I knew labor this go around would be different. I had heard it would be quicker. But I had no idea.
First off, this girl made me wait. Until 39 weeks. I first started dilating at 37 weeks so we thought it would be an earlier arrival like with Bennett. Jimmy was traveling to Salt Lake City for a work conference. So, at 37 weeks, my parents drove down to stay with Bennett and me just in case I went into labor. I did not. But, every doctor’s appointment showed farther dilation and effacing so they did not want to drive home to have to turn right back around. Well, we all got to wait three weeks.
Finally at 39 weeks, I started having some contractions. On Wednesday, February 11 at 1:30 am, I was woken up having having contractions but they would start and stop and were quite irregular. I thought “ok, here we go.” I went downstairs to time the contractions and bounce on the exercise ball so Jimmy could get some sleep during the early stages.
The contractions got to be every 8 minutes but were only 30 seconds in duration. So, not active labor. This went on and off for three days. I was fully over it!
Finally, on Valentines Day evening, things started picking up. I was pretty tired by this point because it’d been a few days of contractions which made sleeping difficult. So, I went upstairs to Jimmy’s den to watch Hart of Dixie and eat my Chick-fil-a nuggets and fruit salad in quiet. Bennett was in bed. My mom was watching tv in the guest room. My Dad and Jimmy were watching something downstairs having a beer.
Gradually, my contractions started picking up in intensity. They were really painful, but every 7 to 8 minutes so not close enough to go to the hospital. I moved into our bathroom because I could lean against a bench we store our towels on and breathe while listening to my Labor and Delivery playlist. I labored like this for about an hour when things picked up quickly. Suddenly contractions were every six minutes and INTENSE.
I went downstairs and told Jimmy it was time to go to the hospital.
Ingrid: “it’s go time”
Jimmy: “5-1-1?”
Ingrid: “6-1-1 but it is time to go.”
Jimmy ” They’re supposed to be every five minutes for a minute for a hour. That’s what you said. 5-1-1″
Ingrid: “Jimmy! It is time to go to the hospital! I have been laboring upstairs. Go!”
Jimmy walks to the door and gets his keys. He is wearing gym shorts and a sleeveless shirt.
Ingrid “You need pants”
Jimmy and my Dad load up the car and I tell my mom we’re leaving. It was a brief moment of excitement. I was still scared they would say this was false labor and send me home, but I was in a lot of pain for contractions so I was hoping it was the real deal.
The 24 minute car ride to the hospital in Uptown Chalotte was not fun. My contractions went from every six minutes to every four during the ride. They also picked up in intensity. I went from worrying we’d be sent home to worrying I wouldn’t get my epidural and lamenting why we waited so long.
We got to the hospital at 9:01 pm. They quickly checked me into triage. Then, it took 45 minutes to be seen by a nurse. I was 5 centimeters dilated, fully effaced, and the nurse could feel the baby’s head she was so low. Obviously I was in active labor at this point. Another 15 minutes passed and the nurse came back to take us to the labor and delivery room. She checked me again before we moved. I was now at 6 centimeters. Finally, I was wheeled into a room.
When I got to the labor and delivery room, they immediately put in the request for my epidural. At this point, I was in the most pain I have ever been in. I was doubting they’d make it in time to give me the epidural. I was squeezing Jimmy’s hand with all my strength. Contractions were every minute to two minutes and in between, I had INTENSE pressure. This pressure was my baby. She was low enough I could have her the second I was fully dilated.
11:01 pm. The best man in the world arrived to give me my epidural. He had to insert it twice – the first time it went into a tiny vein. Apparently rare but would’ve caused it to not work. Whatever, fix it good man. He did. I went from Jekyll to Hyde. It was seriously night and day. I went from yelling “I can’t do this!” to complementing my nurse on her shoes and asking the anesthesiologist if he had any kids and how his shift was going.
11:45 pm. My doctor comes in to check me. I am now at “9.5 could be 10 centimeters dilated and fully effaced.” I was minutes away from not getting that epidural. I never ever want to experience that pain ever again thank you. My doctor says we should wait just a bit to start pushing so my body can do some of the work for me.
1:20 am on February 15. I start pushing.
1:50 am. Claire Elizabeth is born.
