This is what I remember from my labor and delivery. (Stop reading this if you are sensitive to these kids of things.)
My parents arrived about 1:30 on the 19th. After visiting a bit, Rich, Dad, and the kids ran to Menards and L&M while Mom and I played a game of hand a foot. I believe she won the very close game - by 5 or 15 points only.
At 4:45 I called the hospital as directed and was told they had a room available for me. Rich and I headed into town about 5:40. Poor Joey sensed something was up and was crying and clinging to me a bit. It was hard to let him go but Mom offered him ice-cream with chocolate on top and he readily accepted that and forgot about me. I remember getting into the van and then running back into the house as I forgot to say good-bye to Olivia who was busy watching t.v. I also remember crying much of the way to the hospital. I was sad that I was being induced, scared about the labor/delivery, and overwhelmed at the thought of raising three children, one of whom would be a newborn.
The check-in went fairly quickly and we were escorted up to the labor and delivery wing of the third floor. We were given room #3 and the nurse introduced herself and had me get the hospital gown on. She hooked me up to a monitor right away and I was having contractions - just nothing hard or very consistent but I would have them every 10-15 minutes or so. I was hopeful that labor was starting on its own and I wouldn't need the cervitol. While I was supposed to have the cervitol inserted at 6:00 but it wasn't until 9:30. I was frustrated with the wait and cried about it to Rich but was told that they had just had a Mom deliver and they were quite busy with some other Mom's in labor too. They didn't want to start me on the cervitol and take the chance of starting my labor in earnest so they wanted to wait until things grew more quiet. Then, when they were ready, the pharmacy was backed up! Rich and I spent the waiting time watching t.v. and walking round and round in the hallway. Rich left about 8:00. The nurse finally came at 9:30 with the cervitol. She said I was still only dilated to a 1 1/2 and not effaced at all. So, there went my chances at a natural delivery. I was then told that they would start the induction at 5:00 and would come in shortly before that to start the i.v. I slept on and off and was up for good a little after 4:00. I washed and brushed my teeth and hair and then waited....and waited....and waited. I finally rung my bell at about 5:30 and reminded them that I was to be induced at 5:00. The nurse said that they were quite busy and that it would be a little while before they could get to me. Oooh, but I was so frustrated and again, in tears. I walked the halls a bunch and waited for Rich. He came about 7:00. I was very hungry but all they would give me was jello and juice. I think I got my i.v. at about 6:00 and at 8:00 (finally!) I was induced. I also got a new nurse about that time. Her name was Erin and she was the best! (She checked me before the pitosin was started and I wasn't even at a two yet and still not effaced at all.) I told her my plans for delivery and she was so supportive. We talked a lot about our kids, pets, and jobs, and found out that we knew some people in common. She knew Jim Dahedl and it turns out that her husband and father-in-law installed the new carpet in our house - both times!
Dr. Armstrong came at about 9:00. He confirmed what the nurse said about not being effaced and not even at a two for dilation. He installed an internal device for monitoring my contractions and broke what we thought at the time was my water. While I didn't loose a whole lot of liquid when he punctured it, he thought that was due to me being over-due but said we'd wait and see.
I had a contractions the rest of the morning but not real hard and hadn't dilated much more. I remember being at a four around lunch time and thinking I had a long ways to go. Rich went to eat lunch at Subway. I was jealous as I was hungry and wanted to eat too.
Dr. Armstrong came back in the early afternoon and checked me. Since very little progress was made he said he wanted to see again if my water was broke. Well, he broke it that time and that finally got things moving some.
Erin kept promising me that we'd have a baby soon. I told her that at the rate I was going she wouldn't see it born - her shift was to end at 7:00.
Eventually the contractions got to a point that I could hardly tolerate them. I was on the bouncing ball some but went back to bed so they could check me again and stayed there. The baby's heartrate looked good the entire time. I watched the monitor a lot and watched my contractions. I tried breathing through them and really relaxing and not tensing up but it didn't seem to help much. I can't remember if the nurse recommended Stadol or if I asked for it but I was given just a half dose at first at my request. It worked right away and made me extremely sleepy. It made me so sleepy that I was able to sleep in between contractions. It felt so good to be able to do that so I asked for the other half of the Stadol dosage. I woke up for each contraction but was too tired to even make a noise. I got so hot and remember saying to Rich, "Rich. Fan. Suitcase". He got the fan and had it blow right on my face and it was just what I needed.
I labored for awhile and remember the nurse telling me I was at a seven and if I could just get to a nine, she'd have me push. (Since this was my third baby she thought I'd be able to push through a ten.)
The contractions were right on top of each by suppertime and they were very hard. I could hardly talk due to the pain but asked Erin when she came in for an epidural. I guess she looked at Rich and whispered that she didn't think I needed it - that I was getting close. I remember thinking and knowing that an epidural would take some time to get but I didn't care - I just wanted relief and to know that it was on the way.
Very soon after that I told Rich to get Erin as I felt like I need to push. He got Erin, she checked me, and I was at a ten! The doctor came in and they got all set up and talked me through pushing. I pushed a total of two times and Will was born! Rich had planned to cut the cord but after the first push the cord was wrapped around somethingsto the doctor ended up cutting it. Dr. A said, "It's a boy!" I remember Erin commenting that it was what I had predicted. Will was layed on my chest right on the skin and I got to help wipe him off with a towel. He was crying and I was trying to comfort him. I nursed him for a bit and Will was weighed and measured.
I called my parents shortly after he was born and I remember hearing Olivia in the background scream and say, "It's a boy!" They all came to visit me at he hospital later on.
