I decided I had better get this written and posted before I forgot everything. Everyone told me that I will soon forget the details and everything about your labor once your sweet precious bundle arrives, so here it goes, I'm pretty sure I still remember everything just fine!
So we were invited to our dear friends, the Joseph's, house on Sunday the 7th. Tim had worked a moon lighting shift that day, and I had stayed home from church. He was tired, and I was just not feeling myself. I had been kind of stir crazy all day, but had no desire to go anywhere or get out of the house. So we both were going to stay in Sunday night, but then convinced each other it would be fun, plus we love the Josephs, Redings and of course Dr. Cotton and we thought it would be nice for a night of fun with our friends! We had a big meal of burgers, Texas Ribs, dips, drinks, and yummy dessert. It was a fun evening had by all. I was feeling fine, but still just not feeling myself. Everyone had been telling me about Braxton Hicks, but I really was not completely sure what they were. After looking them up when we got home I figured I was having them all day. My stomach was seriously constantly hard, but not hurting, I just thought it was weird, but didn't think anything of it.
That night we both went to bed, and by midnight I was up and awake. I still was just not feeling right. My stomach was still hard, I was uncomfortable, I had reflux for the first time, but no contractions or signs of labor I thought...
At 3:15 am I woke up to my underwear being soaked. I thought oh boy I just lost my mucous plug. Now for those of you who have or have not gone through labor I am telling the details because I think every bit is important. I immediately jumped out of bed and for the first time thought "I think I am in labor!" I calmly changed my underwear and went back to bed. I didn't want to wake Tim up until I was good and sure this was the real thing. Then about 5 minutes later I soaked another pair of underwear. Ok now I was a bit freaked out, this was it. I woke Tim up whom had slept through everything and told him, I think this is it. He rolled back over and started to drift off to sleep when he realized what I had just told him and then flew out of bed to begin packing his overnight bag!! We got everything together and headed downstairs where Tim decided he had better start timing my contractions. They were about 5-7 minutes apart and were starting to hurt. I was sure sweet Jonah was on his way, but was still afraid with this being my first pregnancy that if I got to the hospital they would check me and tell me I was not even dilated and send me home. So I started to look up the phone number to call the on call doc when I stood up to get my phone my water broke!!!! I rushed to the bathroom, had Tim go upstairs and get me some new clothes so we could get to the hospital.
We made it to UNC Women's Hospital in record time. I think Tim might had ran a couple of red lights and was going 65 in a 45. He wanted to get me there. I was chuckling to myself in between contractions laughing at the speed demon!
We got to the hospital and Tim dropped me off so he could go park the car. I walked into the huge hospital which was empty at this time since it was 4:15 in the morning. Even the poor residents had not arrived to hospital to begin their long day of work. I walked past the security desk which had 3 security guards sitting around laughing. I calmly asked them how to check into the Labor and Delivery floor. They promptly/nervously instructed me to go right up to the 4th floor, they would take care of me right away there. I have never seen three grown men more nervous then they were looking at the big pregnant lady asking for L&D!
I think I called Tim 15 times just to see where he was. The poor guy had to walk a long ways from the parking deck with my overnight bag (which was very full and heavy), the camera, his big bag for work, and I am sure a few other things. He met me downstairs and just as we were getting on the elevator, more fluid came gushing out. So now my shorts were soaked. We got to the 4th floor and got all checked in, and as we were checking in nurses were walking past me with a sweet smile on their face saying "oh look at the poor girl, her water broke, we need to get her to a room."
So off we went to our room, we were staying. It was now about 4:30 and we were getting settled in. The nurse came in and got all my information, started my IV, and now we wait. We called our parents to let them know the status and finally had a moment to sit and take it all in.
They checked me at about 5am and said I was only 1 cm dilated, but by this point my contractions were 3 minutes apart and were hurting. They were not unbearable, but uncomfortable. Now since Tim is an anesthesia resident they got things rolling pretty quickly for the epidural. Before I knew it the anesthesiologist was rolling the cart in to get my epidural started. Now can you believe me only being 1 cm dilated they would do an epidural, well they did. Dr. Roundtree did a great job and I was now pain free. After a few hours the epidural started making me itch so the gave me nubaine, a drug to help with itching, and that helped, but I started to get nauseous. So I called the nurse and she gave me phenergan. After the phenergan I slept for like 3 hours. I know crazy huh, laboring but sleeping through every contraction. About 10 am they checked me and I had not really progressed much so they started pitocin. Things started to move along, but still kinda slow. Laura, Tim, and friends that stopped by here and there were all chatting waiting for the time to come. They finally checked me somewhere around 3ish and I was 9 cm dilated! Finally some progress. I started pushing around 4:50 and by 6:21 pm Jonah Gabriel Erpelding was born. The labor all day was fine and I felt great with the epidural, but by the time I started pushing it had started to wear off, and boy was the pushing painful. But I had two great coaches, Tim and Laura, and a handful of wonderful nurses. So the overall process was a good one. I feel like my delivery went well and mommyhood is wonderful. Well time to get Jonah up from his nap. I will be posting more pictures soon.
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