We arrived at Orem community nice and early at 6:30am and started on level 4 Pitocin at 7:40am. I hadn't progressed since last Monday and was still dilated to a 1cm and 80% effaced. Contractions and cramping feeling started fairly quickly but I was only still a 2 and 90% effaced, with a lower cervix at 11:30am (pitocin level 8). They upped my Pitocin - a 12 and then a 16 shortly after. Dr McCarter wanted my nurse to let my body do its thing in and to not be too aggressive. Dr was supposed to come break my water at noon but he never did. I was checked again around 12:30 and was a 4, fully effaced. I didn't fell like I was progressing very quickly and the contractions were very painful. I was feeling the contraction in my hips. The nurse and Jerel switched off by putting counter pressure on my knees as I sat in the bed. This helped for a few contractions but was no longer helping. I really wanted to go natural but I just couldn't handle the pain any more thinking it would last at least a few hours more and asked for an epidural. My nurse ordered it and shortly after Dr McCarter came in to break my water, my nurse told him I had just asked for an epidural. Waiting for the anesthesiologist was agonizing. Jerel told me I told him a few times that I felt like I needed to push, meaning I was most likely going into transition. He was going to have them check me but forgot to ask. I was so into the contractions and relaxing that there wasn't much else I could think about. The only thing that got me through was thinking this could be my last contraction and the pain would be over soon. The anesthesiologist finally came in (Jerel says about 15 mins) felt much shorter. "I need to ask you a few questions before we begin. I vaguely remember saying, are you kidding me? He started asking me questions and would pause as a contraction would hit. I told him during the contraction to just keep going so we could get on with it. Holding still was horrible as I sat with my legs hanging off the bed and waited for him to clean the site, add the tape and so on. He put the need in which hurt a little, thinking the pain would disappear nothing happened. I was still feeling the pain and the strong urge to push which I told Jerel several times by then and that she was coming. Later on I found out that the anesthesiologist only put in a test shot of epidural so basically a slight numbing or tingly feeling that actually didn't take effect until 15 mins. They helped me onto my side and everything pretty much goes foggy from there. I had my eyes closed for the most part as I held on tight to the closest nurse, Kasey which as actually the nurse who delivered my baby. She helped me remember to breath. Now this is the weird part, I felt completely out of control, like a rabid animal as they told me not push, thinking I wasn't complete yet I asked if I was and reached down to feel her head which calmed me a little. I opened my eyes here and there to see at least 4-6 nurses but my main focus was on Kasey. They didn't want me to push so that everything could stretch and I wouldn't tear as much. That was probably the most painful part as the contractions pretty much were ignored and I tried to blow candles and remember to breathe. I couldn't help but push a little bit as it helped ease the pain until her head came out on its own. I don't remember even pushing her head out. I vaguely remember looking to find Jerel in the corner, there was just too many people in the room. Then was told to push a few times for her shoulders. I didn't push hard at all. I felt super embarrassed after she was out, ashamed of how I acted as the nurses congratulated me and told me how awesome I did. I don't remember screaming but I know that I was not calm. Jerel told me the exact opposite that I was very calm and in control during the entire thing which is why the nurses were impressed. The is so strange to me cause that was not what I thought happened. I must have had an entire different experience going on in my head than what really happened. She was finally out and quite purple. It took them a bit to get all the stuff out of her mouth and throat before I heard her cry. I told Jerel to go get pictures of her weight and in the warmer, "lets wait until she is cleaned off" no go do it now. It took a bit for them to get the placenta out which is about the time my legs were feeling a bit tingly which was the epidural taking effect. Dr. McCarter then came in to help finish delivering the placenta and to stitch me up. I got about a second degree tear which wasn't bad. He said that the epidural didn't count and I went full natural. They probably wouldn't even bill the insurance for it. Had I known that I was in transition I would have not gotten it. It wasn't bad though, kinda nice to have a little less feeling as they pushed on my stomach for the placenta. I felt everything but just kinda took the edge off. I could still wiggle my toes and move my legs where as with Aiden I couldn't even move a toe.
First bath which she did not like.
Nor did she like her hair washed.
She did like the warmer though.
Not much hair on top but a bit in the back.
Getting ready to go home.
The kids first time holding her. Kasen was so excited and they all took turns holding her.
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