The end of the "cream puff" era

It's mommy here, finally doing a blog. I thought I would tell my story of the labor even though I think Mac and I are the only ones that read these. To begin I earned the nick name 'cream puff' when I was in the 4th grade or so. We were golfing and my family loves to golf, I dont share that same passion. I was sick of it after we hit off the first tee and started to complain about my bag being heavy and yada yada yada I got the nick name 'cream puff'. You would think it would be short lived, but 20 some years later it still haunts me. So much so that I made a bet with my brother that if I could make it through labor with no drugs (epidural) the nick name would be forgiven. Now that you know what is at stake, let’s talk labor...

Monday (12/29) : I had a great day: had the day off from work, ran errands, worked out at the club, did some nesting, made dinner and dessert, etc. Thought I was feeling way to good to be going into labor soon. Went to bed that night around 11pm and just as we were getting settled in my water broke or I wet myself! We called the dr and he told us to go in. I was totally calm and made sure to feed the cat, pick up the house and make sure we had everything packed in case this really was the real thing (at the time I was still concerned that I wet myself and would be really mad if that was the case).

Tuesday (12/30): At the hospital the dr confirmed that my water had broke and admitted us to the labor and delivery room. Since I had already been up for 16 hours I decided to just lay down and try to rest during the night while contractions started. Mac was able to sleep in a really uncomfy cot in the room and I rested but couldn’t sleep since contractions were coming every 5-7 minutes. They weren't that bad during the night so I was feeling pretty good about things. Unfortunately by 8 am they completely stopped. We walked the halls and I tried to hit on the birth ball to get them going again, but with no luck by 10am they decided to start the pitocin to get them going again. I really didn’t want to do this, but since my water broke they needed to deliver within 24 hours. I was really bummed when they told me that I couldn’t do any labor in the tub after starting pitocin. That was my plan when labor got really tough. I knew at this point that I was in for a long process. She also told me that contractions are more painful with pitocin when your water has already broke...not really what I wanted to hear.

They increased the doses every 15 minutes and the contractions started to get closer together and more painful. I would go through phases of feeling good and want to play cards, check emails and call people and then I would go through phases of wishing it would all end soon. Around 3pm they checked and I was only dialed to 6 cm but her head was about as low as it gets before you deliver. This meant I couldn’t push but I wanted to with each contraction. This is when it started to get ugly. Contractions were really not fun and I wanted to push and started to each time. I couldn’t help it. As time approached the dreaded 4pm I kept asking to be checked and told them that I was pushing. They finally realized I wasn't kidding and around 4pm got ready to deliver. My dr that I had seen during my pregnancy was on her way to the hospital so they tried to hold me off so she could deliver...at this point I could care less who was there, I was doing this thing! I was finally in so much pain that I asked for an epidural knowing that my dreams of losing the cream puff name would be over. Once again, the nurse delivered the bad news that it was too late. I now officially despise this nurse.

From the start of the real pushing her head was basically right there. I thought this really stinks, but at least it will be quick...couldn't be more wrong! For two hours I pushed as hard as I could and not to get into too many details she had a pretty good cone head when born. I held myself up with a sheet across a bar and pushed for two hours so my muscles and every ounce of strength was tapped. I found out later that they don't let people without an epidural go more than 2 hours without an episomoty. Needless to say I took care of that myself and I knew exactly when that happened. I would argue that it was the worst pain anyone can feel. Compared to that; all pain seems relative. I had no food and no sleep so my adrenaline was all that got me through it. Finally at 6:22pm Hope was born in every since of the word! They put her on my tummy and Mac cut her cord. I was shaking too bad to hold her, so they took her to do their thing. After stitches, afterbirth and other not so fun things I was feeding her. Such an amazing miracle and I know that they need to make babies so sweet to help you forget how awful everything else is. Luckily, we got the sweetest baby of them all! Hope is the best little sweetie ever and I love every minute with her. Within minutes of birth I managed to tell the staff that I get to lose the nick name 'cream puff'. I told them the basic story behind it and they confirmed that I am the opposite of a cream puff after all I went through. My dr brought it up again at Hope's 1 week check up, so I was pretty proud of myself of making it through it all and ditching the nick name.

Wow, that was a novel. Sorry, but wanted to share my story...the good the bad and the best thing of all - HOPE!