Good morning, son.

I was a little nervous about the whole labor and delivery process.  My first experience in this department had been a long and slow journey and I was fearful that my body just didn't know how to dilate on its own and that a c section would probably be in my future.  I had an appointment on Tuesday, Oct 1 and I was not dilated nor effaced. I totally assumed he was going to be late (because why wouldn't he be!)...boy was I wrong!

The newest man in my life decided to grace us with his presence (and end his mommy's suffering) a week early!  I have to thank my son for this small gift because I was absolutely miserable the last few weeks. I was seeing my SIL/chiropractor twice a week because my sciatic was bringing me to tears.   I was so over talking about pregnancy and I was running out of witty responses when people asked me how I was feeling.  Overall I was incredibly uncomfortable and starting to get crabby.

Monday, October 7, I got up to use the bathroom around 1:30 am.  When I got back in bed I started to have contractions.  I assumed it was false labor contractions because they felt like mestral cramps but this time I was having pain in my back as well.  After a few contractions,  I started to roughly time them…8, 8, 7, 6, 5, 5 minutes apart.  Again, I figured false labor because they weren't consistent.  So around 3:00 am I decided to go upstairs and bounce on the birthing ball to see if I could get them to stop.  Thirty minutes into the latest episode of Grey's Anatomy the contractions were 3 minute 45 seconds apart and lasting about a minute.  I started pacing the living room and at 3:30 am I felt/heard a pop, like a knuckle being cracked.  A few seconds later it became very clear that my water had broken.  I stood in shock for a second (I didn't experience this the first time!) and then rushed downstairs.

From the bathroom, I shouted to J and he groggily came running into the bathroom with a very confused look on his face. The plan was to labor at home as long as possible.  Again, the process with Jack was extremely slow so even though the contractions were coming steadily I felt very calm.  Since we had plenty of time before we would need to leave,  I casually hopped in the shower.  However, towards the end of my relaxing showing the pain from the contractions really started to intensify and I had to stop and brace myself to breath through them.

By 4:00ish am I was out of the shower and a down on all fours on the bathroom floor.  I remember J teasing me by asking if I was having an orgasimic birth (if you don't know what this is google it)…he should be a comdian.  My contractions were about 2 minutes apart and lasting about 90 seconds.  By 4:15 am I was telling J that we needed to get to the hospital…NOW!   I think he thought I was just being a pansy but he ran next door to wake our neighbors who had so graciously agreed to watch Jack if we were in a pinch.

We got to the hospital a little after 5:00 am.  I went from kneeling and leaning over the back of the car seat to the exact same position in a wheelchair.  I'm sure I was sight!  I remember the nurse saying "Well I've never seen anyone sit in a wheelchair like this!  Just please, please don't lean back."

The contaractions were coming fast and hard and they asked if I could make it upstairs or if I needed to stay in the ER to deliever.  I begged them to take me upstair and get me an epidural ASAP.

When I got to the room I kept asking for the epidural but they said the needed to get an IV in first and would need to check my dialation based on how close the contractions were coming.  I was at 6 cm.  I was shocked.

While waiting for the anastesologist, my body began pushing on its own (extremely strange sensation by the way!) and I remember thinking to myself "Don't say anything!  They'll never know!  You have to get that epidural, there's no way you can do this without." I kept my mouth shut but my strained face and grunting noises gave me away to the nurses and I remember hearing them say "She's not going to have time for the epidural.  She's pushing already."  Then I really started to get nervous and kept asking "Where the f@ck is he at?!?"

SHE finally arrived!  They checked me again, I was at 7 cm and they told me it was probably to late for the epidural.   I was very insistant that there was plenty of time and I would be able to sit still for the procedure.  My body continued to push during the contractions but my midwife was able to get me to breath through the contractions and focus and they were able to get the epidural in.  When I laid back down they checked me again and I was at 10 cm.

At the next contraction I began helping my body to push.  After four contractions, his head was out and his body with the next.

Baby _____ came into our lives at 6:21 am (this is what the announcement text read).  Leo remained nameless for about 6 hours!  Leo had been my favorite.  Jude had been J's favorite.  And the week before we agreed on Colin.  But at the time he was born we were back to undecided.  J looked at him after he was born and said "You know, he does kind of look like a Leo."

We found out later the epidural proceedure was finished at 6:04 am and 17 minutes later he was out.  Justin won't give me credit for a "drug free" delivery but trust me when I tell you that I felt everything.  Birth with an epidural doesn't hurt...this hurt!

I couldn't have asked for a better experience, it made me feel like Superwoman!  Never in my life would I have guessed it would have gone so quickly...I am beyond thankful for that!  If I were to do it again I would definitely go without an epidural...especially if you could promise me another five hour labor and delivery!  J got off really easy this time around!

The sun rose at 7:02 am that morning.  By this time all of the chaos had died down and everyone had left the room.  We were watching the sun rise and starting a new day with our son, the lyrics "good morning, son" kept playing in my head.  I asked J to play the song and as the music played I watched my husband hold our son and I felt incredibly at peace.

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Lindsey (mama of TWO!)