The Labor Story

I was sleeping like a rock, when all of the sudden I felt the strong urge to pee. I also noticed that I had already sprinkled a tinkle, a little prematurely. I just assumed this was another joy of pregnancy in full term. I thought: Well, I guess peeing yourself is normal at 38 weeks? Anyway, it was about 5 a.m. and I usually felt this urge around that time....so no worries. Or so I thought. As I was doing my business, I noticed that the liquid just kept coming....and coming and NOT stopping. The urge to go had subsided, but the "urine" had not.

Finally. It did. I just assumed, again, that this was normal activity for a 38 weeker.
I tried to go back to sleep, but my Braxton Hicks contractions were keeping me from sleep. I wasn't in pain, per-say... just uncomfortable. Besides, I had these contractions the entire 3rd trimester of my pregnancy.  However, these contractions made my belly very tight, like normal except, each time I had one I sprinkled some more tinkle! Which, to me was suspicious. So at this point, I thought I should probably share this with Bryan.

I did.

He got SUPER excited and said: We're about to have a baby!!
Well, not so quick. These things take time and I'm not even sure I am in labor. I said in response to his elation.

Well, either way I'm calling Mom and Dad. Bryan exclaimed. This is our answer to all things medical in our lives; call Bryan's parents. So thankful for them.

They answered the phone; mind you at about 5:30-6ish a.m. Bryan recounted what I had told him and they sounded like two giddy school girls. They were laughing and joyfully wrestling around with the news. Bryan had them on speaker phone and they were obviously excited for the first Baise grand-daughter to be born.  I also heard Bryan's dad say to Barbara; It's dad's birthday today. 

Bryan's grandfather passed away in late 2006 and I had totally forgotten that his Birthday would have been today (October 26th). How special.

However, I was still unsure I as in labor....so Barbara advised me to call my Doctor.  I did, and she said it sounded like my water may have broken...but because this was my first baby it would take some time; especially since my contractions were so irregular and I wasn't in pain. She told me to take a shower, get ready and come to the hospital when we were ready. No rush. Little did she know that we didn't have any bags packed, nor did we even have the car seat in the car. Not to mention I was scheduled to work that day. I had to find someone to cover my shift (and I guess the shifts the entire week).

Calls were made. To my parents, co-workers etc. Breakfast was eaten and bags were packed. At this point I was still having the braxton hicks contraction and "water" trickling when they came. I also had passed my mucus plug. To which I shouted from the bathroom: Bryan come here!!! Look at this. Is this what I think it is? I think I am actually in labor! I thought maybe my eyes were playing tricks on me, but Bryan confirmed that that definitely looked like a "bloody show" or mucus plug. (I must say, I am so glad that Bryan is not grossed out by that stuff).

All this to say. I still was hunched over in the car installing the infant car seat about ten minutes later. (I know, crazy right.) I was fine. However, my contractions were starting to feel more like menstrual cramps and a little more uncomfortable. We decided to head to the hospital.

As we checked in with admissions at 8:30 am. and joked when the person checking us in asked if we'd like to go by an alias while in the hospital. We thought about being Fred and Wilma, but little did we know it was less about being famous and more about domestic violence issues and for patients protection. Whoops. We weren't insensitive, just excited. The same lady saw me smiling and laughing and thought for sure I wasn't in labor. Little did she know.

We were placed in the last room in triage to get checked and see if my water had broken and if I was in active labor. Remember, just three days prior to this (Friday, today was Monday) I was 2 inches and 50% effaced, at my doctors appointment. Today, the doctor on call (who happened to be the only doctor I had not seen on my pregnancy appointments, out of the 13 in the practice figures) checked me and I was 4 1/2, almost 5 centimeters dilated!! She also checked my fluids to see if they were amniotic ( to see if my water had broken) and yes it had! Confirmed. We were having this baby.

We were emitted and wheeled to our private birthing room.  I was also put on a pitocin drip because my contractions were very irregular, but I was definitely in labor. To be as safe as possible the doctor thought it best to help get my body going.  Let me tell you. Pitocin is NO JOKE. It definitely got my contractions going, like a freight train. Oh and they were painful. Hence why the Anesthesiologist was called in about an hour into this process. It was now about 11:00 am.

I got my LOVELY epidural. So wonderful. All that pain went away and I relaxed. Probably too much (why "too much", will be explained later). At this point Bryan's parents were here and my mom and my mom's best friend, Ms. Kim. Friends were texted, facebook status' updated and calls were made to family. The show was about to begin. Because Mady was my first, we assumed this process would take long time....so Bryan and his parents decided to go grab something to eat at around 1:30 pm. I was comfortable, but shaking a bit (due to the epidural) and my fight or flight instincts. I was a little nervous and emotional too. It all felt so fast and sudden. I was 38 weeks. I thought I had more time, but Mady had plans of her own. So my mom held my hand, I was so releaved she was there. It doesn't matter how old you are....having your mom there when you are scared just makes things seem a little better. She tried to get my mind off of my labor, it worked. Like I said...I was pretty relaxed.

As I was laying there talking to my mom and Ms. Kim, I started to feel some pressure down there. This is why I say I relaxed too much, because when the nurse checked me she said that I was at an 8 already about an hour ago....so when she checked me again she said Oh my, you're at about a 9!

Oh-kay!!! I need to call Bryan and tell him to come back up here, Mady's on her way!!

I did and he came. It was now about 2:15-2:30 pm. ish.

I practice pushed and the nurse concluded that I was a great pusher and that the doctor needed to come now and that I needed to stop pushing. Mady was about to be here.

The doctor came and I pushed for only about 15 minutes.  15 exhausting minutes. That was the most invigorating "workout" of my life!! My mom, Bryan's mom and Bryan were all there. It was such a great experience.

Mady came at 2:56 pm. She was/is a beautiful, perfect, pink, little angel. She was 6 lbs. and 6 oz. 19 inches. She was laid on my chest immediately and that was truly the best moment of my life. She was ours. She was here. She was a blessing. God was gracious to show us mercy with an easy and quick delivery. She was and continues to be an absolute gift from the Lord.

Here is our story in pictures.

I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted my request.

1 Samuel 1:27

Being a Momma!

Hello world! I say that half joking and half serious! I have decided the next baby must come in the SPRING, so i do not have to shut myself in the house to avoid every seasonal ailment my doctors have me terrified of. I say hello "world" because lately the internet and TV have been my world! Enough is ENOUGH! I am busting out of this place soon. Mady and I are going to take our chances and brave the elements and get out. God is in control.

So being a mom....basically the hardest and sweetest thing i have ever had to do in my life. Hardest because i am literally the ONLY person on this earth that can care for this little person exactly the way she needs for the first several months. Mainly meaning feedings. I am nursing. Which is going great. I am thankful for that. She feeds about every 3 hours. Shes gained good weight and looks more and more like a little fatty baby everyday! So nursing is hard because I am the only one that can do it. Sure, I could pump...and i do to save it for my back to work days...but if i pump i will be ENGORGED! and that is no fun at all! That may be T.M.I., but its true. Not a good feeling.

Another hard aspect has been Mady's little digestive system. She gets gassy easily. So feeding means staying in a vertical position for at least 30 minutes so I dont have to hear her scream her little head off later that night. This is very hard, especially since everyone visits and wants to hold her. I want them to enjoy her and do so, but at the cost of hearing her suffer painful cramps later is not worth it. My mom is the hardest to convince this of. She is so funny, she says: "I dont care if she cries...i know it will pass and I dont mind holding her through it." Shes sick. Hah.

One thing that my dear friend Shana showed me was the Dunstan Baby Language video, which talks about the five "languages" of your babies cries. Its incredible! And SO RIGHT! It makes you as a mom understand your infant that can only communicate through cries. Its freeing.

The delights of being a mom FAR out weight the hardships. Watching her gaze into your eyes when she feeds. Listening intently to your voice because she knows it. Slowing her cry with just a simple touch. The naps on your chest. The bonding times. The alert times when you can talk and talk. The rocking, singing and soothing to sleep. Praying for them. Reading scripture to them. Speaking the Gospel to them. Looking into her eyes and knowing that you are the most important person in her life for a very, very long time. That is until she submits her life to Christ. And one day weds her husband, but until that time Daddy and Mommy solve all life's problems and hopefully put them into a biblical perspective for her.

Being a mother is wonderful! I wouldnt trade it for anything in the world. Mady is great. Keep us in your prayers as we continue this journey together. Please pray for sleep, gas-less feedings, quiet times in the Word, Bryan's balancing school and work, Bryan's leadership in our home in his new role as Daddy and of course that it would all be to make less of us and much of Christ.

My Precious Daughter...

Madelyn Joan
October 26, 2009 2:56 pm.
6 Lbs. 6 oz.
19 Inches
......and every bit of perfect!