On Sunday the 2nd we spent the day in Ennis and I was very busy. I had contractions throughout the day but they wouldn't stay consistent. As I mentioned previously on the way home I got flamin hot fritos because I was craving them and hoping that they would induce labor. I ate them but it didn't seem to matter.
I went to bed that night having inconsistent contractions. I woke up throughout the night from them but was able to go back to sleep. Around 6:00 that morning I finally got out of bed and started timing them and noticed that they were only 3-5 minutes apart. I continued to get ready for work but these contractions were so painful (the same intensity as when I had the false alarm). I took a bath, ate a granola bar, did my hair and makeup, and let work know that I might be in later. I told Kyle that I would take Cooper to day-care but if the contractions stayed like this then there was no way I could go to work. Kyle wasn't sure if he should go to work or not. I told him he shouldn't because I thought that this was really 'it' but due to his limited time off he decided to head to work anyways. I told Kyle that I would continue to time them and if after an hour they didn't slow down then we would need to head to the hospital.
Sure enough I called Kyle at 7:00am (just as he got to work) saying that it had been an hour and they were still very intense. I told him he needed to come home because there was no way I could drive Cooper to day-care. I knew that if I had to wait for Kyle, take Cooper, and then get to the hospital that it would be a while (and I was still afraid of having this baby on the side of the highway because I waited to long).
We dropped Cooper off quickly and I continued to have very strong and uncomfortable contractions. I could not wait to get to the hospital but hated knowing all of the questions I would have to answer before being checked and even more hoopla before I could get an epidural. Yes, I was already ready for the epidural. I don't remember feeling that way with Cooper, but these contractions were so painful that I couldn't wait!
We got to the hospital at 8:30am and went to triage to be monitored and check for progress. At 9:15 they checked me. I was dilated 4-5cm 60% thinned and Casen was at a -2 station. They confirmed that this was officially it and admitted me. I sent the text to our parents letting them know that this was it and they could come to the hospital whenever they were ready. We had already given them a heads up that we were going to the hospital, but we suggested they wait and see if I actually got admitted. The nurse in triage was very sweet but when she got my IV started she messed up my right side and it hurt really bad. Unfortunately her attempt was during a contraction and that might have been the reason it messed up. The second attempt was successful but also painful.
At 10:45 I got my epidural. It was painful to get but most of the fear I had was trying to stay relaxed so they could do it right the first time. It definitely didn't help that I had my strongest contraction on the monitor right as he was doing the epidural. It isn't easy trying to stay relaxed, calm, and still during a strong contraction. I seemed to have poorly timed contractions!
At 11:00 Dr Glenn came to check me. She was on call for Dr. Atkins and was amazing. I really liked her. She determined I was at a 5-6cm, 90% thinned and at station -1. She went ahead and broke my water.
Sometime after that the guys (Kyle, my dad, and his dad) went to grab lunch. While they were gone Casen's heart rate started acting up so I had to be put on oxygen. I had to be on oxygen with Cooper and it is so annoying. Plus I was afraid to move much in the bed because once we found a position that Casen liked I didn't want to make him unhappy.
At 12:45 I was checked again and was at an 8 and Casen was still at a -1 station.
2:15- I had them check me because I felt a lot of pressure. Sure enough I was at a 10 and 100% thinned. Casen was still at a -1 but they thought a couple of pushes would get in to a 0. At this point I was still on oxygen because of Casen's heart rate.
At 2:30 they decided that I was ready to push as soon as the doctor got there.
I did a few practice pushes that seemed to be good but at 2:50 when the doctor got there she determined that Casen was facing up instead of down. She decided to have me change positions and see if he would flip around.
30 minutes later they decided it was time to push again. Unfortunately now Casen's heart rate was really acting up due to my low blood pressure. After about 4 sets of pushes they had the anesthesiologist come and give me some sort of 'booster' to get my blood pressure under control. They said my blood pressure was causing distress on Casen. The epidural was doing it's job through all of this. I wasn't feeling any pain.
The booster kicked in and it was time to push again. I did about 7 sets of pushes and Casen was here!! He had a pretty bad cone ahead but instantly I was in love and I couldn't help but say 'aww he is so pretty!' Dr. Glenn offered to let Kyle cut the cord and then offered to me. We both declined. Right away Casen was put on my chest and they wiped him off right there and examined him. It was amazing to bond with him instantly. I didn't get that with Cooper. I couldn't help but cry at my amazing little boy. I remember looking at Kyle and saying 'we are parents to two boys'. Casen started crying at one point and I literally got to see him shed his first tear. It truly was an amazing experience with him.
I was curious how much he weighed and was shocked when they said 7lbs 11oz.
I got to nurse right away and he did awesome. He was a champion nurser from the beginning. Casen never left the room and it was just such a different situation than with Cooper.
I have tons of pictures of the family meeting our sweet boy. These are all from my iphone or someone else's. I will share lots of pictures soon.
We are absolutely in love with our second baby boy. I will do a post soon on how we are all doing and adapting as a family of 4!
