So for the last few weeks of pregnancy things had become increasingly more difficult and my nausea which had disappeared for about a month came back, which was sad. I was pretty depressed and overwhelmed with everything. My migraines where pretty constant , I wont lie those migraines where so painful I spent a lot of time just resting in a dark room. All the other usual pregnancy complaints took a toll as well. The final straw so to speak was the HORRIBLE restless leg problems I was having for the last few weeks. It got so bad that by the 4th I could not sleep at all and my legs did not calm down even during the day. Nothing helped and I tried everything. The medications for RLS are not approved for pregnancy.
On Monday morning Mitchell came to the appointment with me. It was decided through the course of our visit with the doctor that we should induce as soon as possible. The hospital was very busy that morning so we went home to wait for a call.
We waited anxiously until around 2 when we got the call that the hospital was ready for us. We dropped the boys off at my parents and headed to the hospital. We made jokes about how funny would it be if I was already in labor when we got there. We got there and I got all hooked up to the monitors and IV and I was contracting already. They decided to put a pill thing by my cervix to help soften it since I was still only around a 1 or 2 and pretty much not effaced at all. After that things definitely kept moving along. I walked and used the birthing ball. My contractions where about 5 min apart and gradually got stronger through out the day and night until around 2 AM they began to space out irregularly. I had been having contractions for hours at a time over the last several weeks at least 3 or 4 times it was so long and so painful that I thought I would be headed to the hospital and it was always the same after a few hours they would space out and disappear so when this happened in the hospital I was disappointed since I knew what was happening. We tried further walking and nothing helped. We worried that the Jacuzzi would relax me too much and completely end the labor. Around 3 we talked to the doctor and decided to start pitocin, we couldn't try another dose of the softening pill thing because I was already contracting so much.
I was up in the rocking chair all night because my legs where getting worse and worse, I cannot describe how exhausting it is to you if you have not experienced it. I was not suffering from insomnia , in other words I could have fallen asleep at any moment except the crazy spasm legs that required constant stretching and movement. It was disappointing, I move very quickly after a 4 or 5 so we had all anticipated our baby coming sometime in the night, our doctor stayed the night at the hospital to be prepared.
So we started pitocin and gradually upped it over the hours up until around 9 am since it was not moving the labor forward. I walked around more (much slower) and kept breathing and trying to relax through contractions. I was getting very tired and sore by this point but we all still felt positive.
At this point I was around a 3 or 4 but still only 50 % effaced. (odd for me because in my other pregnancies I was usually like 90% effaced at a 1) . The doctor suggested breaking my water to get things really moving but I was hesitant and asked to wait a little longer hoping I could have that happen on my own. At this point we felt the need to have and internal monitor to track contraction strength and baby's stress. With he internal monitor I didn't find the birthing ball comfortable but I still could walk. Again we thought about the Jacuzzi but I decided against it. At this point the thought of my legs (still requiring constant movement) trapped in a tub sounded awful, not matter how much it helped with the pain.
Around noon I decided to have my water broken, discussion with the nurse, doctor my husband and the understanding that my own mom always had to have her water broken because she would be stuck at a 4 (the same place I had been stuck at for several hours) made me eager to move forward.
The doctor got there within just a few in and almost instantly my contractions increased and became much stronger (read also painful). I still held off on and epidural wanting to feel like I went as far as I could without one (knowing eventually I would need one), it sounds weird but I just really wanted to feel like I experienced the whole labor experience.
Unfortunately with the increased strength and frequency of my contractions (now around 3 1/2 min apart at a min each) my legs only got worse, they required vigorous movement and still spased out, it was awful, even through contractions they would freak out and required constant movement between contractions as well. I was in way to much pain to walk so i was held up by Mitchell on the edge of the bed so that I could move my legs . I felt so frustrated my contractions hurt and I would whipper through them as I tried to keep my breathing on top of the contractions, so difficult in that much pain, but I was darn irritable about my legs. at around oneish I decided I wanted an epidural, we all (doctor included) hoped that it would sedate my legs as well since they where so bad. I had waited so long to ask for and epidural that i had to wait another hour or so after that point because other patients had asked first. Now the contractions where very very painful and came aver min and a half and lasted about as long. I was in so much pain. My stupid legs where driving me batty. Sweet Mitchell sat with me and I squeezed his leg and hand he helped by telling me when a contraction was at its peak and when it would subside. I am so grateful for him, He helped me so much, even though i got pretty irritable at him for a few min. Rubbing my back and reminding me to breath through contractions was super helpful in labor and he did a great job but at that point i was in too much pain to want either of those helps. Finally the anesthesiologist came somehow we got the epidural in , it was the best epidural i have ever had. After it was in i had to lay down so let it settle correctly . after about 10 min my legs where dead so to speak, I couldn't feel them at all. I was SO relived! And the contractions no longer hurt. It was happy. I took a short nap probably 20 min or so it was awesome, the first rest I had had in days. I woke up to some very strong pressure. The nurse checked me and sure enough it was time to push.
It was harder to push with Lawrence, with Kayden my epidural was not really working (at all in that area) so I only pushed twice, I felt everything and it was really cool (and painful). With Lawrence I could really feel so I had to really concentrate to push correctly.
I got really excited, this time I felt babies head (I have never done that before) which was really cool. I had to get a small episiotemy ,so due to that, Mitchell did not deliver Lawrence like he had Kayden. But he was still right there. We pushed for just a short time, I think probably 10-15 min, and baby Lawrence was here! HE tried to put his hand out first, but it didn't cause any problems the doc was very calm so I didn't get worried or stressed about anything. It was so wonderful.
He was put on my chest for bonding, he didn't nurse right away but eventually he did like a champ.
We transferred to recovery a few hours later and stayed in the hospital until Thursday afternoon (due to being GBS positive ;( ). Both of us are healthy and recovering as well as we can. We love him so much. He is a talker and he is very easy going and sweet. The boys love their little brother. We have felt very blessed throughout.
Unfortunately so close to the end of the school year Mitchell has not been able to take time off really but I am grateful for what time he did have and hope that he can take at least a few days this week to be home with us.
Thank you to my parents who watched our kids Monday Tuesday and Wednesday. (extra thanks to daddy who took Wednesday morning off just to help with the kids). Also it was fun for me on Tuesday night to have my parents visit us in the hospital!
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