After a few false alarms and being sent home from the hospital I was feeling very gun shy about going back until I knew for sure I was in labor. Lucky for me (I guess) my water broke at 2:22 a.m. on November 4th. I was 40 weeks and 2 days pregnant. I remember the time because I woke up wondering if the pain I had just felt was real or if I was dreaming. Since I was awake anyway, I figured I might as well take one of my dozen night-time trips to the bathroom.
It worked out really great that I was in the bathroom when my water broke. I could not believe what was happening. And, I'll always be so very happy that my water broke at home and not at work or anywhere else public! The water just kept coming so I tried to yell for Jake but I had closed both the bedroom and bathroom door because I didn't want to wake him up with the light. In our room, I knew the fan was running and he had on his c-pap machine. I couldn't keep yelling because I didn't want to wake up the kids. Finally, there was a break and I walked to the bedroom door and yelled for Jake to wake up. The water gushed again all over the hallway floor. Thankful for tile!
Jake came flying out of our room already halfway dressed. We cleaned up a little bit, I called my parents to come for the kids, and we headed to the hospital. Abbi was awake when Jake went down to tell her we were leaving because I guess she did hear me yelling for Jake.
We got to McKay Dee and I was checked in at 3 a.m. and even better, the nurse said they wouldn't send me home this time! I knew it was the real deal because they took me straight to a labor and delivery room. I had a few contractions since I woke up and was naive enough to think that was as bad as contractions were. So, I told Jake and the nurse it that's all it was then I maybe didn't want an epidural. The nurse laughed and then I had my first real contraction.
I was so scared to have the epidural. I really don't think I've ever been that afraid before. Jake and the nurse did a great job trying to help me. I never looked at the doctor or his cart of materials. He came in, did his work, and was gone quickly. Having a contraction and an epidural at the same time is actually really awful. Really awful. But the epidural made my day. Oh, it was wonderful. And, we're so lucky we came to the hospital when we did because right after my epidural the two anesthesiologists were both taken into an emergency situation and were unavailable for the lady that came in after me. She was further along in her labor and there was no epidural available for her. Hearing her holler from down the hall made me very grateful.
My doctor, Dr. Davis, left for New York City to run the marathon the night before so my doctor was Dr. Johansson. She had six women in labor and delivery that day but her and the nurses expected I would deliver in the late afternoon because I progressed quickly after arriving at the hospital. We kept talking about all the good things I could choose to eat for a late lunch. But the day shift nurse came and left and I was back to my original night time nurse. My progress had really slowed down and they kept turning up the pitocin to keep my contractions strong and regular.
At 9 p.m. I was ready to start pushing but the day had shown the baby had no intention of lowering for delivery. Neither of us were in distress so the doctor wanted to see what would happen if I tried pushing for 90 minutes. So I did. I was so exhausted from the day that I would nap in between every contraction and Jake would have to nudge me when it was time to push again. The epidural is amazing. I could nap in the middle of delivery. After 90 minutes, the baby hadn't moved down at all so I was prepped and taken into the operating room for a c-section.
I had always felt like the c-section was inevitable so I wasn't surprised or nervous about why I had to have one. While the nurses prepped me, Jake gave me a priesthood blessing and then we were whisked away. Jake had been dressed in some coveralls and a mask and they put a hat on me.
I saw very little in the operating room and things went really fast. It was a small, cramped room with lots of people. I was taken in at 11 p.m., Jake sat next to my head and tried to start my Pride and Prejudice sound track on his phone and a few seconds into the first song I heard a little squeak and got a peek of a baby over the curtain and they took her away. It took a minute to convince Jake to follow the baby because he was focused on helping me be calm. But, the anesthesiologist scooted up and visited with me while the doctor sewed me up.
After a minute, Jake and the baby were back right next to my head. I couldn't touch her because my arm was tied down but seeing her in Jake's arms was the best thing I've ever seen. Once I was moved onto my bed to be taken to recovery I got to hold little Clara. She was wide awake and it wasn't long before she was hungry. We fed her a little bottle, the nurse cleaned me up, and we got moved to our hospital room. I loved that I got to hold her while we got moved around.
It was daylight savings and the time changed which was really confusing for our new nurse. She was busy figuring out what time the medicine and other things had to happen while I just held the baby. I was so exhausted but I didn't want to send her away while she was still wide awake. But the nurses talked me into it after a while because Clara still needed her big bath. I asked to have her back when she was ready for her next bottle because there was no chance to really get good sleep.
The next morning started all the exciting introductions for everyone. Abbi and Noah had a long day waiting for the baby to arrive and fell asleep before we could tell them she had arrived. It was the best to have us, all five, together first thing in the morning.
Jake filled out the loads of paperwork in the labor room. He also kept my water cup full and the Dum Dum suckers on hand.
Jake was by my side for everything I needed during labor. He handed me everything, reminded me to push the epidural button, held my hand when I was in pain or scared, turned me, sat me up, read to me, let me rest, took care of keeping everyone updated, he did everything.
Clara was cleaned up and wrapped in a room next to my operation room. I could kind of see through the window a little bit but I'm so glad Jake was able to go with her and take some pictures for me.
In my recovery room I was able to hold her and gave her her first bottle. She would have eaten the whole thing right up but the nurses said she could only have one ounce to start.
Clara was wide awake for hours after birth. I was exhausted but didn't want to send her away while she was still awake. Luckily, the nurses talked me into it because Clara still needed a good bath in the nursery so they took her for a few hours so I could sleep. Yeah, sleep. I wish.
When the nurses brought her back for her next bottle, we were so surprised by how much hair she had! The little hat and matted hair didn't look like it was this much.
