Because of his large size (estimated at week 39 of my pregnancy to be 8 lb. 13 oz), Dr. Conrad recommended inducing (due date was Feb. 22). So, we arrived at Crestwood at 5am, yesterday morning. Pitocin drip began at 6am. In hopes of a fast labor (Lucy was 26 hours and Jack 11 hours), I decided I'd try to go as far as I could before getting the epidural. I made it to 5cm and when the tears began, that's when we called the doc.
As I was getting the needle injected in my spine, the doc performed a "test pull back" to make sure he wasn't in a vein. There were two student nurses in the room, and he was narrating/ teaching them, so we were getting a very detailed step-by-step account. Then, all of the sudden, we hear, "Well, you don't see this!" The test pull had revealed blood which meant he was in a vein. Not. good. So, I panic, and they do whatever they're supposed to do to fix it. Try all over again. This time he gets in the right spot, but he tells us he can't stick it in as far or close because he was close to the vein, which was still bleeding.
Scary, but apparently we avoided a big problem. Although we later learned, that would not be the case.
They said I should begin feeling relief in about 10-15 min, but at 20-30 minutes later, I am still feeling everything - and we're not talking about how sometimes you still feel "pressure" with the epidural, just not sharp pain. No, this was sharp, sharp pain; and I told the nurse that I wasn't feeling any kind of relief. And my nurse, Gaye, (who was the most fabulous nurse I've ever had) got right back with the anesthesiologist and told him to come back. They gave me the bolus and set me up to try again.
Hours later, it's not any better, and I'm squirming in pain, unable to be still, sobbing uncontrollably - in the worst pain I've ever experienced. Doc comes back and finds that the needle has come out of my back - and has been out. Thus, explaining why there was never any relief. At this point, I'm at 9 cm, feeling near death. The pain was beyond explanation. Somehow I get it together enough to sit still for a new epidural, starting all over. I'm a sobbing, shaking, snotty mess, but they get it done, and this time, it's right. Blessedly, in about five minutes, I'm beginning to feel relief.
Oddly enough, my body stalls at 9 cm for almost three hours, which I actually didn't mind too much because I needed some RECOVERY time! I calmed down, and started to relax. Other than feeling like I needed to take a serious poop for almost two hours straight, it was okay, but I kept telling the nurse, "I"ve got to be 10, there's so much pressure!" But I'd always be just shy of 10, Connor's head remaining just behind the "lip" of the cervix. Around 4:30, the nurse suggested that I try to push the baby past that point, and I was able to. So now it's "Go Time!"
THey called Dr. Conrad, and one push later, the head is crowning, and we're waiting for Conrad. I'm so ready to push this baby out, the few minutes we were waiting felt like forever of course. In he comes, I say, "Let's Go!" and two pushes later we get the head out. Pushing his big shoulders out was hard, took two good pushes, but then the rest of him popped right out with ease.
We hear, "IT'S A BOY!" and that was an amazing moment! Everyone remarks about how big he is, eager to plop him on the scale. Nurses guess low 9's...and of course, he turned out to be 9 lbs 15.4 oz. He was less than an ounce shy of 10 pounds!!!!!!!! And amazingly, I had not a cut or tear, nothing to repair. So, after some quick protocol, he was placed in my arms. My mom and mom-in-law, Barbara, were in the delivery room with us for the birth, so we all enjoyed some time with him, but then we asked them to leave because we needed to name this kid! ;-)
Jason and I both suggested that he was not a "Simon" (our top boy name), and he didn't seem to really be a "Reid" either (our next pick.) "Well, crap" I said, "What do we do?" ;-) We had literally only talked about "Connor" once, remarking that we both liked it when it popped up on the Nymbler baby name website. And oddly enough, Jason responded to me, "Well, I know what I think he is...Connor!" And what's funny was, I had been thinking the same thing too. I said as much, we tossed around some middle names, and voila, Connor James!
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Jason and I just finished our special dinner, and it was really wonderful taking time before the meal, praying together, thanking God for all that we're experiencing. We've been given another beautiful, health baby, who at least for now, seems to be an incredibly content, very mellow, gentle boy! My heart truly melted this morning as Jack and Lucy bounded in the room, shouting, "We want to hold Connor!" Jason looks particularly wonderful to me, holding Connor and interacting with our others - his care and comfort and rock he's been for me makes me love him even more. I am so very lucky to be raising a family with him!
Time to enjoy some more down time at "Hotel Crestwood," as it's Connor's time for another meal, and we're gearing up for another visit from Big Brother and Big Sister!
Thanks for posting this. I really enjoyed reading it!
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