I began having more steady cramping around 4:30. They came steadily about 5min apart and were about 30sec long at this point. Around 5:40, I called my doc because the pain had gotten pretty bad. I still was sure it wasn't labor, though, because they didn't feel all that different from the sporadic, unproductive cramps I'd been having; they just hurt more. My doc told me to lie down for about an hour; if they didn't ease, then I should go on in to the hospital. I got in bed about 6pm. About 30min later, I was finally sure I was having contractions. They were now 4 to 5min apart and a solid 40sec long. I called Charles in to the room and told him to call his parents and find out when they'd be here. They were stuck in traffic, thanks to the bad weather, but thought they were about 30min away. I had Charles go ahead and pack the car and let the kids know we'd be heading to the hospital as soon as Grandma and Grandad arrived. Caroline was *very* excited; Ty was less than thrilled. LOL
I was trying to get dressed and ready to go; I was having to either lie down or lean over the counter through each contraction at this point, as I couldn't stand through them at all. Thank goodness I had just watched my lamaze video the day before! We were ready to walk out the door when Grandma and Grandad arrived at 7:30. I kissed the kids, and we left. The contrax were now about 3min apart and 50sec long. I made a couple of calls on the way and gave Charles directions between contractions. We parked in the garage and walked up to L&D. I was offered a wheelchair at the front desk but I didn't want to be the wimp that couldn't walk up to the floor at only 3cm dilated. We arrived at 8pm, and they put us in the last L&D room available. Our nurse, Jaime, asked if I wanted an epidural. At first I said no, but the next contraction changed my mind in a hurry. I told her I'd take the epi, but I might have to strangle her if she told me I was only 3cm dilated. (Can you tell I wasn't a very good patient?) She checked me and said, "How would you feel if I said you were 9?" I said, "WHAT!?! I guess I won't be getting my epi." She called my doc and had him head on in. The IV nurse came in (didn't catch her name but really wish I had, she was a lifesaver) and tried to start my IV twice, but I kept yanking my arm away from her, as the contrax were pretty much on top of each other by now. She had Jaime check me again. Jaime said, "you're just a rim." The next contraction, I screamed. I lost every bit of control I had. The IV nurse, bless her, got right in my face and helped me breathe. Jaime still had her hand on my cervix; I heard her say I was complete. The IV nurse told me the head was right there. I knew that! I wanted to push so bad, it was all I could think. She helped me breathe, pant, etc. Charles was a bit nervous, I think, and just trying to stay out of the way. Someone called in over the monitor and asked if we needed a doctor, Jaime, the IV nurse, and a couple other nurses that had wandered in all screamed (yes, screamed), "YES!" They had me pant until a doc arrived. As soon as he gave the go ahead, I started pushing. I'm not sure how many times I pushed, but I know it wasn't much. My water broke on the second push, I think. I felt an instant of relief and then the most excruciating pain I've ever experienced. But as soon as the nurses got me refocused, that sensation went away and I concentrated on pushing. One thing I noticed was that the pain was bad, but when I was focused, it really didn't seem horrible at all. As long as my mind didn't wander, I had a good handle on things. The doc (Dr. Monks) gave me a 2nd degree episiotomy in the same place as my other 2; everyone said it was obvious I was getting ready to tear. I did also get a peri-urethral tear (OW!).
Waylon Wesley Blair arrived at 8:34pm, a scant 34min after our arrival at the hospital and only 4hrs from the first contraction. He didn't even spend enough time in the birth canal to get a cone head. :) My darling OB, Dr McIntyre, arrived just in time to stitch me up. I was bummed that he wasn't the one to deliver Waylon because I just adore this man, but he took good care of me. He even came to see me on Saturday even though he wasn't even on call. A bit of trivia on Dr. Monks - he has 11 kids and one on the way. His wife must be a saint. :) The L&D staff was great; Jaime and the IV nurse were both amazing! I truly feel blessed to have had this experience.
Despite having a catheter until Saturday morning (thanks to that tear), I found my initial recovery to actual seem much easier than after my induction/epi births. It's like the epi made everything, including recovery, sluggish. So, if we ever do this again, I definitely have a lot more confidence in my ability to have and in my body's recovery from a natural birth. I almost feel cheated for not having done it this way before!
Waylon came out a nursing pro and is a wonderful baby. Caroline and Ty are proving to be the loving and tender big sister and big brother I knew they would be. Mom and Dad are enjoying their newest bundle of joy and just trying to get a little sleep here and there. :)