"Every pregnancy is different." I'd heard this phrase many times throughout my pregnancy with Owen. All I had for comparison was my pregnancy with Kaden over 3 years ago. The similarities between the two seemed to end as soon as the morning sickness was over. I had a normal, relaxed pregnancy with Kaden, and Owen was causing concern from the very first ultrasound.
After getting a mere 4 hours of sleep Sunday night (on the couch, 11pm-3am, waking every hour) we went in at 6am to have Owen's labor induced. I had woken up with an upset stomach that triggered contractions off and on through the night... This wasn't unusual - I had contractions off and on throughout most of my pregnancy with Owen, and it was a big factor in my taking off work early.
We got to labor & delivery just before 6am. I put on the oh-so-flattering hospital gown, and crawled into the uncomfortable bed. The nurse checked to see if I had dilated at all on my own (again, triggering a contraction) and lo and behold - I was already at 3 cm before any of the induction process was started.
They started the pitocin drip at around 6:30 and broke my water about a half hour later. The contractions were tolerable, until about 10:00. They were coming closer together and Steve suggested I ask about the epidural. I didn't think I needed it yet - because I was in nowhere near the amount of pain I was in with Kade.... But I asked anyways, and the nurse told me that the doctor was giving an epidural to the other gal that came in to be induced at the same time I did... (which made me feel MUCH better about going ahead and getting it) and as soon as she was finished she would send her in to do mine. The nurse checked me and said I was about 4-5 cm. That was 1-2 cm in 3 hours. At this rate, this was going to take all day!
The anesthesiologist was in about 10 minutes (3 hard contractions) later. Getting the epidural sucked! I had about 3 or 4 more nasty contractions while she was threading it through my back, and I just felt like different. I told the nurse as they got me situated on my back again, that I was feeling a lot of pressure. It felt like someone was sitting on my belly. She said she'd check me again to make sure I hadn't "done anything surprising."
Well I had. In the amount of time it took for them to get the epidural - twenty, maybe thirty minutes max - I had gone from 4-5 cm to being completely dilated and ready to push. And my doctor was not at the hospital.
The epidural kicked in and all I felt was relief. I was practically in a state of euphoria, cracking jokes and making fun of myself the whole time they were telling me not to push because the doctor wasn't back yet. Steve thought it was the meds making me loopy... but I remember it all, very well... I was just very happy. I was relieved because I'd survived. I was dreading labor after a miserable 14 hour labor with Kade, and this one had been cake. I was happy I stayed awake and would remember it. I was glad it was almost over after barely 4 1/2 hours.
I wasn't too concerned that my doctor was not at the hospital and there were nurses telling me NOT to push. I asked them "How the HELL do I not push?" And they told me to breathe - just like in the movies. Short ridiculous breaths.. So there I was, looking at Steve, panting like a dog, feeling like a fool... but absolutely elated, and in an incredibly good mood.
The doctor finally got there and in two pushes, Owen was born. I could FEEL him sliding out of my body... I got to hold him in my arms while we were still physically connected. I had no cuts or tears, and Owen (with Apgar scores of 9 and 9) was absolutely perfect.
At our first ultrasound, they discovered that Owen was missing a vessel in his umbilical cord. He only had two, where there were supposed to be three. They said it happens in 1 percent of pregnancies, they didn't know why. We were warned about the possibility of heart & kidney defects, Down Syndrome, low birthweight, and even the risk of stillbirth.... None of which are things we wanted to hear. We had multiple ultrasounds to watch his growth, and went in for other monitoring the last 4 or 5 weeks. The ultrasounds showed no problems with his heart or his kidneys, which was a relief. We turned down the chromosome testing they offered us to check for Down Syndrome.
We were told he would likely be a "petite" baby. At our last ultrasound at 36 weeks, they estimated he weighed 5 pounds. At my 38 week appointment, my uterus was measuring 6 weeks small. Steve and I were expecting a 5-6 pound baby boy...
As it was, Owen's birthweight was the exact same as Kaden's was... And Owen was a half inch longer.
It was, overall, one of the most incredible, unforgettable experiences that I've ever had... and I couldn't be more blessed to have this little man.
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