Birth story

I love reading about women's birth stories so here was mine (warning--it could get graphic for those with weak stomachs :) )

Last Wednesday, I had my 38 week ob appt. I was 4cm dilated, so the ob stripped my membranes. Not a fun procedure, I found out. (Incidentally, she told me what she was doing AFTER she was done). So my ob tells me I am almost for sure to go into labor in 1-2 days, oh, and by the way, if you want, I can send you to L&D now. Ummmm... yeah. Try to be faced with that decision. Hey, I know you aren't in labor, but you want to have this baby today? I looked at her blankly, and she said, "Why don't you think about it tonight and if you have any uncomfort or cramping tomorrow, just come to the L&D and I'll admit you."  So I had STRONG contractions all night and I was sure I was going to go into labor at any minute. And they all just DISAPPEARED by morning. Talk about disappointing! Matt and I decided to head up to the L&D anyway (heck, why not?), so we got up, showered, dropped Brooke off with my parents, and headed to the hospital. Yeah, so the triage nurse looked at me like I was crazy. No labor, no contractions. Will you admit me? Oh, and the L&D was FULL! So I was stuck in a little holding area, separated from other actively laboring women by a curtain. The nurse checked me and called my ob. I could hear her trying to talk my ob into sending me home. But bless my doc, she told them to admit me! You see, she was leaving on vacation in 2 days and wanted to deliver me before she left. And she knew with me being 4cm dilated, and with my first labor being so fast, that when I did go into labor, I would probably not make it to the hospital in time for my epidural. Call me a wimp, but I'm all about a pain-free labor! Okay, so now the question is, am I willing to have pitocin started and labor behind the thin blue curtain?... or did I want to walk around and wait for a room to open up? I was worried about how Brooke was dealing with being away from me all day, so I told them to start-er-up. Then I sent out texts to my closest friends, telling them I was admitted, and please pray for a room to open up. This is probably the coolest thing God did during my labor experience. Within a few minutes, the nurse came in and told me they had a room! Apparently they were saving the room for a direct admit, but the lady was taking her time getting to the hospital, so they gave her room to me! So into my new room I go. Pitocin is started at 12:30, admission questions are asked, and an hour later, my contractions are KILLING! Dr Holland comes in, breaks my bag of water, and checks me. Yeah, it's been an hour and I'm now 7cm dilated! So they call for anesthesia and I get my epidural. It's smooth sailing from here on out. After another hour, I'm feeling like my butt is going to explode (any woman 10cm dilated with an epidural knows the feeling!) so I call the nurse. She checks me, and sure enough, I'm ready to push. She calls the doc, I push maybe 4 times, and out pops little, SCREAMING, Chloe Allison Schrand. She screamed before her body even exited mine. Healthy little lungs! And speaking of, she's making little squawking sounds now, so I'd better go nurse her before she shows off those little lungs. I'll finish with part 2 later...