Friday, August 14, 2009

birth is not a stork

I'm not sure that I had any true expectations about birth, other than getting my baby out safely...

Prior to getting pregnant I never could have imagined a tiny human exiting my body. Nope, nope, NO. It seemed barbaric. Frightening. Not something I was capable of doing.

August 5th, 2009. I did it. I DID IT. Not only did I do it, but it was hands down {pain and all} the most amazing experience of my life. I find myself sad as the days pass that we're farther away from that sweet day that I got to birth our son.

We all know now of my false alarm on Sunday the 2nd, silly me. I thought I was that one in a million whose contractions felt like a flutter. FLUTTER NOT. Come Tuesday night, around 1am they started. When they start, you know. I had been warned. I rocked in bed, laid on pillows, walked, did whatever my body told me to do as the contractions became more and more horrid.

By 4am, I could do no more and cried to JR to please call the hospital because it was time for some drug intervention. I had done my part :) He told me again to be prepared just in case I wasn't dilated...the good contractions truly knock the breath out of you and I was running on no air by this point with evil thoughts swirling my mind for anyone in my path. I knew it was time.

We made it to Triage by 5ish I think, saddled up in pretty hospital gear and again I got a ridiculous nurse. The silly ones flock to me. By this point, I vividly remember my poor husband startled at how much pain I was in as he watched my contractions on the monitor as I was pulling the mattress over my head. It hurt. Naughty naughty words were coming out of my mouth, unapologetically.

The nurse sprung a leak in my arm after failing miserably to find the vein for the IV, and I wished terribly it would have sprung right in her silly face. I was that mad. My arm puffed up like a toadfrog, and we had to switch arms. JR was none too pleased by this point...she then topped off my Triage experience by asking me if I was going to throw up on her while pointing to her pants showing me that her previous patient had made do on her. SERIOUSLY?!?!? I thought JR was going to punch her right between the eyeballs. {We're not violent people I promise, outside of L & D}. I thought of conjuring up some nausea just to fulfill her other pant leg.

After several peaking contractions, and finally some tears, Nurse-Nat-Doesn't-Like had to ask me 1,789 questions which I understand is required, but asking a woman in labor if she has a prosthetic leg when I clearly am flailing about my hospital rolly bed with half my body clearly exposed IS NOT A GOOD IDEA. At that point I wanted to take my real leg and kick her in the shins. Both of them. Then she'd really see it was not prosthetic...had it been, I would have taken it off and used it as a bat.

I realize how hateful I sound, but I keep it honest in these parts, and I'm only showing you on a scale of 1-10 that my contractions felt like a 95.

I get examined, find out I'm only 1-2 cm and get the joyous news that we're getting a room in LDR and that I get my EPIDURAL! PTL! I started to see butterflies and rainbows.

At around 6am, we move to LDR 3 and we get a visit from the Epidural Fairy. He was my favorite. To the point and efficient. I have to say, that administering the epidural was one of the hardest parts of laboring because you have to sit completely completely still while they insert it. Once in though, I stopped seeing the light and found myself in ecstasy knowing I could feel nothing and that I was hours away from seeing my sweet Hudson.

Dr broke my water {not painful, by the way} and I quickly progressed to 5-6 cm in no time. This baby wanted out, out, out.

With my self-administer button, I joyously epidural'd my way through labor until around noon-ish when I felt lots of pressure down under and they told me it was go time and they made me put my epi button up :(

My birthing experience was perfect because of my husband. I have to give him so much credit because he did not miss a single second of the process and sat and encouraged me and loved me and held me thru the whole process which is terribly exhausting. Once it was time to push, we pushed in a quiet room with just the two of us and our sweet nurse, Erin. I remember JR's every word as Hudson got closer and closer and it was so special to have those moments together in "peace"...at 1:15pm, we got him.

I felt pain, but I think at that point your body takes over, and you just do it. It is not barbaric, not at all...it is human nature. We are designed to bring babies into the world, and we were able to make it the most beautiful moment of our lives. I pushed for only 30 minutes, start to finish, with the Dr barely able to make it in time!!

Tears flowed as soon as they laid our precious tiny on my belly, and we were in complete and utter awe at seeing our baby boy for the very first time.

Start to finish, we were blessed with a very short labor and delivery and it could not have gone more smoothly. Looks like my babies will come quick :)

After 10 minutes alone with him, we let family in and life started with Hudson...look at what we got to go home with!!!!!!


We are obviously now home, and much has happened in the short time with the addition of my MT's {milky teets}. They are part II of my birthing experience...stay tuned...

21 comments:

Abby said...

MTs....LOVE IT! Welcome to the sisterhood, sweet Nat!!!!

Loved the story, and remember it all to vividly myself.

I wish I lived closer so I could pay y'all a visit and bring chicken casserole {and maybe some Reisling or something} and dote on the new little one. And a cigar for the boys to smoke to celebrate the little guy!

The Taliaferro's said...

Nat that was a great narrative of your birth. yeah i bet you wanted to kick that nurse. congrats to jr for being oklahoma friendly b/c it sounds like she deserved it. well i'll be honest im pretty sad that we dont get to come and hold that little man. i cant wait to see yall and get to hold hudson. thanks for the story though b/c that's as close as us okies can get right now so it will have to do.

Meant to be a mom said...

What a great story. Sorry the hear the nurses were such you know whats but I loved your story.

You gave me happiness at the very thought of getting to do this myself in just a few months from now.

I'm so happy for you guys. Hudson is just a doll.

SarahJarnagin said...

Good story, Natalie! Be sure to put it in Hudson's baby book. Sorry about your craptastic nurses. At least some of the really good ones make up for the really bad ones.

Erin W said...

Besides laughing my tooshy off reading your story.. I learned lots! I am hoping to be in similar shoes any day now... I say similar because I am hoping to avoid the mean nurse lady! :)

LWLH said...

MT's...lol, you crack me up! :)
I've never chuckled at a birthing story till now! :)

In With the Light said...

what great story! so glad it was smooth. he is SO cute. just adorable.

Lisa said...

HAHAHA you crack me up!!!
Can't wait to hear about MTs! lol
OMG seriously, I def would have punched that nurse square in the face.

B said...

Love the birth story! And know all to well about crazy nurses. For all the great ones I had, my labor one needed a swift kick in the behind & one of my recovery ones was crazy :)

can't wait to hear part 2 of the story. Nursing is definitely an adventure (and a painful one for us sometimes), but I've stuck it out. Ps - if you get mastitis they hurt like you wouldn't believe.

Christine said...

Awww so sorry to hear your nurse was awful. As a fellow RN, I apologize on her behalf! I love the pic of you leaving with your sweet little bundle :)

TexanCouture said...

Oh nurses can be difficult! I am a healthcare recruiter so I deal with staffing RNs & LVNs and the stories I could tell about what the employees of mine are like Oh My!

At least it had a happy ending with no major difficulties, I can only imagine what it was like to see the little guy for the first time.
I'm 24 and have no plans for kids until closer to 30 so I can't truly understand what you went through.

Kelly said...

Natalie, I know you are busy with Hudson..but I was wondering if you would like to participate in the baby blog swap i am hosting. Check out my recent blog post and let me know. :) I hope you are enjoying every minute with Hudson!

Sweet Simplicity said...

I'm so glad you are being on honest about your whole experience. I'm pretty sure that I will not be a nice lady either! :)
Can't wait for part II.

Donald and Angela said...

Hello! I think that you know my hubby - Donald Wallace - and I think that your blog is FANTASTIC! Found it via the Neaves' blog. Congratulations on your little handsome man! We have a 13 month old - they are a dream (mind you a lot of sweat and tears dream - but a dream, nonetheless!). Did you design your blog layout? Welcome to mommyhood!

the rigdons said...

LOVE IT!! he is absolutely precious- cherish every minute with him because you'll blink and he'll be a big boy!!

PS- I need your new address. I have a little present for the newest pettijohn!

Elizabeth said...

Love the new layout!!! VERY CUTE!!!

Melissa said...

Your blog has become one of my absolute favorites. You kill me! I am laughing the entire way through and I SO appreciate your honesty. Would have felt the exact same way. :) Bedside manner is BEYOND me sometimes... Your family is so incredibly beautiful! Congrats and can't wait to see more of sweet Hudson. I love that he has SO much hair.

Kelly said...

Cute new layout! I love it!

The Fenner's said...

LOVE the new layout... who did it? you? If soo, I am impressed!:) And want one!:)

Katie @ Modern-Day Family said...

love your story! it's very similar to mine! I though L and D was one of the best experiences of my life as well! your hudson is BEAUTIFUL, ADORABLE!

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