Blessings Beyond Measure: The Big Arrival

The long awaited arrival of our newborn son came on the morning of August 23, 2013. Curtis had been gone on a TDY until 1:00 am on August 23rd. I started having contractions about 4 am. I thought to myself: "Man, I better get in the shower because I need to shave my legs and get my hair looking decent."

Once in the shower, my contractions were 5 minutes apart and shaving was no longer an option. I told Curtis that this was it!

We arrived at the hospital at 6:50am and I immediately expressed my desire for my epidural ASAP. They told me I had to get checked in and get my blood work done first. In the meantime they would check my cervix. Once they realized I was already 7 cm dilated, everything was set in motion.

Once in the room, we were shown techniques to help with the pain. I didn't have an arsenal of natural birthing techniques because I was all about the drugs for my birthing plan. Thus, in between the contractions (which were then 1 minute apart), I kept thinking, "Where is the anaesthesiologist?"

At that point, I was told I could use the shower to aide in pain relief.    Well, in the middle of my shower (which I thought was a joke for pain relief BTW), the fire alarm went off.......BECAUSE OF THE STEAM FROM MY SHOWER. So, the fire department had to come into the bathroom to check that it was okay.

After that fiasco, I returned to the room to try and get the baby out. FINALLY, the anaesthesiologist arrived. By this time, I was 9 cm dilated and had such fierce contractions that I couldn't sit still for him. So, at that moment in time I had to actually make the decision to have a natural birth.   The doc came in and broke my water (yeah, it hadn't broke, yet).   The pushing began and lo and behold, Joziah came into the world with his arm over his head.....and added bonus in the pain department.

Once he was out, I felt like a million bucks. Since I wasn't drugged up, I was so coherent. Of course I loved that I was able to have a natural birth, but I still would not choose it if there was ever a next time. ......which there will never be. We are complete.

First minutes in the world