Early, 4am, on April 22nd my labor began with 'cramps' after I had gotten up use the bathroom. While laying in bed, I figured maybe that I should count how far apart they were and found them to be happening every 8-10 minutes. Around 4:30am or so, the 'cramps' began to increase in intensity and I was finding that I was having to get up and go to the bathroom with each one (I later found out that this was a sure sign of real labor). Therefore, I went downstairs so I would not disturb Todd with my constant getting up out of bed.
About that same time the 'cramps' were getting more uncomfortable and were starting to be every 3 to 5 minutes. Laying on the couch watching Opera on the DVR was just not distracting enough. In fact the only real comfortable position I could find was sitting on the edge of our coffee table. Starting to get a little concerned that they became so close together just within 45 minutes, I went upstairs and told Todd I was going to call Cindy, our Doula.
I called Cindy around 5:30am (I was trying to wait to let her sleep in a little bit) and described my contractions. She confirmed it was the real thing and to check back in with her in a half hour. Therefore, I reported back to Todd that this was it. He initially rolled over because he thought I was in phase one of labor which by the textbook would take a few hours. I did end up convincing him that he may want to get up now because I predicted we'd be on our way to the hospital - soon! I think he realized it was for real as I threw up!
About 6:15am I called Cindy back and we both decided that I should begin to head in to the hospital, especially because we did not want to get caught in rush hour traffic. Hence, I called the Midwives and alerted them that I was on my way in to Children's. It was about this point that I started to panic a little bit about making it to the hospital. Todd continued to prepare leave. Still thinking we had hours to go, he asked if there would be time to make coffee, take out the garbage, clean Maggie's litter, etc. I was trying to be patient, but at the same time wanted Todd to realize that we needed to get on our way. Thank goodness our bags we packed! We left for the hospital about 7:00am.
Still not realizing just what kind of labor I was experiencing, Todd parked in the ramp and we walked to the hospital where Cindy was waiting for us. When we arrived on the third floor, Sarah, one of our midwives, was there to examine me to make sure I was in real labor (standard procedure). Thankfully Todd and Cindy were there because it took both of them to help me to get in to my gown...as I was throwing up again.
I finally was able to get dressed and on the exam table where Sarah determined I was already 7 to 8 cm dilated and at that moment my water broke! This is when Sarah noticed meconium in the water and, therefore, the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) was alerted. I then announced that I felt as though I was going to pass out (which didn't sound all that bad to me!!). So they whisked me off to a birthing room so they could get me ready as well as get me on some saline. I was admitted at 7:55am.
I continued to have contractions and could only deal with them sitting on the edge of the hospital bed with both Cindy and Todd massaging my lower back. Of course, this did not make it easy for nurses to pick up the baby's heartbeat nor start my IV. They were trying all sorts of tricks (like using maxi pads to put more pressure on the sensor). Suddenly, Martha, another one of the midwives, was sitting on the edge of my bed telling me how she was just about to go for a jog. Well, come to find out later, that there was another woman about to have a baby at the same time, therefore, Sarah called in Martha for 'back up.'
As my contractions continued I picked a key hole as my focal point. Cindy was so good about getting me to some how relax through each one which made such a difference. However, right in the line of view of my focal point was the IV stand in which there was a bright yellow sticker reading 'Epidural Line Only.' Oh, how good an epidural would have felt at that time. But I just kept remembering that Pati, our Birthing Class instructor, said that if you could make it to 7 or 8cm you were past the worst part.
Since they still were having a hard time getting the baby's heart rate on the monitor and I was ready to push they told me to sit back. I just couldn't sit back so without skipping a beat I asked Martha (apparently very politely) if I could stand. And without hesitation she agreed! Cindy became my squatting bar, Todd went behind to continue to massage my back, and Martha set up on the floor.
Then the pushing began - which I thought was the hardest part. Just when I thought I had pushed the baby out Martha announced that she could feel the head - oi vey! So with a few more pushes the head came out and Martha suctioned the mouth. Then I pushed a couple more times and at 9:12am out came Baby Rassman. When I asked what it was I swear someone initially said, "It's a boy!" then said, "No, it's a girl!" I was in disbelief since so many people predicted that it was going to be a boy. Therefore, I had to look for myself! And low and behold it truly was a girl!
Martha then cut the cord so that the NICU nurses could examine the baby and I could pass the placenta. It was then that the nurses determined that the baby had a distended stomach. Therefore, they brought the baby to us so that we could hold, kiss, and take a couple pictures before they took her to the NICU. So much for our birth plan!
Soon after, Dr. Joy Pabalan, a fellow in the NICU came to our room asking us to sign a consent to give the baby a blood transfusion. This was NOT supposed to be happening! But all we could do is appreciate that she's in the best of hands and hope for the best!
The rest of the day was spent recovering, visiting the baby, moving rooms, visiting the baby, beginning to pump, and visiting the baby. Thankfully the nurses moved us to a room with two beds so that Todd could stay over as well.
And now we begin our time in the NICU...
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