Labor Story & pics

As some of you know, I had an appt the 5th and after getting checked, I was bleeding. Well the bleeding never let up, and after filling up a pad, I decided to go to the hospital. I was checked, and they said I was 5 cm, and staying. So, Jae, myself and my sister got settled in.

I pretty much went all night with some contractions, but nothing big. It was mainly the bleeding that was getting on my nerves. I don't really remember when, but sometime in the morning the nurse came in and told me the Dr wanted to put me on pit b/c i wasn't progressing. I had told them when I first got there that I wanted minimal interventions and wanted to try going as natural as possible. Once the Dr came down, I was able to persuade him to pop my bag first to see if that would send me into active labor. He gave me an hour to dilate 1 cm or else he wanted to start a drip. So around 9 my bag was popped and the contractions soon followed.

After some stronger contractions and walking around and squatting, I still didn't dilate. I was able to hold the Dr off on pitocin until 11, then I finally agreed to get it at the lowest dose. The whole time I was on it, I barely dilated an extra cm. I was having super strong contractions, but they were for nothing. I was kinda doing good on the contractions, and even had Jae rubbing my back and legs, but then they (contractions) moved to my vag. It literally felt like something was ripping it apart trying to split me in two. I couldn't take it anymore.

I'm not sure when it was, but I know it was right after the nurse checked me and told me I was still 6 cm when I asked for a shot of something. They gave me stadol and it didn't help. Finally after fighting myself, I asked for the epi around 12:45 or something like that. I was bawling my eyes out b/c it wasn't what I wanted but I was so done with the pain at that point. I felt like I failed myself with my "natural birth" like I wanted. and before anyone says I'm not a failure, I can see that now, but at the time I was so determined to have a different experience than I did with Jae that I kept thinking about how it was starting to go exactly like her birth did.

The epi was glorious. The man who gave it to me really knew what he was doing. I wasn't completely numb, but it was enough to where I didn't wanna die. The nurse told me a good epidural was where you can feel just a little bit of what's going on, and not like you're paralyzed (like the one I had with Jae.)

I remember Patti texting me asking how it was going and I was happy to inform her I was 8 cm. Almost 5 minutes after that, I felt a ton of pressure so I called the nurse and she came to check me and told me to not push b/c I was 10 cm, and his head was right there. So in less than an hour after getting the epi, I was fully dilated ready to push.

I pushed for 4 contractions for a total of 20-30 minutes. I think the second to last contraction, I wanted to cry and just ask the Dr to cut him out.   All dramatic. lmfao. While I was pushing, I will admit I felt empowered. This was something I was robbed of with Jae, so I was happy to know I felt it (even the burning as I "gave myself an episiotomy" as my Dr said) and had control of my muscles. So finally, at 1:53, he was out. The Dr let the chord finish pulsing before he clamped the chord and he was thrown onto my chest for skin to skin, and since I was in there alone I let my nurse cut the chord.

Once they got me all cleaned up and were able to say I wasn't going to bleed out (it was a big concern for them since I lost too much blood with Jae) they let my sister and Jae back into the room. It was so cute b/c as soon as she walked in she started calling for her "baby bruddah" and he starts looking around for her all crazy. He definitely recognized her voice from all the times she'd talk to my belly. <3

As for now, we're both doing good. He's a little grouch. He doesn't like people touching his face. Breastfeeding is coming along. It's easier since my milk came in earlier. I'm just waiting for those nipples of steel to come in so it won't be as painful. I'm already down to the size I was before pregnancy. Yay me! I'm thinking I may even have a smaller belly than before. My vag is still sore, but a lot of the swelling is going down. It's just hard getting up and down, but it's a hell of a lot easier now that I have help at home, and don't have to be by myself like I was the first night in the hospital.

and for those of you who said tl;dr, here's the thing you came for.
Alaric James
Dec 6, 2012
1:53 pm
7 lbs, 11 oz 19.5 inches.
13.5" head
and he has dimples!!

Love his cheeks! So cute <3 Congratulations!

Whatta cutie pants! COngrats mama  

He is darling!


If you need anything let me know!

And congrats.

Aww- he is so handsome.
Congratulations.. it's so cute that he actually recognized his big sisters voice <3 that's the sweetest thing, ever.

Congrats momma he is beautiful

They both look just like you =D
Congrats!!

OMG you ladies give me baby fever something terrible. he is darling!

Thank you everyone. I was able to get him to sleep in his bassinet so I figured I'd write this up and post the pics.

and thank you Amy, I'll let you know if there's anything.

as for him knowing his sister's voice, I would've been suprised if he didn't recognize it. When I was pregnant, she was the only one who could ever get him to move. He loved it when she'd talk to him.

So adorable Pita! Congrats!! Now you have the best of both worlds  

He is absolutely gorgeous! Congrats.

Aww little Raider's fan! So cute!

Hes adorable! I love his little cheeks. Congrats a million times!

Omg I want him he is so adorable. Love the dimples. Oh no I think I am having baby fever again. Congrats hun.....

He is so precious. Congrats, friend!