Nash's Story - Part 3 Delivery

From the beginning, Chris and I have discussed who we would have in the room when I delivered. We agreed it would be Chris and my Mom in the room. Now with this being said, I had been nervous about Chris and my Mom being able to handle the delivery aspect.

My whole life my Mom has not been good with me and medical stuff. When I was three and fell out of bed and needed stitches in my eyebrow, my Mom passed out in the ER. Anytime, she sees blood she immediately gets my Dad to help us out. During any xray or surgery, it is my Dad that takes us. So as you can tell, I was really nervous that she would pass out.

For Chris, he has a hard time seeing me in pain or upset. Which I knew I would be in during delivery. So I was worried that he would not be able to see past the pain and try to fix it instead of being there for support and getting me through this.

Well.....the nurse said it was time to start pushing, so my Mom n Law left the room and it was time to see how my two support team would work out. As the nurse is getting the room ready, she says "Lets do a trial pushes" at this point I was in tremendous pain that I truly do not remember a lot. For the rest of the story, I am reciting what happened from Chris and my Mom.

I did a couple of trial pushes and during the last trial push, Nash's heartbeat dropped and did not come back up. The nurse got on the phone with the Doc and said "the baby's heartbeat dropped and did not come back up, the cord might be around his neck". This news turned my support team to ghosts. My Mom looked at Chris and said "I need to go get your mother". Apparently, my Mom thought she might pass out and did not want Chris to do the delivery by himself. My Mom asked me if it was OK that Bev come and help.......at that point all privacy went out the window and I did not care who was in the room. I just wanted the baby to come out and the pain to stop. I also believe the nurse knew it was important because only two people were allowed in the room and she allowed all three stay.

My Mom went to the waiting room and got Bev. They came back and I was just in my own

world. I looked up at Chris and told him....I am so hot. My Mom and Bev started getting wash clothes wet with cold water and putting them on my forehead and neck. However, they did not stay cold, within five minutes they were boiling hot.

In the mean time my nurse is making me change positions and push at the same time. I was on my side legs closed, on my back, in the stirrups and then one leg up. I swear she knew I was a gymnast and just wanted to test to make sure I was still flexible. Pushing lasted about an hour.

Then she said I need to breathe through the contracts for about ten minutes. What?!?!?!?!?! I was truly ready to kill her at this point. The only way I did not feel pain was through pushing and she just wanted me to sit there and breathe. This woman was crazy. Has she ever had a kid? I do not think so.

Finally, the Doc arrived. It was time! Chris got behind me and held up my entire back and shoulders. I dug my head into his shoulders. The doctor and Chris would count to 10 and then I would take a breath. Nash finally crowned, however his little head got stuck in the canal. I did four big pushes and then the doctor told me to hold on because he did not want me to rip. So I waited for a few seconds. Then did one more big push and out came Nash. He had a big cone head (from being stuck in the canal) and was perfect!

The doctor put Nash on my stomach and let me hold him and then the nurses took him right away to make sure everything was OK. He weighed in at 6 lb 4 oz. The nurses then let us take some pictures with him and then whisked him away to the NICU and Chris followed.

Stayed tuned for the last part....NICU and Nurses

Nash's Story - Part 2 Labor

Once we had established that I was in labor, I climbed into the bed and the Nurse asked me if I wanted an epidural at that moment. My answer "Yes please" if I do not have to feel any pain then the better off.

The Nurse left to find the anesthesiologist. My Mom in Law arrived and not 10 minutes later my Dad arrived. Both just could not believe we were in labor. The Nurse came in with anesthesiologist and I received my epidural. I was surprised at how much it did not hurt. The worst part was when he pulled the tape off. Nothing mattered at that point, I had the happy juice and was so ecstatic.

Chris, Mom n Law and I discussed that it would be best that Chris and Mom n Law went back to our apartment to grab items that we would need. The list included: Stuff for Nash, toiletries, pillows, computer, camera, extra clothes, and Christmas Movies. When Chris and Mom n Law left to get the stuff, it was just my Dad and I and he pulled a chair up next to my bed and prayed for me, Chris and baby Nash. At this moment, I could not have been more happy. The only person that could get us through this moment was God and my Dad knew exactly what to do and where to go.

My Mom and sisters arrived while Chris was gone. My Mom and Maddie were full of energy, Micah looked like a walking zombie. We were all talking and excited and delirious from no sleep. Chris and Mom n Law came back with arm fulls. It was 3:30 in the morning and my Dad decided to head back to the hotel with the girls. Maddie really wanted to stay, but my parents felt it was the best thing for everyone that she go back and sleep.

Everyone started to settle down. I knew I needed to sleep before the big pushing came around. Now Chris and I had not taken any classes, we were signed up for them and they started on Dec. 1. Well having a baby before Thanksgiving really does not do good things when you have everything planned for Dec 1 or after. So not having any classes, the only things I knew about labor and delivery was from what my friends told me. The one thing I remember them telling me about the epidural was that I would not be able to feel my legs. So when the contractions started getting stronger and I could feel them and could lift my legs up.....I knew something was wrong.

I called the Nurse in and told her. She paged the juice doctor who was this little old foreign man. He came back and asked "Can you feel your legs?" I lift my legs straight up. "You amaze me...I give you all this medicine and nothing." He pumps in the topper and says "If you still feel your legs in 20 minutes call me." 20 minutes go by and nothing. I buzz him. "I just do not understand. I have never seen a woman like this" In my mind I am thinking oh great.....I am broken and I am just pumping myself with medicine. He fills the bag with extra topper. Finally, I could not feel my legs or the contractions. So this would go on the rest of my labor. I would have two hours where I did not feel a thing and then it would wear off and I would have to ask for more. I became very swollen and the pressure from all the extra water was extremely painful. Hence why I look so puffy in all the pictures.

Around 6 am the doc came in and checked where I was. I was at a 5-6. So he said it would be around 2 that afternoon. What?!?!?!?!?!? So we all tried to sleep, but I was so uncomfortable that I never got any sleep. The doc came back around 9 and checked me again. I was an 8-9!

Yea! So the nurse started getting us ready to start pushing. However, I asked for my epidural because I was able to feel everything. The juice doctor (who was a different person now because they went through a rotation shift) came in to give me a topper. But he did not know that I needed the extra strong dosage. So when it came time to push all medicine had left my body. Oh how I would like to forget the pushing and delivery.

Nash 's Story - Part 1 Water Breaking

*Note: All the pictures below are taken after 2 in the morning and I am already really swollen at this point. I have also not washed my hair in two days. I have also thrown in some pics of Nash just for the fun.

After a long stressful day of work, Chris and I made a big dinner. Roast with potatoes and carrots in the crockpot. We sat and ate and then I topped the meal off with a big bowl of ice cream and chocolate sauce.

Around 10 I decided to go to bed. I was exhausted and just was not feeling like myself. Chris started playing a computer game with his cousin. Around 10:30, I asked Chris to come in the bedroom to put on a White Christmas. I laid back down. Ten minutes later I heard a pop in my stomach and thought Nash had hit some organ. Then another ten minutes later, I felt this huge sensation to pee. I sat up and a rush of water came pouring out of me. At this point, I was still not convinced my water had broke. I yelled "Chris" his response was "what".......I must not have sounded panicked enough because he did not get up off of the couch. I opened up our bedroom door and said "Love.....I think my water just broke" ......."What?!?!?!?...Liam I have to go".

From that point on the panic started to kick in for both of us. How could this be? I am only 34 weeks and 5 days pregnant. Chris said "Call the doctor!" Which we did not have his number readily available. Eventually I found it. I got the message machine: my doctor stated "If you think you are in labor, go to the hospital. If you think your water broke, go to the hospital, if this is an emergency go to the hospital, for anything else stay on the line and leave me a message." So what did I do....left a panicked message for the doctor. He called back. "Heather, what did my message say?" I stated "It said if you think your water broke then go to the hospital......however it did not say go there if your water broke 5 weeks early or state what it looked like when your water broke!!!!!!! "He calmly stated "Heather, go to the hospital"

At that point, I told Chris "It is time, we need to go to the hospital". Since Nash was not supposed to come for another 5 weeks we were not prepared at all. And no one tells you that when your water breaks that it continues to pour out. I got dressed and told Chris to grab a towel. We headed to the car and I asked Chris for the towel......he handed me a rag. It did not even cover my entire bottom. Oh well....I sat on it:) Chris threw the car seat in the back, the stroller for the car seat, the baseball blanket, quilt, my pillow, and the video camera. Yes that is all we originally took to the hospital.

Chris called his Mom and I called mine. Both were absolutely shocked. Chris's Mom got out of bed and headed over to the hospital. My Mom got my little sisters ready and packed up the car and started the drive to the hospital (which was 2 hours and 15 minutes from their house) at 11:30 at night. Luckily, my Dad was already in LA for business so he made his drive to the hospital.

As we drove, we were praying that everything would be ok. All that I could think about was that it was too early. This cannot be happening to us. We have tried so hard to get pregnant and now my water broke too early. I have not shaved my legs or washed my hair in over two days. How embarrassing.

We pulled up to the ER and I walked in.....soaking wet. I provided my name and told the admission lady that we had pre registered on Wed. Of course, the papers had not made it into the system yet and I had to sit in the ER with my water pouring out and provide all of my information. Chris finally makes it to the ER, and I finally finish my paper work. The lady says "You can go up now". I kindly state "Um.....we have not had the hospital tour, it is this Saturday." " Ohhhhhh, we will have someone take you." (After this instance...I would highly recommend not sitting on ER chairs)

I was wheeled up to the Labor and Delivery wing, where the nurses were expecting me. The labor and delivery nurse asked if my water had broke. I nervously told her "I am not 100% sure.....what is it supposed to feel like or look like" She just stated "Get into a gown and I will test your clothes" She walked into the bathroom and said "Oh Honey......your water broke"