Labor Story:
I for one would never consider myself to be a pioneer or thought that I had the strength and will power to do labor naturally, but little did I know that I did have some pioneer in me (must have come from my Mom because in the past life I do believe that she was a leader for one of the hand cart companies). Back in Mesa Jeff and I had taken a birthing class and the teacher touched a bit on pushing and breathing but by no means was I prepared or thought that I could did it naturally. I was ALL for the epidural and having a pleasant experience and being comfortable on delivery day with pain meds! I know everyone is different but for myself I decided taking the drugs would be BEST! :)
I had a Dr's appt on Wed Aug 10th and was dilated already to a 4 and the Dr. told me that he wouldn't be surprised if I had baby that weekend, so I was kinda anticipating labor all week but still didn't know what to really look for to know that I was in labor. Well...it was about 2:30 a.m. on Saturday August 13th and I started feeling some contractions...they weren't that painful, but uncomfortable enough where I couldn't sleep either so I just walked around the house. Jeff had been sleeping and I didn't want to wake him up until I really felt I couldn't handle it anymore and needed him to take me to the hospital. The only other thing that kinda scared me is that when I went to the bathroom I did have a little bit of blood and I knew that could be a sign as well. I also knew it was important to have Jeff time my contractions so when they started to come a bit quicker I had woke him up to time them with me. I thought that I had been acting pretty calm but around 4:00 a.m. I told him that we did need to go cause I was getting scared. I wanted to labor at home as much as I could because I really didn't want to go to the hospital and have them send me right back home.
PIONEER MOMENT:
Thankfully the Kingman Hospital was really close to us so it only took about 5 minutes to get there. When we got to the emergency door entrance it seemed like a pretty slow night there so I was hoping I could get in quick. We had to check in and at that point it was getting more painful and all I kept thinking was that I wanted to be on that hospital bed getting the epidural and just preparing myself for the intense labor journey...I was scared. It seemed like the receptionist lady was going so slow and I was just sitting there in a chair with my head down, she asked me what kind of signs I was seeing that made me think I was in labor and I told her that I was having contractions and they were getting more painful, I don't think she believed me that I was in actual labor, but said she would call a nurse to come down with a wheel chair.
The nurse came and took me up to the 2nd floor and got me all prepped and hooked up to the IV and when she checked me the first time I was at an...8 already!!!! I could not believe my ears nor believed that I had labored at home for that long!! CRAZY!!! I then proceeded to ask for an epidural and at that point had been gripping the side of the bed because of the pain. Once again I was not prepared mentally to push that baby out naturally. The head nurse then told me that I was too far along to get an epi and that it would effect the baby and that I could do this on my own. I knew the hospital didn't have a full time anesthesiologist and would have to call them in for me to get an epi, so a part of me thought that she just didn't want to call her in because by the time she got there I could have had the baby. I honestly was a bit frustrated and asked 2 more times for it because I was in so much pain and also had known of other girls to get them while they were that dilated.
The only thing that kept me pushing through the contractions was having my sweet hubby Jeff by my side encouraging and coaching me through the whole thing. He kept telling me that I could do it and that she was so close to coming out. I found so much strength by just having that eye contact with him, knowing that he loved me, and that we made that baby together! I also knew that I could come down that finish line with his support.
Well, I pushed for a little over 2 1/2 hours and to be honest it got to the point where I would just push through the contraction so that the pain was not as intense, but I really felt exhausted and they were not "good pushes." Of course the contractions just continued to come quicker and at that point I felt a part of me had given up. I so badly just wanted to hear her little cry and finally relax with her in my arms. All the nurses, Jeff and the Dr. said that they could see her head and it would only be a bit longer. There were 2 other girls in labor that night so Dr. Taylor had been in and out of my room. I knew that I had to keep pushing but like I said I didn't have the energy to do it anymore and I think everyone could see that on my face and could tell how tired I really was. Dr. Taylor came in and was coaching me through the contractions, but then had let me know that my pelvis seemed a bit small and that Annabelle's head was high and it probably would be a couple more hours of pushing and would only get harder. So, with that being said he gave me the option of a c-section... another thing that I was not mentally prepared for and scared to death to have done. I realized that no matter how much I had planned for my labor it probably wouldn't go how I had wanted and that I would need to be ready for other options if it meant Belle arriving safely. I felt kinda silly because he also told me the other 2 girls that were there that night were also going to have a c-section and if I wanted one I could go first. Thanks for the bargain Dr...ha ha.
I didn't have a lot of time to make a decision and looked to Jeff to make it for me and to guide me through it. I think I had been having a panic attack during labor as well with the shock of having to do it natural and I also had been sweating so much through the whole thing. I remember laying on the side of the bed and looking up at him while he had a cold towel on my forehead and asking him what I should do. I expressed my concerns with the c-section and how terrified I was and he just said to me, "Elle you either push for another couple of hours in pain or have a c-seciton and they will give you some drugs." I knew then that I had to do what was best for me and Belle and that I could only get through it with some pain meds. I put my trust in Dr. Taylor and his staff and they wheeled me in to have surgery.
A big part of me was scared because of all the things you hear about c-sections and how horrible they are and that having it vaginally was better. Jeff was able to stay by my side the whole time and the nurses had all been very sweet to me and comforting while they were prepping me for the c-sec. I was able to receive a spinal from the anesthesiologist which I guess is similar to getting an epi and to me the pain for that was bearable and my goodness was I in heaven when I was all numbed from it! I was so happy and was able to talk to everyone and just waited for Miss Annabelle to come! I thought with this major surgery it would take a while but 6 mins later I heard her cry and the Dr. had told me she was fine and had her out! I had caught a glimpse of her and then they gave her to Jeff and got her all cleaned up. She was so precious and looked like everything I had imagined her to be...lots of dark hair and a cute little face to match it! During the surgery they had warned me that I would feel some pressure while he was getting Belle out and I did but it really wasn't painful at all...compared to having to push naturally nothing at that point hurt me. Another 6-8 mins later he had me all stitched up and onto another bed ready to take me back to my room. The total time for the entire surgery I felt was maybe around 14 minutes.
All in all I think I would do another c-sec and might have to with the next baby, but I definitely would also consider having her vaginally too. Had I known about the c-sec at the beginning I might have opted for it with how quick it went. My labor had a lot of unexpected surprises which kinda made me irritated, but Jeff kept reminding me what a huge blessing it was that Belle came out healthy and had nothing wrong with her. Her button nose had been a bit bruised from me pushing for so long but other than that there were no other complications.
Some positive things about a c-section:
1. I didn't feel any of the after pains of labor because my spinal kept me numb for a good 6 hours! :)
2. She came out with such a pretty shaped head
3. It was very quick and honestly pretty painless minus the pressure I felt while he cut me open
4. The healing wasn't too bad afterward and when I came home from the hospital I did ok too (and yes I took all the percocet they prescribed me so that helped!)
5. My battle wound incision doesn't look bad at all and I never in my life plan on or have worn a bikini so I don't care that it's there
6. If I want I can schedule another c-sec for baby #2 and won't have to worry about NOT being able to get an epi
We stayed in the hospital for 2 days and it was nice being pampered 24/7, the food was pretty yummy too! :) I think most nurses do this but one night when I had gotten no sleep and Belle was up almost every hour the nurse offered to take her out of the room and watch her for a bit so that we could get some sleep, I felt so energized from her doing that and it really helped.
It definitely was hard to have Belle in Kingman considering that none of our friends and family lived here and I would have loved for people to come and visit us. At the same time though having the chance just to share this experience with Jeff was very bonding for the both of us. My sweet parents did make the long drive from Sierra Vista to come and see me at the hospital and were able to stay with us 2 weeks after to help take care of me and Belle, what a huge blessing that was for us. Our good friends the Fairbanks also stopped by the hospital to say hello and to meet Belle.
While my Mom was here she wanted to keep me busy because she knew it had been a hard transition for me to move to Kingman and to also have a baby. She was so very kind and always had breakfast, lunch and dinner ready for us. There were countless nights she would also stay up late making sure the house was clean for us too. My Dad was great and was up for getting or doing anything that needed to be done around the house. I did find a way to escape for a bit one day and we went on a little date to Chili's for lunch, thanks Dad! My mom is one incredible seamstress and for my last birthday had bought me a sewing machine and she was able to teach me a bit, but it was hard with having to breast feed Belle every couple of hours and I was still trying to adjust to no sleep.
My Mom is cute and is a firm believer in eating your fruit and taking vitamins. If she had it her way she would eat watermelon all day long! Jeff and I were both thankful for their company and their willingness to take care of us and to make the long drive out. Having my parents here those first couple of weeks was just a huge example to me of how I wanted to parent and always be there for my kids when they need me. I can't thank them enough for their service! My love for them is infinite.
A fruit plate my Mom had made me with teddy grahams on the side:
First time Grandparents:
I'm 1 of 8 kids in my family and also the only one married so little Belle is my parents first granddaughter and she definitely has been treated like royalty from them!
Ta dah!!! Updated pictures of our little Annabees:
Belle loves to sleep in my boppy pillow! She will sleep longer in that then in her cradle! She looks really cute in it too when she does!
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Livin la Vida Labor!
