Wednesday, May 14, 2008 at 11AM I had my membranes stripped. Never having the procedure done before, I wasn't quite sure what to expect. Pain? Quick process? Effective? Of course, I read up on it on the internet but like everything else, there are many stories. I went in and my Doc asked me if I as sure I wanted it done. Without hesitation, I said YES! So she did her thing and yes, it hurt...like heck but it was a fairly quick process. She told me that I was 4cm dilated and 80% effaced and expected to see me within 24 to 48 hours. I left the office full of anticipation and yet full of doubt (must have been the internet stories).
I went throughout my day with constant but non-painful contractions. Nothing out of the ordinary really until around dinner time when I got hit with a decent contraction. Being a pessimist, I shrugged it off and got the kids and myself ready for bed. I stayed up for a little bit wondering if I would feel another good contraction but after a few hours, I realized I wouldn't so off to bed I went.
At almost exactly 2AM, I woke up to pain. Not searing, unbearable pain but without a doubt, the most painful contraction of my pregnancy. I sat up in bed and wondered if "it was time." I waited. 10 minutes later, another hit. I got out of bed and walked around a little and got hit a third time 10 minutes later. I know that Braxton Hicks go away with movement or walking, so I had a feeling this was the real thing. I hopped in the shower to see if it relaxed me...just in case I was hoping against hope. I had another while in the shower so I knew it was time. I called Bill who was in South Florida for work...3 hours away. I told him to get home. He immediately got on the road. I called my parents to let them know and they said they were on their way. I called my girlfriend, Janice and she immediately said she would be over. During this time, William woke up and couldn't get back to sleep so I let him hang out on the living room chair and watch TV. I woke up Sariah to let her know what was going on and she got up right away and started helping me out with getting ready, feeding William and such. That hour or so that she was up...she was the most supportive, most wonderful daughter. My contractions started coming every 4 minutes and were painful...Sariah would come over, stand beside me and gently rub my back. Having my daughter right by my side...comforting me...I can't tell you how much that means to me. How special she is. I needed her and she was there without question and full of love.
My friend, Janice, arrived around 4:30ish and she and I left for the hospital while Sariah waited for my parents to arrive (about 10 minutes after we left). The contractions were getting more and more painful...to the point that I had to stop and breathe out with each contraction. They lasted about 1 minute each time. We got to the hospital and they whisked me upstairs to L&D. The nurses set me up with an IV and some Stadall (spelling) to take the edge off of the contractions. That Stadall....yeah...nice drug. Made me feel drunk-like and definitely helped with the contractions. Janice sat by me and held my hand through each contraction. My friend of 20 years was there for me once again. I love you Janice and thank you.
Around 6:30AM or 7, Bill arrived alive but worn out from the 3 hour drive. I have never been so happy to see him. He and Janice took turns as I went from contraction to contraction. I was about 6cm and 90%. I believe the Stadall started wearing off around 10 or 11AM and I started almost begging for an epidural. The anesthesiologist showed up and popped in my epidural. Now, I've had epidurals with all of my pregnancies and have never had any issues with them going in or any physical issues once they were in. This doctor seemed to have a little bit of an issue getting it in so it took a minute or so longer than I'm used to which made me impatient as I got one contraction after another. Finally, after getting it into my back, I started feeling relief. Then I started feeling things I haven't felt before. I started vomited and as the labor went on, I kept vomiting. My blood pressure also dropped...to me A LOT (the diastolic number was 26 at one point)...and I was woozy from it all. The doctor injected something into my IV TWICE to get my pressure back up. It was just all weird and foreign to me considering I've never had issues before. Throughout this dreadful vomiting and wooziness, Bill was right there, pushing back my hair, cleaning out the bedpan and just loving me. I love that man so much...he is my soulmate.
Anyway, my labor was progressing but my contractions started getting further apart and less strong. This was after my water broke at some point in the morning. They allowed me to labor a bit more and then around 2:00PM or so, the nurse came in to check on me and said I was 100% effaced and had a little lip of cervix left. She expected it to go rather quickly but it didn't so she checked me again at around 2:30 and said she would be right back. She grabbed another nurse to "get a second opinion". The other nurse came and checked and said I had another bag of water that needed to get broken. Funny thing is that I had a feeling that was going to happen. I wonder if they had discovered that sooner, how much sooner would my baby have arrived. Anyway, the nurse managed to break the water and I felt a warm flow. I knew from that point that it would be soon. Very soon.
Around 3PM, my epidural started not helping despite being able to pump the flow myself. I told the anesthesiologist who gave me a "topping off". Well, my body didn't react to that topping off well and my right leg swelled to triple it's normal size and I couldn't move it at all. I could move my left leg and felt the contractions (sometimes painful) but not my right leg. Freaked me out a little but the doc didn't seem concerned.
Since the point my water broke, the contractions sky rocketed. Strong, hard and every 2 minutes. Around 3:45PM, I told the nurse I felt pressure. Elena (the nurse) checked and sure enough, the head was right down there. Doctor Lewis arrived and got everything ready. She sat at the edge of the bed, checked me and said if I was ready, to go ahead and push. Three pushes later, Samantha Elizabeth Leighton was out!! The first thing out of my mouth was "Her head is so round!!!" It really was...like a c-section baby it was so round. She let out a little cry and was placed on my stomach. At that point, Bill and I fell completely and totally in love.
The nurses weighed her at 7lbs and 19in long. Perfect. Absolutely perfect.
The funny thing is that about a month and a half ago, Bill put two dates in an envelope with his guesses of when Samantha would arrive. He had one date and May 15. He had guessed the date. Not only that but as soon as he arrived at the hospital, we did guesses on weight and Bill got that right too!!!
So we are going on day 5 now of Samantha's arrival into this world. With our impending move, I'm grateful that I have this week or so to enjoy her. To enjoy her coos. To enjoy her smell. To enjoy her staring at me in wonder. To love her. God has blessed my family once again. We are a family of 6. We have each other. We have love. We now have little Samantha. God is Good.
