from him. There were many chances for him to peep down and check out the head. He freaked every single time Lauren asked. Once we made it to the very end the nurses were more concerned about him and his well being then they were about me. We all got a good laugh at his expense during the delivery. He was relieved once Dan Michael arrived and there was no more pushing and waiting.