Let me start with Rhett's birth story. This is long and may be boring to some so scroll on down to pictures if you'd like. I'm so thankful I wrote Caleb's down because I've already forgotten so much.
When I was 39.5 weeks I went to see Dr. Nelson for my weekly appointment. He told me I was dilated to 3cm and almost 100% effaced. Let me remind you that I had been back to work teaching kindergartners for 3 days so I was absolutely exhausted. At my appointment he asked if I wanted my membranes stripped to help speed things up. I very quickly agreed because I was ready to be on leave. So he continued on. After my appointment my Braxton hicks contractions picked up, but nothing too painful.
I did not feel great Thursday morning so I went ahead and missed school. All day Thursday I had steady Braxton hicks but nothing like I remember labor being like. My mother in law came and watched C so I could rest, but all I wanted to do was speed labor up so I swept, mopped, steamed the tile, caught up on laundry , and waddled two miles. After I walked I started getting some more intense contractions. I started timing the contractions and around midnight I told Daniel I thought we needed to go to the hospital because they were averaging about 4 minutes apart.
We called in backup (the grandparents) to come watch C then off we went to have a baby...... Or at least that's what we thought. When we arrived to the hospital they monitored me for two hours and I had steady contractions (every 4 minutes) but was told I needed to leave because I was still at 3cm and apparently the pain I was feeling was not "active labor". I was told to wait until my next appointment with Nelson to see what happens which was a week away. I was heartbroken and hurting badly but we went back home very discouraged.
When we returned home I labored for a few more hours then told Daniel it had to be time.
We were scared to go back to the hospital so Daniel called Dr. Nelson and he said come straight to the clinic so he could check me. At 8:30 am off we went to the clinic. I waddled in crying through each contraction. Dr. Nelson and his nurses were wonderful and worked us right in. I was a hot mess and just wanted to know what I was experiencing was the real deal. He checked me and said yep your every bit of 5 cm dilated and your water is very full. He said go straight to hospital I've already called and got you a room. Praise God!
We arrived at the hospital and got all situated. My amazing nurse checked me at 11:00 and I was dilated to 6cm. She asked if I wanted an epidural and I said yes mam. I got my epidural in around noon and was able to relax and get a little rest. Our second hospital visit was so much more enjoyable and everyone took great care of us.
At 1:00 pm Dr. Nelson came by on his lunch break to check me and break my water. I was dilated to a 7/8 cm and he said he'd be back soon to start pushing. By 1:45 I started feeling some stronger pains with the contractions. I got scared that my epidural wore off and started crying. The nurse checked me and said I was at 9.5 cm. I had a small melt down, but my sweet husband was so encouraging. She said that pushing might actually make me feel less pain. I thought she was crazy, but was willing to try.
We did a few test pushes with the nurses and she was exactly right. The pressure I was feeling helped me know when to push and I felt better after a few pushes. By 2:00 Dr. Nelson arrived and it was "go time".
Dr. Nelson, my precious nurses, and my encouraging husband were all so supportive and made me feel like I could do anything. My contractions were long so I could get four sets of pushes in. That was very helpful. With Caleb, my contractions were never consistent even at the end so it was slow progress. This time was so much better, I'd push for a minute then have a small break then do it again. Dr. Nelson never had to use the vacuum or forceps. Daniel and I were so thankful. A little over an hour of pushing, I pushed one final time and Rhett entered this world.
We did not know the gender so the first thing I heard was Daniel shout it's a boy and then I looked and he was radiating. I got some precious snuggles in with the baby then they took him to be weighed. I thought he looked so little but the nurses reassured me he was not small. The nurse shouted 8 lbs 10 ounces and I started laughing. My delivery was such a pleasurable experience this time. I'm so thankful God blessed me to be the mom of two sweet boys!
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