Billger Blog: Kami's Birth Story

To start, I was due May 19th. I went in on May 17th (Monday) for my 40 week appointment and was told I was 4cm dialted and 50% effaced (I think.. I can't remember if that's right or not now...It was either that or more effaced...) So this lead us to think it could happen pretty soon. I was having so much pressure and was so uncomfortable as well. My mom and dad decided to come from DE the next day, just in case. They didn't want to miss it. The days went by and nothing really happened. Just enjoyed the week with my mom and dad here. Ended up at the E.R. with my dad on Thursday night (the 21st) at 1:00am after he had passed out in my kitchen from dehydration (this is a whole other story!!!) Even all the excitement from that didn't "put me into labor"! LOL

Friday afternoon (the 21st) I started having, what I thought were braxton hicks pretty regularly. They were not painful and just felt like what I knew braxton hicks to be. Didn't think much of it till around 5pm or so when they were coming like every 15 minutes on the dot. Mom, Gavin and I went for a walk and I took my paper and pen to keep track and they still were coming every 15 minutes. Walking home, my neighbor Summer saw us walking and hollared to keep it up and bring on the labor! (Little did I know I WAS in in labor for real!)

Around 7pm I took a bath to see if they would subside. Tried laying down, etc... They were every 10 minutes at that point. But still nothing painful. Didn't really think it was labor.The night went on and we all just went to bed. Of course I couldn't really sleep, once they came around every 7 minutes apart I thought it may not just be braxton hicks... (Keep in mind, I never "went into labor" with Gavin. So I never experienced it like this. I was 2 weeks late with Gavin and was induced. The contractions (once they broke my water with him) came on strong, fast and hard! So this ease of labor progressing on its own was all new to me... hence why I never really felt it was actually labor)

This was around 9pm when they were about 7 minutes apart..So I went downstairs and told my mom and dad to just be prepared, I thought it may be "it".... I tried to go back up and get some sleep, to no avail. Got on the exercise ball and at this point, I was feeling kinda uncomfortable... pains in my legs, etc.. But nothing painful. I decided to call my midwife around 10/1030 and told her what was going on. She said I could come in and be checked or give it an hour or so and see if they came closer or with more intensity. I decided to wait an hour or so. I hated to go in if it wasn't really "it" and have to call Debbie to come from Milford for Gavin, etc....

Around 1130ish they were 5 minutes apart (still only feeling like braxton hicks), so I called again. I told her I'd go ahead and come in. I went and told my parents and called Debbie (who was staying with Gavin so my parents could be at the hospital with us). Told her she could wait to see what they said when I went in or she could come then. She said she would come, there was no way they were sending me back home if they were 5 minutes apart and was 4cm almost a week ago... She already had her bag packed =) After I called and we started the last minute packing, I almost decided not to go in. I really didn't feel it was labor! LOL But we went....

Noah and I went ahead while mom and dad waited for Debbie (who actually arrived just as we were turing off our road). We arrived at the hospital at 1:00am. Had to go to the E.R. to be admitted. (Odd thing is... this is exactly 24 hours after we were just there with my Dad the night before.. same time!) We were walked up to triage (which was quite cool seeing the hospital that time of night... all dark and spooky.. AND after having JUST watched the season finale of Grey's Anatomy...you fans know what I'm talking about...it was kinda scary!!!!!)

I got into triage and once checked was 6-7 cm!!!! and I think 100% effaced!!!!! The nurse and midwife looked at me like they couldn't believe it! The nurse couldn't believe I was walking around so easily and happy and smiling at that stage... And when I told them I wanted to try the epidural this time, they almost laughed at me (and tried to talk me out of it... they say they weren't, but they were) =) They said I was handling the pain just fine and was already 6-7cm, that I should be fine... But I assured them I do NOT handle pain well and that this was NOT painful! And I knew it was going to get worse! I had a pretty rough birth with Gavin and wasn't able to enjoy it much (the 3.5 hours of pushing didn't help either...) So I just really wanted the epidural to be able to be in the moment and enjoy Kami's birth more. (HA... those easy "oh! Is that a contraction??? Oh!? Do I push now???" epidural births you see on A Baby Story... right... Moms to be.. don't get your hopes up! Doesn't always go like that!) ;)

Around 3am the anesthesiologist came in to do my epidural. He was not there for the half hour like normal... but an hour and half or more. I wasn't reacting to it like I should have. I almost gave up halfway through (which I couldn't have anyway at that point...) But once he got it in (no problem getting it in...) and started testing it I like freaked out, not meaning to... My heart rate kept going up to like 150. Making him think he may have gotten it in a blood vessel. Of course, I freak out again. Not really sure why my heart kept doing that. I was fine otherwise. They tried it several more times and tried to keep me distracted... tried having me text my mom who was in the lobby to keep my mind off it... I learned all about my anesthesiologist's dogs... etc.. etc.. Every time he shot the stuff in and it went down my back.. My heart would race! I eventually started going numb, so he knew he got it in the right place. He eventually left, knowing it was okay (and I was just psycho...)

From that point..I honestly don't remember much of the timeline. Wish I had written everything down.

What I DO remember is the epidural did NOT do what I wanted it to do! I was numb for a bit.. only numb enough that I couldn't move for a very short time... I'm pretty sure it all wore off for the end! I was constantly pushing that button they give you to up the epi (as far as they let it go) and asking others to push it... NOT helping! LOL I think around 730 or so is when I remember it getting REALLY rough. I used the blinking colon on the microwave clock (while I was on my side) as my focal point, and I think I remember seeing 7am something during that... My dad and Noah got yelled at a couple times because they kept standing in front of the clock.. (the whole focal point thing.. GOOD idea!! Really helped!!!)

So la, de, da... I made it through the last centimeter or so without feeling any effect from the epidural... it was just as painful (if not more so) as Gavin (who I had nubaine with and labored in the tub)

Full head of red hair! And curly just after her bath!

After 15 minutes of pushing, Kami was born at 9:12am. Wonderful moment!!!!! =) Felt SO good!!! =) I was able to finish "pulling her out" at the very end, just like I did with Gavin. She stayed on my chest forever (probably close to an hour ??) before they ever took her to be weighed, etc.. And was on my chest for a LONG time before I realized no one ever actually checked to see it really WAS a girl! LOL So they did... and she was! =)