Wednesday, September 7, 2011 (38 wks 4 days)
So the day started off as a regular day. Well, maybe it was a little different because I had a few, light contractions. Jeremy was getting ready for work and got all excited and said, "Maybe Anna will be born today". I smiled and said, "Sorry, probably not today." The reason was I never went before 39 wks and I was moving at a slow pace with this one. However, I was excited for my Dr's appointment at 10:45 am to see if anything had changed. I hoped for something since Sunday, I felt awful and was having contractions here and there.
Well, me and the kids decided to go on a little walk before the Dr. appointment. I had some contractions. I was happy that I knew my body was working and that by next week I would probably be holding Anna in my arms. I was thinking Monday the 12th or Tuesday the 13th. All the other kids were born on Mondays so I kinda thought Monday but deep down I felt it wasn't going to be a Monday. I felt she wanted to be different and would probably pick Tuesday. Everything about this pregnancy was different. My brother, thought Saturday and I thought that would be fine and cool since her birth would be 9/10/11. I KNEW she would NOT come on Sunday the 11th since that is Caleb's birthday and he told me NOT to have her on his birthday.
At 10:45, I was at Dr Cote's office. My mom was there and a nice surprise, Jeremy came. His boss told him he could meet me for the appointment. Did the usual routine stuff with the nurse and then Dr Cote came in. I told him I was having little contractions (about 4 every hour) but they weren't strong. He checked me and said I was 5 dilated and 75% effaced. I was glad I had made some progress. He said I could go at any time. I laughed and said I would see him next week. Hoping at the beginning of the week. He said he didn't think I would make it until next week. With Caleb I had my appointment on Friday with the same stats and didn't have him until Monday. So that was my thinking. My dr said to never trust a pregnant women and he told me every pregnancy was different and this was my 4th. My mom and Jeremy were anxious and asked some questions. He told me if I had more than 6 in an hour whether they were strong or not to go to the hospital. He then proceeded to tell me he was off on Friday (which he normally works) and he was off for the weekend too. However, he was going to be working Thursday night at Bergan (which he always has Thursdays off). I thought maybe I will have her on Thursday? My nurse, said you might have her tonight and then said I know you WON'T make it until next dr appointment.
Jeremy left and went back to work. My mom took the day off from work so she could spend time with us (which was nice). We went to lunch. The kids wanted Burger King (yuck) but I didn't want that. So I ran into Subway and got me, my mom and Micah and sandwich. Then we ate inside Burger King. I had a contraction. My mom said okay let's start counting and timing them. After lunch we went to Target to get a few groceries. I told my mom I could go by myself and she said, "Oh, no. Not in your condition. " She told me she was going to be close by. I had a couple more contractions inside Target.
Got home and unloaded the stuff. Then my mom got a call that my grandma wasn't well (she had been sick all week). She needed to go check on her. I said I would be fine. She told me to call her if I had 5 in an hour. I told her the dr said 6 in an hour. She said she wanted to make sure she had enough time to get to me.
So contractions went like this;
1:46 to 2:46 4 maybe 5
3:06 to 3:41 3
4:03 to 4:58 5 maybe 6
5:12 to 5:54 4
*a couple times after going to the bathroom I wiped and had little blood streaks (during the afternoon potty breaks)
I was getting annoyed thinking its not gonna happen today because of the pattern. However, around the 5'o clock hour they were getting stronger. I forgot to say my mom called several times to check on me.
I got the ball out and started swaying on it and then laying on it, it helped my back.
Jeremy got home a little after 5:30 and I was on the ball. He had a big smile and said, today is the day. Still in denial, I said I don't know but it could be. Don't get your hopes up. I guess I should say I went to the hospital on Friday (last week) and it was a false alarm. I was embarrassed and knew I should not have gone. I wanted to make sure this was the real deal. I didn't want to go and be sent home. My mom was already on her way back to our house.
6:06 pm to 6:56 7 contractions and then another at 7:03 and 7:06* these contractions during this hour were getting stronger and closer together. Some took my breath away. Jeremy and mom said its time to go to the hospital. I said let's wait a little longer. They both insisted we leave unless I wanted to have the baby at home. I guess I was still in denial. Plus I like to labor at home. I basically only want to be at the hospital to push the baby out. I hate waiting in the bed, hooked up to things. So I slowly got my things ready and my sister and nieces were on there way to my house. My nieces were going to watch Micah, Caleb, and Julia.
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We arrived at the hospital at 7:30 pm. I had a hard contraction in the car, so Jeremy asked me if I wanted to be dropped off at the door. I told him I wanted to walk more to help things along. He asked if I wanted him to bring the suitcase inside (on Friday I had him leave it in the car). At this moment, I realized it is probably going to happen tonight. So I told Jeremy to bring it inside. My mom and sister was right behind us.
Got to labor & delivery and walked to our room. I had a contraction on the way. I was walking behind the nurse and everyone else was walking behind me. They were making fun of my walking. I got mad at them and they said I was definitely in labor.
I arrived to my room and then got into my hospital gown. Answered a whole bunch of questions and got hooked up to the contraction monitor machine. The nurse said I was having them pretty steady and then she checked me and said I was 6 dilated (7:50 pm) That totally depressed me. I only changed by 1 since my dr appointment which was several hours ago. Plus I had tons of contractions. I looked at the nurse and asked if they were going to send me home. She smiled and said no way. Then I said well I should have waited at home longer and it was going to be a long night.
I didn't know if my dr was on for the night? I really wanted him since he knows me and delivered my other 3 but I figured oh well. To my surprise he was on and actually on his way for a surgery. Yippee!
I had some intense contractions. I started to know TONIGHT would be the night that Anna was going to be born.
Dr Cote popped in to check on me before he went into his surgery. He said it would be around a 1/2 hr. It was more like 45 min but it didn't bother me because I knew I wasn't where I needed to be.
Really intense, hard, close contractions were happening. My sister and mom were right by my side. I was extremely thirsty so I had water and ice chips. My back was hurting too.
Dr Cote came in and said lets check and see how you are doing. I was an 8-9 and 100% effaced.
I was in extreme pain and had the brief freak out moment thinking I couldn't do this. Thinking of the pain. My sister knows me and told me what I needed to hear. At 9:04 pm Dr Cote, broke my bag of water. And the staff was hurrying to change the bed. They wanted to adjust and move me during an intense contraction. I screamed, NO! Don't move me now. I have never screamed in any of my other labors. My dr said the baby's head is right there we need to get into position. He said you can push that pain away and she will be out fast. So I listened and pushed at the contraction. Took a quick breath and pushed one long push and she was out. Ouch! This time the shoulders/chest I could really feel. It hurt but wow! She was my fastest delivery. She was born at 9:17pm. The placenta was out at 9:21. Thankfully, I only tore a tiny bit.
Anna was my earliest born and smallest at 6 lbs 7 oz and 19" . But she had no middle name yet.
I loved that the hospital changed their rules and the baby never left the Labor room. She didn't have her first bath until 1:15 am on Thursday morning in my room. She LOVED her bath and it was wonderful to watch it (all my other kids where taken out of the labor room and given a bath within the first hour and I couldn't watch).
Jeremy and I waited to decide on a middle name. We had a little time on Thursday night but not enough time before visitors. So Friday morning was the dreaded task. We went through the entire name book again. Narrowed it down to Christine/Kristine, Joy, Noelle, and Elizabeth. With kids and cousins arriving before we decided on the name, we had to walk the halls and sit in a waiting room. We narrowed it down to Elizabeth and Noelle. Everyone left and still no name. I was super hormonal and crying. I just couldn't decide. I don't know why I was having such a hard time. The only thing we had left to do was sign the birth certificate and then we could leave the hospital. I knew Jeremy's hesitation on Noelle but I didn't know if I loved Elizabeth. After much crying and deliberation Noelle was decided on but I still wonder if I made the right choice. Noelle means "precious gift" So I keep telling myself she is our gift.
