May 27th, 2014
Tuesday. I went in for my routine 38 week appointment to find that my urine sample contained traces of protein in it. I was also starting to swell. So with the traces of urine, swelling, being dilated to a 3, 70% effaced, and me being 38 weeks my Dr decided it was best to strip my membranes. Which by the way is no picnic. I was instructed that I would have cramping for up to 24 hours and if nothing exciting happened he would see me the following week for my 39 week appointment.
I left my appointment and ran a few quick errands gathering a few last minute things, just in case this baby decided to come early. The cramping started right away and was gathering speed. I called my mom and Dustin to tell them the updates.
When Dustin got home from work he installed the car seat..just in case. My cramps were consistent the whole night so I decided to take a bath to relax myself. Well my bath worked a little too well and I couldn't feel anymore cramps. I came to the conclusion that I wasn't going to be having this baby anytime soon and so Dustin and I went to bed.
11:30 PM
No sooner had I drifted off to bed the most fierce shooting pain I've felt woke me with a vengeance, followed by a 'pop' and a 'gush' of fluids.
"MY WATER JUST BROKE!", I exclaimed
Dustin leaped out of bed and was across the room before I even had time to register what he was doing.
I was laying in an immense amount of fluid and had no idea what to do. Dustin helped me out of bed...and into the bathroom..where I wanted to rinse off my body before heading into the hospital.
Dustin called the on-call DR who told him to get me in for evaluation right away... He ran around like a crazy man getting the car ready, packing a few minute things, and getting clothes for me.
Meanwhile I had started having pretty intense contractions that were getting closer and closer together! I was in a panic thinking I wasn't going to get to the hospital in time to get an epidural.
I waddled from the bathroom, down the stairs, and out into the dark night. I felt exhilarated, terrified, and anticipation all at the same time. Dustin packed me in the car and his dad followed behind us in his truck.
12:00 AM
The car ride to the hospital was one moment I never want to forget about this night. During my contractions I would get worked up into a frenzy and proclaim that I could not do this. Followed by Dustin reassuring me that I could in fact 'do this'. As soon as my contraction would stop I would laugh and proclaim that I could definitely 'do this'. 'This' being labor. For some reason Dustin said I was being hilarious and we both couldn't stop laughing at the situation. I think we were both just so excited to finally get to meet our little munchkin.
Both Dustin and I were a little lost as to where exactly we needed to go once we arrived at the hospital. We drove around the parking lot like a lost puppy..but only for a split second. By this point my contractions were intensifying and I had to stop to catch my breath...So I opted for the wheelchair once we were inside the hospital.
As soon as Dustin had me in the wheelchair we both looked at each other and Dustin asked 'where do we go?!' On the hospital floor there were little blue and pink baby foot prints leading us towards the elevators..'follow the baby foot prints!' I almost yelled at Dustin. There was so much comic relief in this moment it kept my mind off the pain of the contractions.
We rode the elevator up to the third floor where Dustin's mom (Becky) was waiting for us. She hurried us to the security doors of labor and delivery where they buzzed us in. I don't know what I had expected the nurses to do but they were much to calm for my taste. I know they do this for a living and I was probably a dime a dozen among pregnant women but I really wanted one of them to sense my urgency of getting me into the labor room so I wouldn't miss my window of opportunity for the epidural!
'We need to evaluate you before we admit you', said one of the nurses. Evaluate me I thought...my water broke and I'm having very real and intense contractions (which were coming every 2 1/2 minutes apart)! 'So you think your water broke' the nurse continued 'what color was it?' Dustin and I both gawked at the nurse. 'We don't think IT did break', Dustin kept assuring the nurse. Color? I don't remember a color I thought! 'Clear, yellow, disgusting color?' I asked? It's still leaking out of me if you want to check I thought.
The nurse had me change into a hospital gown, hooked and tethered me up to monitors, and checked every single one of my vital signs.
As soon as our little munchkins monitor was hooked up and we saw his heart beat Dustin got a little emotional. It was a very tender moment that I always want to remember.
Once I passed the evaluation they had me waddle down to the labor room where they hooked up my IV to give me the fluids required before I could have an epidural. That epidural could not come fast enough. Now I am not one who has a high pain tolerance so I realize that when I say the pain was more than I could handle some women might roll their eyes as they had all of their children naturally. I applaud all of these women...I'm just saying there is a reason I was born in the age of modern medicine.
During contractions Dustin or his Mom would allow me to death grip their hand while the other one applied counter pressure by pressing my bent legs towards my chest hard!
FINALLY the anesthesiologist arrived! Woohoo! He was all business...and very good! He had my curl into a ball on my side and as he was prepping my back proceeded to tell me all the repercussions if I were to move one inch during the procedure. I was petrified stiff...even during a contraction I was able to hold perfectly still (the nurses actually had to give me another pain medication through my IV so I could handle my contractions in order to stay still for the procedure...it made me very happy:)). Before I knew it I had my epidural in and just like that I began to feel a whole lot more comfortable.
Then the waiting game began. Dustin, his mom (Becky), his dad (Lance), and his brother (Zach) all waited with us! We watched Bill Cosby's comedy show on labor to help pass the time. I have never laughed so hard. It was so much fun being able to enjoy labor. I was even able to sleep for a few hours.
I absolutely loved my nurse during my labor. She really knew her stuff but she kept things light and fun too.
7:00 AM
I was fully dilated to a ten. At this point I became really nauseous and started throwing up but I was able to quickly pull it together. As we waited for the nurses to change shifts (I was really bummed that my nurse was going to be switching right before I started pushing, but such is life) I felt slightly panicked at the thought of 'pushing' this baby out. Our nurse had told us most first time moms push for 2-3 hours on average. I felt exhausted and I was extremely worried I wouldn't be able to do it. I was hoping my adrenaline would kick in.
7:15 AM
The new nurse appeared, gave me a quick 'how-to' lesson on how to push...
7:20
Started pushing..
Pushing was exhausting...
Nurse kept telling me I was pushing the 'wrong way'...
Seriously?! How was I pushing the wrong way? I couldn't even feel my legs I was so numb, I had no idea what the right way was!
My munchkins head was crowning...
Thankfully my DR showed up and coached me through the delivery...
Dustin started yelling 'I can see the head, I can see the head!'...
My DR told me to give one more small push...
7:38 AM
My little munchkin was born.
I will never be able to express adequately in words the emotions I felt when I saw my little munchkin for the first time. The only way I know how to explain it is 'there is no love like a mothers love for her child'.
He was perfect in every single way. I had bonded with him from the time those two lines showed up on my pregnancy test...and here he was. Perfect. Healthy. & Adorable in every way.
Every day I am so grateful this little munchkin choice me for his mommy! I love you!
Dustin William Hansen
Born: 7:38 AM
Weight: 6 lbs 11 oz
Height: 19 in
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