We checked into the hospital on Monday night, at 7pm on the dot. They settled us into an observation room, started my IV, and we hung tight for a few minutes until the doctor came in.
Even though he wasn't on call, the doctor I'd been discussing the induction with the last few weeks came in to insert the balloon catheter to get my cervix to efface. This, by the way, ranks as the 2nd worst part of the whole ordeal.
With the balloon settled, they gave me some ambien to help me sleep, but it didn't really do much to overpower the cramping that it caused. I slept fitfully until about 6am, when they came to move us over to a delivery room.
Once there, a different doctor, one I'd disliked in the office, came in to break my water and start the pitocin drip. As I've discovered with many doctors, this doc had a much better bedside manner than she did appointment manner. And so we were rolling.
The contractions came mild and irregular. They really weren't too painful, and as soon as I'd indicated that they were becoming uncomfortable, they offered me both a shot of Nubain (sp?) or the epidural. I went with the Nubain first. It helped, and from 8am to 11am, I went from 2cm to 4cm. Things were moving along nicely, and the nurses indicated they expected to have me in recovery with a baby by 2 o'clock.
HAH.
Around noon, the contractions were becoming more painful, and I was 5cm. I really wasn't in any agony, but I was afraid that things were moving fast enough that if I stalled on the epidural, it would soon be too late to get one, so I asked for it. The anesthesiologist was up within 10 minutes, and that sucker was in. Like last time, it didn't hurt in the slightest.
And then things stalled. From noon until 4:00, I stayed at 5cm. I sent my best friend home, thinking that at this rate, we could go the rest of the night. I tossed and turned and tried to get comfortable. I could feel the pressure of the contractions, but I wasn't in any real pain, but I couldn't exactly rest, either.
Around 4:45, the pressure of the contractions became intense. Still not exactly painful, but I could feel the urge to bear down beginning. I asked them to check me, and I was only 6-7cm at that point. At 5 o'clock, I buzzed the nurse again and told her that I really, REALLY felt like I needed to push with the contractions. She got the room ready and paged the doctor, who took a while to come in. Eventually, she checked me herself, and said I was still only about 8cm. The doctor came in and checked me again, and agreed. He said, however, that he wasn't going to ask me to go against nature, and said if I was ready to push, he was ready to help me.
And so began what was certainly the most painful physical experience of my life. Unlike my delivery with Donovan, I was fully concious and aware, and Jesus Christ the agony. Even now, I find myself thinking about it and getting worked up to the point that I have to remind myself that it's over, and I am NEVER doing it again.
I pushed right through 8cm to 9cm to 10cm, and the baby started descending and crowning, and his head was turned such that instead of looking down all nice and proper, he was looking to the right, which is apparently why it took so long to get to fully dilated. Just shy of half an hour after I begged them to let me push, Maxwell made his wailing, angry appearance.
I wish I could tell you his full name, but anonymity and all that. His middle name is my maiden, so there you go. As it were, meet Max, all 9 lbs 3oz, 21 inches of delicious, Filipino looking chunk.
He is absolutely beautiful. Congratulations to you both... no to all three of you! Totally can't leave out big bro.
Kudos to you for birthing such a chunkin'.
Posted by: TiA | January 16, 2009 at 08:40 PM
He's absolutely gorgeous! Congratulations!
Posted by: Hope | January 16, 2009 at 09:28 PM
Congrats to you and your family!!! He's bee-yoo-tiful!
Posted by: Elisabeth C | January 17, 2009 at 10:21 AM
Congratulations!! He is adorable!
Posted by: Cherish | January 17, 2009 at 11:36 AM
He is absolutely beautiful! Good job you guys.
Posted by: marni | January 17, 2009 at 09:31 PM
Congratulations, he's divine!
Posted by: Louisa | January 18, 2009 at 08:41 AM
Congratulations, he's beautiful! Maxwell is a gret name!
Posted by: Kristin | January 19, 2009 at 12:13 PM
his cheeks!
another stinky, cute babe to toss around at family picnics. yay. congrats.
Posted by: firecracker | January 19, 2009 at 07:51 PM
Congratulations! What a little cutie-muffin!
Posted by: Sara | January 21, 2009 at 05:44 PM