I had been having contractions off and on for at least a couple of weeks, but knew that they were not regular (they may be consistent for about an hour or so but always stopped) and while they weren’t comfortable, I wasn’t necessarily in pain. I went to my doctor’s appointment on the 15th and was hoping I had made a little bit of progress. I wasn’t really surprised to find out I was still only 1cm and beginning to thin out some. My blood pressure was fine and there was no reason for us to try and rush things along other than I was super ready. Dr. Sawyer asked me if I was comfortable and I almost laughed out loud. I hadn’t been “comfortable” for months. My next appointment was scheduled for the next week and if I still hadn’t changed, then she said she would “strip some membranes” to try and get contractions started. That scared me.
I updated everyone via text message and went home after my appointment. The next few days were spent finishing out my time at work, finishing up getting things ready for Lilly, and trying to stay positive and not get depressed that I hadn’t had her yet. I hated everyone just waiting on me to tell them it was time. I was VERY ready to have this baby!
I hadn’t been sleeping well for a while, so I really didn’t think anything about it when I woke up on Monday morning around 4:30 and noticed contractions. The main difference was that I was still laying in the bed, and all other times I had any contractions I was sitting up or standing up and they stopped when I would lay down to rest. I began timing them and they were about 10 minutes apart. I got up to get Cooper ready for school about 6:15 and was still noticing regular contractions, but not so uncomfortable that I couldn’t be up and moving around. After Zach and Cooper left, I laid back down and was able to rest for a couple of hours, but when I got up I was still having contractions.
I would not let myself get to excited. I still had no other symptoms besides the contractions and I wasn’t convinced. I did let Zach know and he updated everyone else. Dad had called earlier to let me know that Mom wasn’t answering her phone and I told him about the contractions. He went ahead and tried to track Mom down at school so she would know to turn on her phone!
I was able to take a shower and get ready, slowly. I finished picking up in our room and Cooper’s room, got mine and Lilly’s stuff packed (just in case), and laid out clothes for Cooper to wear for whoever would get him ready. I was continuing to having contractions, getting slightly more uncomfortable, and a little closer together at 8-9 minutes apart.
Around lunch time, Mom called to check on me. I was getting to the point where I was having to breathe a little harder during the contraction and she could tell when she was talking to me. She decided to go ahead and leave school and come home just so I’d have someone with me. I was able to eat a turkey sandwich and drink some water and sit in the chair timing contractions and half-way watch the Mentalist.
By the time Mom got home, my contractions were anywhere from 5-8 minutes apart and were getting painful and not just uncomfortable. Even though, Dr. Sawyer had already told me to just come in when my contractions were 5-7 minutes apart for an hour, I went ahead and called her office just to talk to someone. When I told the receptionist I was 39 weeks and having contractions 5-8 minutes apart, I got pushed to the top of the nurse call back list. The nurse called me back within a minute and I told her about my symptoms. She said it sounded like I was in early labor and would probably be comin in soon. She said I could stay home as long as I could stand it or they were 3-5 minutes apart.
Zach couldn’t decide what to do and went ahead and finished up what he was working on before he decided to leave and get Cooper to bring him home. They got home about 4:30 and my contractions were just getting worse. More painful and closer together, to the point where I was having trouble focusing/talking during the contraction. Zach and I decided to go ahead and load up and head to the hospital.
Cooper stayed with Mom and Dad. Mom had called Ms. Rhea Ann who was able to come out to the house and stay with Cooper while they were able to come to the hospital. They got him fed and put to bed before she even got there.
I had several contractions on the way to the hospital and they were definitely painful... and getting worse. We got to the hospital and went to the information desk. They got us checked in pretty quickly and we went up to the third floor. Once we found the nurses’ station, they had us wait in a little waiting room for them to get a room clean. It took what seemed like forever, but actually was more like 20 minutes or so, before they took me to the room. I still was having contractions, but would not let myself be convinced I was in labor. I did tell Zach that we were not going back home. If they didn’t admit me, I would just wait in the lobby downstairs.
I got settled into the room and the nurse came in to check me around 6:30. I was at 2-3cm, “very thin”, and my water was “bulging”. They said they would monitor me for two hours and check me again. If I was truly in active labor then I would “make progress”. Zach and I watched an episode of Parenthood on his computer to help pass the time, but it was very hard to focus. I got up to go to the bathroom and the whole process was super painful between all the pressure, walking, and having contractions. Jess and Sean went ahead and came up to the hospital and brought Zach some food from Chick-Fil-A and us some snacks for later. They hung out while we were waiting for the two hours to pass. I was glad for the distraction, but got a little frustrated when Zach would watch the monitors and say “oh here comes a contraction” or “wow. that was a big one”. I didn’t need him to tell me that!!
A different nurse came back in to check me. She asked me at least 2 times when my next appointment was scheduled and I was getting frustrated, thinking that they were not going to admit me. I was at 3-4cm, 75% effaced, and water still “bulging”. She said she was surprised that I had progressed because as she was watching my contractions from the desk, they didn’t look “functional”. Apparently, they were “functional” though! She said she was not sending me home, especially with my water being so close to bursting.
Next began the process of getting me an epidural ASAP. They had to start an IV, do some blood work, and give me a bad of fluids before I could have the epidural. All of that went by fairly quickly, but it still was after 10 before I got the epidural. They were super busy that night! I later found out that there were at least 10 girls in active labor that night. Mom and Dad got to the hospital just before 10 and right in the middle of my super painful contractions. I described it best as like a butter knife digging slowly across my abdomen and around my back for about a minute or more with little relief in between. I was sending Zach to find the nurse and ask about my epidural, when they came in. Everyone had to leave the room and it was just me, the nurse, and the nurse anesthetist.
Sitting up on the side of the bed and trying to sit still during painful contractions while they stick a huge needle in your back, is not the easiest thing to do. I remember sitting there and picturing putting Cooper to bed to try and distract me. It sort of worked. It took about 30 minutes before the epidural really started to work and I was ok with having everyone come back in. Yet, a different nurse checked me (the one who was with me during the epidural) and said I was up to 6-7cm.
By that point Danny & Janice had gotten there too, so we had a full room. I was feeling better with the contractions, but was having to lay down a little bit more and began having horrible reflux. Everyone was visiting and watching the monitors, telling me when I was having a contraction and I was trying to ignore the reflux. Unfortunately, that was not going to happen and I remember looking at Zach and then Mom who could tell I needed a bucket quick. She got one just in time for me to be sick right in front of everyone. Getting sick caused my water to break and when I said “I think my water broke” right in between getting sick, it took about two seconds for Jess to clear the stunned room.
Zach got the nurse and she checked me again. This time I was 10cm and ready to push. At this point, it was about 11:40. She got everything set up for delivery and got me ready. She said we were going to try a couple of practice pushes before she got the doctor. I was about to push, when she said “Nope. Stop. No need to practice. I see the head.” She went to the door and per Zach’s report, didn’t even leave the room. She stuck her head out the door and said “DOCTOR”. It took just a few minutes before he was coming in the room. I had actually never met this doctor, he’s another doctor in the same practice as mine and was on call that night.
It took pushing on two contractions and at 12:08 am on August 21, 2012, Lillian Kaylen was born. Dr. Hambre held her up and she was beautiful. Her crying was the most beautiful sound ever. Her Daddy was able to cut the cord and the nurse took her to get her cleaned up with Daddy and Mimi supervising.
From the time they decided to admit me at about 8:30 and the time she was born was about 3.5 hours. The doctor said that when I first came in, they were seriously considering sending me home. He said he was glad they didn’t do that because I likely would have been coming back in an ambulance.
Welcome to the world sweet baby girl. We are so glad you’re here.
I updated everyone via text message and went home after my appointment. The next few days were spent finishing out my time at work, finishing up getting things ready for Lilly, and trying to stay positive and not get depressed that I hadn’t had her yet. I hated everyone just waiting on me to tell them it was time. I was VERY ready to have this baby!
I hadn’t been sleeping well for a while, so I really didn’t think anything about it when I woke up on Monday morning around 4:30 and noticed contractions. The main difference was that I was still laying in the bed, and all other times I had any contractions I was sitting up or standing up and they stopped when I would lay down to rest. I began timing them and they were about 10 minutes apart. I got up to get Cooper ready for school about 6:15 and was still noticing regular contractions, but not so uncomfortable that I couldn’t be up and moving around. After Zach and Cooper left, I laid back down and was able to rest for a couple of hours, but when I got up I was still having contractions.
I would not let myself get to excited. I still had no other symptoms besides the contractions and I wasn’t convinced. I did let Zach know and he updated everyone else. Dad had called earlier to let me know that Mom wasn’t answering her phone and I told him about the contractions. He went ahead and tried to track Mom down at school so she would know to turn on her phone!
I was able to take a shower and get ready, slowly. I finished picking up in our room and Cooper’s room, got mine and Lilly’s stuff packed (just in case), and laid out clothes for Cooper to wear for whoever would get him ready. I was continuing to having contractions, getting slightly more uncomfortable, and a little closer together at 8-9 minutes apart.
Around lunch time, Mom called to check on me. I was getting to the point where I was having to breathe a little harder during the contraction and she could tell when she was talking to me. She decided to go ahead and leave school and come home just so I’d have someone with me. I was able to eat a turkey sandwich and drink some water and sit in the chair timing contractions and half-way watch the Mentalist.
By the time Mom got home, my contractions were anywhere from 5-8 minutes apart and were getting painful and not just uncomfortable. Even though, Dr. Sawyer had already told me to just come in when my contractions were 5-7 minutes apart for an hour, I went ahead and called her office just to talk to someone. When I told the receptionist I was 39 weeks and having contractions 5-8 minutes apart, I got pushed to the top of the nurse call back list. The nurse called me back within a minute and I told her about my symptoms. She said it sounded like I was in early labor and would probably be comin in soon. She said I could stay home as long as I could stand it or they were 3-5 minutes apart.
Zach couldn’t decide what to do and went ahead and finished up what he was working on before he decided to leave and get Cooper to bring him home. They got home about 4:30 and my contractions were just getting worse. More painful and closer together, to the point where I was having trouble focusing/talking during the contraction. Zach and I decided to go ahead and load up and head to the hospital.
Cooper stayed with Mom and Dad. Mom had called Ms. Rhea Ann who was able to come out to the house and stay with Cooper while they were able to come to the hospital. They got him fed and put to bed before she even got there.
I had several contractions on the way to the hospital and they were definitely painful... and getting worse. We got to the hospital and went to the information desk. They got us checked in pretty quickly and we went up to the third floor. Once we found the nurses’ station, they had us wait in a little waiting room for them to get a room clean. It took what seemed like forever, but actually was more like 20 minutes or so, before they took me to the room. I still was having contractions, but would not let myself be convinced I was in labor. I did tell Zach that we were not going back home. If they didn’t admit me, I would just wait in the lobby downstairs.
I got settled into the room and the nurse came in to check me around 6:30. I was at 2-3cm, “very thin”, and my water was “bulging”. They said they would monitor me for two hours and check me again. If I was truly in active labor then I would “make progress”. Zach and I watched an episode of Parenthood on his computer to help pass the time, but it was very hard to focus. I got up to go to the bathroom and the whole process was super painful between all the pressure, walking, and having contractions. Jess and Sean went ahead and came up to the hospital and brought Zach some food from Chick-Fil-A and us some snacks for later. They hung out while we were waiting for the two hours to pass. I was glad for the distraction, but got a little frustrated when Zach would watch the monitors and say “oh here comes a contraction” or “wow. that was a big one”. I didn’t need him to tell me that!!
A different nurse came back in to check me. She asked me at least 2 times when my next appointment was scheduled and I was getting frustrated, thinking that they were not going to admit me. I was at 3-4cm, 75% effaced, and water still “bulging”. She said she was surprised that I had progressed because as she was watching my contractions from the desk, they didn’t look “functional”. Apparently, they were “functional” though! She said she was not sending me home, especially with my water being so close to bursting.
Next began the process of getting me an epidural ASAP. They had to start an IV, do some blood work, and give me a bad of fluids before I could have the epidural. All of that went by fairly quickly, but it still was after 10 before I got the epidural. They were super busy that night! I later found out that there were at least 10 girls in active labor that night. Mom and Dad got to the hospital just before 10 and right in the middle of my super painful contractions. I described it best as like a butter knife digging slowly across my abdomen and around my back for about a minute or more with little relief in between. I was sending Zach to find the nurse and ask about my epidural, when they came in. Everyone had to leave the room and it was just me, the nurse, and the nurse anesthetist.
Sitting up on the side of the bed and trying to sit still during painful contractions while they stick a huge needle in your back, is not the easiest thing to do. I remember sitting there and picturing putting Cooper to bed to try and distract me. It sort of worked. It took about 30 minutes before the epidural really started to work and I was ok with having everyone come back in. Yet, a different nurse checked me (the one who was with me during the epidural) and said I was up to 6-7cm.
By that point Danny & Janice had gotten there too, so we had a full room. I was feeling better with the contractions, but was having to lay down a little bit more and began having horrible reflux. Everyone was visiting and watching the monitors, telling me when I was having a contraction and I was trying to ignore the reflux. Unfortunately, that was not going to happen and I remember looking at Zach and then Mom who could tell I needed a bucket quick. She got one just in time for me to be sick right in front of everyone. Getting sick caused my water to break and when I said “I think my water broke” right in between getting sick, it took about two seconds for Jess to clear the stunned room.
Zach got the nurse and she checked me again. This time I was 10cm and ready to push. At this point, it was about 11:40. She got everything set up for delivery and got me ready. She said we were going to try a couple of practice pushes before she got the doctor. I was about to push, when she said “Nope. Stop. No need to practice. I see the head.” She went to the door and per Zach’s report, didn’t even leave the room. She stuck her head out the door and said “DOCTOR”. It took just a few minutes before he was coming in the room. I had actually never met this doctor, he’s another doctor in the same practice as mine and was on call that night.
It took pushing on two contractions and at 12:08 am on August 21, 2012, Lillian Kaylen was born. Dr. Hambre held her up and she was beautiful. Her crying was the most beautiful sound ever. Her Daddy was able to cut the cord and the nurse took her to get her cleaned up with Daddy and Mimi supervising.
From the time they decided to admit me at about 8:30 and the time she was born was about 3.5 hours. The doctor said that when I first came in, they were seriously considering sending me home. He said he was glad they didn’t do that because I likely would have been coming back in an ambulance.
Welcome to the world sweet baby girl. We are so glad you’re here.
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