You were always a mover and a shaker when you were baking away.... So it shouldn't have come as a surprise that one of your donkey kicks (as daddy liked to call them) broke my water and sent me into labor on Monday, May 2, four days after your due date. We had just gone to bed and things started changing quickly!
We rushed to the hospital only to wait in triage for over an hour. My contractions were so painful that I white-knuckled my chair and pretty much forgot to breathe for the entire time. When a nurse finally checked me, I was dilated to 4 cm and my blood pressure was quickly rising. I just couldn't relax in between contractions. We were sent to Labor and Delivery.
When we arrived on the 8th floor, were told that my blood pressure was so high that they needed to run some tests to make sure I could have an epidural. The only thing worse at that point than the pain was the thought that I might not be able to get the epi!! The nurses said that they hadn't seen such strong, regular contractions - they were coming every 60-90 seconds and lasting for 60 seconds. Virtually on top of each other.
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| This is an awful picture, but I think it illustrates just how hard I was concentrating just to get through it. |
Two tests and two hours later, I was able to get my epidural around 2:00 am. It was heaven. I was laughing, texting Gramma and Auntie Amber and having the time of my life waiting for your arrival.
Daddy and I took a nap and woke up around 6:30 am. I was dilated to 7 cm. The doctors estimated that I should be able to start pushing around 10:00 am. It is still amazing to me that medication can completely block out almost all of the pain.
At 10:30 am, Dr. Foley came to check me and said we were ready to start pushing. The next two hours seemed like 20 minutes to me. My blood pressure didn't seem to want to stay down. I had an awful stitch in my left side that hurt every time I tried to push. After an hour and a half, Dr. Foley said it was time to get you out. So in came what seemed like an army of people to assist with a forceps delivery. I'd like to think I'm pretty modest, but there I was with my legs in stirrups and 10 people (at least) on the other side of the sheet waiting to see you pop out....any modesty I had - or will ever have - flew out the window.
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| Can't believe I'm sharing this picture, but here it is, nonetheless. |
At 12:33 pm you arrived. A little bruised and battered from the salad tongs, but a beautiful, healthy baby boy. You were 7 lbs, 5 oz and were 20 inches long. You had a great set of lungs - still do, ahem... - and could not have been any more perfect.
I've never known such a love as I did the first time you were put in my arms. It was an overwhelming feeling of never wanting to let you go. I still have it each time I hold you. And I know I'll have it for as long I live. You're my sweet baby boy, and always will be.
Love,
Mama
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