Eli is Coming!

April 30th didn't start out as expected. I had been up all night feeling odd & experiencing a few contractions. About 5am that morning we were headed to Labor & delivery. Mind you I read many books, felt like I was ready for what was to come but all that went out the window when I saw blood on my underwear. I flipped out! I forgot what floor we had to go to, forgot what nurses station we had to report to, I was lost. Luckily Travis was on his A game. I was monitored for a while then let go with some medicine to help me sleep. After we left the hospital we headed to Hooper's for breakfast. Little did we know that this breakfast would be the last we would share just us. We headed home, I napped and felt great when I awoke. We had friends coming over to watch the UFC fight. We enjoyed grilled chicken, veggies and the company of good friends. I remember telling Ivey as they were leaving that this may the last get together before our little Eli was here. I wasn't counting on him coming that very next day. Around 9pm I started having regular contractions. I started timing them. We still had friends over so I didn't want to alarm anyone. After everyone was gone I told Travis. Trying to stay true to our birth plan, I laid down. We didn't want to head to the hospital too soon. Around 2pm the contractions were stronger & more frequent. I finally told Travis that we had to head out. We weren't ready at all. Eli's bag was packed but our bag was not. I hurried around and threw some things together. Upon arrival at labor and delivery, we were told I was probably having false labor because Eli wasn't supposed to be born yet. At 5am the nurse checked my cervix and it was dialated to a 3-4cm. We were then admitted and taken to our birthing room. It was pretty surreal when the nurse told us that we in fact were going to have a baby that day. We were both so tired, we hadn't slept much in two days and with the contractions I couldn't sleep even though the nurse advised that we rest. Easier said than done. At 7am I was given the option to receive pain medication. Our birth plan was to have no intervention at all but I really couldn't handle too much more I thought. After being assured that our baby wasn't going to be born in the next hour and be affected by the medication I agreed. I was given stadol (spelling), I felt pretty loopy and would fall asleep between contractions. The calmness lasted for an hour. The cat nap was what we needed to keep on going. The nurse told us we would have the baby by noon. I became fixated with that. In our child birth classes we were told to transport myself somewhere else, or concentrate on something while a contraction hit. I began counting as soon as I felt the pain. 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and so on. This really helped me. Around 10am, I was again offered the epidural, I refused and instead got up walked around the hospital floor. We did so many laps. I was against getting in the birthing tub but it really did help the pain. Travis was amazing at keeping me focused. We listened to Adele while the contractions got stronger and stronger. We slow danced every time a big one hit. We tried different positions on the bed, bounced on the ball but the slow dancing is what really eased the contractions. At 11:30, my cervix was dialated to an 8. I thought oh no I can't do this anymore. At 12:30, my cervix was dialated to a 9. At 1:00pm my cervix was fianlly dialated to a 10 but there was still what they called a lip left on the cervix. Meaning I couldn't push yet. Finally at 1:30 pm my very calm doctor came in and I began to push. I wasn't prepared for the pushing part, my legs were up, one was held by Carol our awesome nurse and the other by Travis. When a contraction hit I was instructed to push. I pushed & pushed and our little miracle was born at 1:50pm! When I heard his first cry & caught a glimpse of him, everything changed. I got to hold him immediately afterwards, it was love at first sight. He is my little angel. He was born 8lbs and measured 19.5 inches at 37 weeks. This Sunday he will be a month old. I am not going to lie and say it has all been peaches and cream but I will say that one glance at his beautiful face and all the sleepness nights and nipple soreness disappears. The breastfeeding has been the hardest part for me. I wasn't prepared for the demand, the pain and possible torn nipple if his latch isn't right! In short (well not really this blog is pretty long), I wasn't prepared for so many things. I thought I was, thought I read everything I needed to read about my pregnancy & delivery but I was not prepared for the 17 hours I was in labor. I realized I hadn't read anything about what to do once our bundle of joy arrived. Luckily, motherly instincts really do kick in. I am so in love right now!