Labor leads to Love

We checked into the hospital and Lisa our nurse checked to see if it was truly amniotic fluid that I had leaking. Oh and it was like I had sprung a leak from my body. She confirmed but I was not really having any contractions yet...she told us that our daughter would be born within the next 24hours.

We were moved into room 2 our delivery room. It did not seem like an operating room like I envisioned...it was spacious, had a private bath. The clock showed 10am Dr Kaleb was called. She was not on duty but told the nurses she would come into deliver me...but had to leave by 9pm as she had a red eye to catch.

I had no major contractions and was not dilating so they started my on pitocin to induce my labor. I of course had not wanted pitocin as I read negative things about it..but this is one situation I really had little control over. The nurse that was assigned the first shift was gone and by now we had a new nurse Breana. About an hour after the pitocin hit I started to feel my contractions. I was hooked up in two ways..One was to monitor me and the other belt was to monitor Micaela's heart rate. These monitors were so annoying as I kept having to go the bathroom. 

Soon my contractions started to hit and I started to dialate. At first they were very manageable and I thought I could really get through without the epidural. I was only open to about 3 centimeters though. Then they started to become stronger and stronger....to the point that I could barely breathe and felt intense pain inside my body. The breathing was not helping either. Dr Kaleb came in to check on me and to ask if I wanted the pain to go away. I told her no as I still wanted to try naturally. 

Soon my family arrived...Karla, My Mami and Papi and Mom and Dad P. I was so happy to see everyone and really excited they had all been there on what was to be the most important day of my life!! I chatted for a while but then the contractions started to get stronger so they all stepped out. 

Soon they were unbearable...they checked to see how far along I was and I was open to about 5. It felt like Freddy Kruger was trying to rip out of me so that is when I began to question my all natural goal!! I was become exhausted and knew it would be a while before I had to push so in order to save my energy for the pushing I decided to get the epi. I checked with Dennis to see if he was ok with it and he said he would support any decision I made. My husband was amazing through this whole process..getting me water, juice, hooking me on and off of monitors, holding my hand, massaging my calves during the pain. Seriously he was so loving and supportive that I thanked God for him. 

I asked for  the epidural and Dennis was escorted out. The minute the needle went into my spine it was a rush of relief and all the pain was gone! Like a miracle...although I did feel pushing down there which they said was normal. I think it was a good decision as it saved me from having a c-section which was truly my worst nightmare.

Enter the waiting game! When people say they are in labor for 15 hours I thought they were in excruciating pain for the entire time. Now if you are Cora or Becky...you ARE in pain the entire time. If you get an epidural it is a waiting game for your body to open up to 10 centimeters. I did not get this!! My family would come in and tell me to rest but I could not sleep...instead I texted and chatted with Dennis. The time actually went by pretty fast for me but I was anxious. By 7 or 8 I was dialated to 8 centimeters so my Dr thought for sure she could deliver me...but I stayed at 8centimeters for ever!! Dr Kaleb apologized but she had to leave and I was so sad but she told me Dr Ricard would take good care of me. 

Finally at about 11:45 I was ready to push. I kept feeling the urge to go to the bathroom and wondered if it was time to push but this time it was like I could not hold it anymore. My nurses Rhonda and Maria told me that with every contraction I was to hold my thighs, lean up in sit up like positions and push as hard as I could for 10 seconds. We began...Dennis was holding one leg and the other nurse the other leg. Every time I pushed it felt like all of my strength was taken from me. I did not want to hear counting or talking...I felt that took away my focus. We pushed for about 45 minutes and I felt so weak but I knew that if I she did not come out soon a c-section could be called as we were close to the 24hours of my water breaking. Dr Ricard arrived soon and was ready to guide me through more pushing. They should me a mirror and remember thinking the baby would never be able to come out through that opening!! Dennis would say that we were almost there but I just felt a bit defeated. I was encouraged when he told me I was doing a great job and when the nurses said just a few more pushes and she would be out. I continued pushing and they told me not to hold my breath as I could pass out..haha! Great just what I needed at his point. After more time elapsed Dr Ricard asked if she could cut me  to help the baby out and to prevent a tear. I asked her if she thought that was best and she said yes so I agreed to it. She numbed my quickly cut and we continued to push. By 1:47am I pushed baby Micaela's head out. She faced her Daddy and she was quickly suctioned...then Dr Ricard pulled the entire body out with her hands and I heard a loud cry!! My baby was born!!!