Birth Story

The night before, we read over the birth chapter of "What To Expect When You're Expecting". We talked about what would happen, and skipped over the csection part since we wouldn't be needing that. I have had two kids before, and my labors were 8 hours and 4 hours each. I was totally prepared to walk in, push out a baby, and leave!

So we woke up bright and early on Tuesday, March 9th. I hadn't slept much the night before, kind of like waiting for Christmas. So when the alarm went off at 5am, I was ready to go! Bags were packed, kids were at grandma's, we headed off to North Kansas City Hospital.

When we arrived, they asked what I was there for at the front desk. I told them "Baby extraction" :) and we headed up to the 7th floor. The nurses started the IV, asked all the questions, and turned on the pitocin. So we waited. and waited. and waited. My sister showed up, and so did my mother in law and sister in law. We watched old Seinfeld and Arrested Development episodes. A few hours later, they checked me. 100% effaced, 2 cm, -3 station. More waiting. And waiting. And waiting. I walked, I bounced on the birthing ball, I ate popsicles (not to help with labor, just cause I wanted to) and they cranked the pitocin. They checked me again around 5pm. 100% effaced, 3 cm, -3 station. They told me my options were to keep going, go home and come back in the am, or stay the night and try again in the am. Since I had not eaten for almost 20 hours and I was exhausted, I opted to turn off the pit, eat something, stay the night at the hospital, and try again the next morning. I was very disappointed, since we were hoping to meet our little boy that day! But hunger won over disappointment, and I got to eat delicious hospital food! I love hospital food!

March 10th, 2010. Day two, 6am: Second verse, same as the first! Started an IV, cranked the pit, waited. By 10am, there was virtually no change so they attempted to break my water. That did not work, but about 20 minutes I felt the familiar warm sensation like I was peeing and couldn't stop, and I knew my water had broken. I was excited! Once your water breaks, birth is emminent! My nurse, Lesa, was just awesome. She piled the pillows up in the bed so perfectly, I wanted to bring her home! She cheered me on, supported me, and was VERY experienced and knowledgable. I loved her!

The contractions started in pretty bad, but I was managing. We watched more Seinfeld, and I continued to have major contractions every 3 minutes. Around 4:30, they checked me and I was like 4-5cm and still -2!!! He was NOT dropping! They decided to do an epidural, with the hopes that if I relaxed he would come out, and also to prepare for the dreaded "C" Word. They didn't want me to go too long with my water broken, and I was terrified of him having a bowel movement inside of me. My friend Jen's baby had inhaled meconium, and had a rough few weeks at first. Natural childbirth was not worth the risk to my baby's health.

The epidural was weird. It made my leg feel like I had lightning bolts in it! But then it took affect, and it was AMAZING! I wondered why I hadn't had one with my other two kids! What was I thinking???

When they came to check me around 6pm, I was only dilated to a 6, and he really hadn't dropped much. It was time to make the decision. After 2 days of pitocin induced labor, we needed to get the baby out. We started to prep for a c-section.
Josh got dressed up in his blue scrubs, and they prepped the OR. I was a little nervous, I was having major surgery. Plus, this was my biggest fear! I was not prepared! We didn't read the chapter!

They wheeled me into the OR, and started pumping me full of whatever the use to numb you. They tilted the bed right and left and back, and I could feel waves of numbness. Finally I was the appropriate amount of not feeling anything, and they brought Josh in and began. I felt pulling, pushing, pressure from beyond the blue curtain for what felt like forever, and finally, I heard the doctor say, "We have one cheek out! What fat cheeks!", then suctioning, and at last, my baby boy's first cries. 7:47pm. I could feel tears streaming down my face, and I told Josh to go with the baby and leave me. For what seemed like an eternity, I listened to them doing there things, and I wondered and wondered what he looked like.

"8 pounds, 6 ounces!" they called out.
That's big! I thought.
"20.5 inches long!"
That's good, right?
"14 and 3/4 inch head!"
HOLY CRAP! No wonder he wouldn't come out!!!

And finally, they brought him to me. Cash Aubrey Banks Mann. All bundled up in his blanket, with the little white hat. I couldn't hold him because my arms were strapped down, but Josh brought him up to my face and I kissed him and said hello. He was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. Well, at least in a three way tie :)

The rest was a blur, them sewing me back up, tyin tubes, and wheeling me into recovery. I got the shakes really bad, and that sucked, and I was SO thirsty. They let me have ice chips here and there when I was good and wiggled my toes. Cash stayed in his isolet next to me, and they gave him to me to nurse. He nursed for like 40 minutes! I just kept looking at him and kissing him and telling him I loved it him. It was wonderful.