On Tuesday, September 18th, I packed my hospital bag, and stuck it in the car. I told Justin to be ready because I wasn't feeling "normal" and that I thought we were going to have a baby in the next 48 hours. In my head I was thinking 24 hrs, but I didn't want to freak him out. I went to work, and started having very irregular and extremely mild contractions. I told my boss I'd see him tomorrow, and his response was, " I hope not! You need to have that baby!" I just laughed and told him the same thing I told Justin, 48 hours.
Well I decided to go to Babies r Us on my way home to get a baby shower gift. I was planning on being at my best friends baby shower that Saturday. As I was walking in, the contractions were coming. I decided to quickly get a gift card and go home.
I went to bed around 9:00 and woke up at 2:30am thinking my water broke. I was having back labor (at this time they felt like menstrual cramps.) I got up and walked around. Went down stairs and started timing my contractions. I figured a half hour of consistent 3-5 mins apart and my water being broken was long enough. I woke up Justin and his response was, "are you kidding?!" I assured him I wasn't and we brushed our teeth, did the dishes (I wasn't in any hurry yet) had him give me a blessing, and we were off to Sutter Roseville.
They put me in triage and let me know, kindly, that I was mistaken and my water was not broken, but I had a lot of extra fluid (tmi?) I was only dilated to a 3, but my contractions were regular. They had Justin and I doing laps for about 45 mins. I got checked again, and was at a 4 with contractions coming faster. At 4am we had earned admittance!
My mom showed up around 6:30am and it was just a regular party. We were laughing and having a good time, when I realized my contractions had almost stopped. Mom and I did laps around the hospital and got my contractions going again. It was quite a sight to see I'm sure, mom and I strolling the halls with my IV in tow, and pausing to hold onto a wall while a contraction came and went. So at 9am my Dr made an executive decision and put me on pitocin. Mom and I started walking the halls again. I wanted this baby out! At 2:00pm I decided I had had enough of this madness. I was having serious back labor and my contractions were starting to make me cry. What was worse, I was still at a 4 and my water still hadn't broken! I called my nurse and told her I was ready for an epidural. I so badly wanted to do it all on my own, but I was crying because I was in a ridiculous amount of pain. My epidural was fantastic! It worked perfectly.
Right after my epidural was in and working, my nurse went to check me and my water broke all over her! I laughed so hard, and luckily so was she. She cleaned me up and in walked my dr to break my water. She had to break it to him that she beat him to it! At about 6:00pm I could feel the epidural wearing off. My back labor was back as a dull ache. I had no more fluid in the epidural pouch. The nurses came in to change the bag, but couldn't get it off! I was at a 9 and had 2 choices. I labor on without it and feel the urge to push when it was time, or we have the anesthesiologist come and give it to me locally so I didn't feel a thing. I opted for the first. I had originally wanted to do it all on my own, and this was my chance. I was still "numb" but I had back labor! At 7:00 my nurse had me start pushing. I pushed for an hour and 15 mins. I was at a 10, and my dr walks in and gets ready to go, and in another 15 mins and some good pushing, Tyler Garrett Mack arrived.
The feeling I felt after he arrived was incredible! Relief, pure joy, and a serious adrenaline rush are only a few ways to describe it. Justin was amazing through it all. He had been nervous that he would pass out, but was determined to be there. He did awesome! No nausea and he cut the cord! Holding my perfect baby was bliss. I've never experienced anything more amazing in my life. Looking at his little face confirmed 100 times over that this, being a mom, is exactly what I am supposed to be in life.
Ty came at 8:30pm on September 19th weighing a whopping 9lbs 15oz! and 21.5 inches long. Big boy! Everyone in the delivery room was shocked he was that big. The length was no surprise, but the weight! Just crazy! They say babies get bigger after the first one... Makes me a little nervous.
I'm extremely happy with how everything went, even if I did have horrible back labor. We feel so blessed to get to have Tyler in our lives. So lucky that our Heavenly Father decided that we could be this sweet spirit's parents. He's the perfect addition to our family!
Here's my perfect angel baby!
