Visiting Labor and Delivery

Matt and I got to the hospital around 10pm. They confirmed my water had broken and that Id probably be delivering within the next day. Matt and I were shocked. Of course I knew my water broke but in the back of our minds, we were thinking MAYBE the whole water thing was a false alarm.

We called Bob and Dot to let them know since it was nearly 7am in England and updated my parents and Beej as well. I must have been about 3-4cm dilated when I went in. The doctor refrained from checking too much since she didn't want to introduce any bacteria.

My contractions were about 5 minutes apart but I had no idea. I couldn't feel anything and only knew I was having them because the nurse told me that's what the report said. I had the anesthesiologist come in who explained the epidural. I started feeling more intense contractions around midnight. They were right on top of each other and I felt that I could bear them but the fact that the baby was pushing down on my bladder and making me feel like I had to use the bathroom constantly was wearing me out. I had to keep attempting to use the bathroom and every time had to unplug the monitor, drag that wheely IV thing with me and then sit through contractions before I could go! So I asked for the epidural just to get relief from that. I was 6cm dilated by the time I got the epi. They said it was the absolute perfect timing. Really I only had about 20 minutes of uncomfortable contractions. Epidural didn't hurt and once I got it I didn't feel anything again. Matt watched the whole process and was really supportive through it all.

I slept through most of the night and the time changed as well. So from about 1-6am I was mostly asleep. However I reacted to the epidural a little too well. I couldn't feel my legs or toes and they felt way too heavy which was a little unsettling. Also the numbing went up really high, right below my breastbone. So we agreed to turn the epi off around 7am because I'd need energy to push as well. At 8am they did a check and said I was dilated 10cm and they just wanted to wait for the baby to labor down. They were pleased that I didn't need any Picotin or anything to help and said I was very lucky for it to happen so easily and naturally. By 845am I felt ready to push and after 45 minutes of pushing, which didn't really hurt, we had baby Alex!