This post is WAY overdue and I’ve been meaning to write it! I personally love reading and hearing birth stories. Everyone’s story is so unique and I just love it! I love looking back and reading Hunter’s birth story. Mason actually jotted down things on his phone while I was in labor so that I could remember to write this. Labor and delivery can be such a blur afterwards and I wanted to remember all the details. We scheduled an induction a few days before because after talking with my doctor about how my induction with Hunter went, she thought it was a great idea. I had to get a new OB with Madden because my first one closed her practice! I was only dilated about 1/2 cm before going to the hospital to get induced!
My induction was scheduled for Thursday, October 17th at 5 PM! We tried to eat dinner beforehand because I knew once we were there I wouldn’t be able to eat. I tried to eat as much as I could but I don’t even know how much I actually ate because I was so nervous and excited! Having an induction the second time around isn’t as scary because you know what you’re about to go through. But surprisingly, I was still nervous, mostly excited but definitely still nervous. Every labor can be so different so I didn’t know what to fully expect. We got to the hospital and they got us all checked in and in our room really quickly.
I have a weird problem with getting IVs, I pretty much almost pass out every-time I get one put in. I always warn the nurse that I have weird veins and they pretty much never believe me! I warned her about my veins and sure enough we had issues. I actually blew a vein and almost passed out 🙃 Really fun before giving birth! My IV ended up being placed in a weird spot on my wrist because that’s where she could get! I told Mason, I think I actually dread getting an IV more than getting an epidural! That’s how rough it is for me!
My doctor stopped by the hospital a little after 6 to come check on me and actually ended up breaking my water at 6:15 and I was only dilated 1cm. She started me on Pitocin around 6:30 and I knew the contractions would start coming in full force! Both My Mom and Mason’s Mom came up to the hospital and were in the room for delivery, I think it’s special and love sharing this memory with them. I was doing really well with managing pain from the contractions and was just trying to get some rest. Close to 10PM is when I REALLY started to have some major pain. It really just hit me out of no where and I told my nurse I needed an epidural ASAP. I had the most amazing labor and delivery nurse and she could tell I was really hurting. She sped up my IV bag so I could get an epidural quick. I got my epidural around 10:20PM and was feeling a lot better!
So strange but after I got my epidural with Hunter, I only felt numb on half of my body and the same thing happened with Madden!! So I had to use a peanut ball to lay on my side to get the epidural to my other side too. It worked and I was numb, thank goodness! I can’t imagine doing it without! At 11 PM I was only dilated to 3cm and it seemed to be going so slowly to me. I did dilate really slowly at first with Hunter and then so fast at the end, so I kept reminding myself of that!
I was really so anxious so I had trouble getting any sleep but I really tried. That is the one downside of getting induced in the evening is that you really don’t get any sleep. My nurse kept having me use the peanut ball so that Madden’s stats were good. I’m so petite so using the peanut ball is so awkward for me. My nurse checked me again at 1:40 AM and I was dilated to 5cm. I was hoping it would start to pick up soon, we were so ready to meet our baby boy!
Around 2 AM, my nurse started to get a little worried for Madden. Every-time I would have a contraction, his heart rate would drop to close to nothing. It was starting to stress me out too that he was in some sort of distress. My nurse kept trying to reposition to see if it would help with his heart rate. It wasn’t working and she mentioned that I might have to have a c-section. I ended up being put on oxygen at this point and I was really starting to get worried. at 2:20 AM, she checked me again and I was dilated to 6cm. I needed to either dilate really quickly or they were going to have me go in for a c-section. My nurse thought maybe if we did a practice push, my body would “remember” and I might dilate some more. So I did a practice push and I dilated to 10cm!!! I don’t think anybody expected that and my OB wasn’t at the hospital. My nurse said his head was literally ready to come out and right there. They were frantically calling my OB and told her she needed to be here in 5 minutes! They also had the hospitalist on standby just in case my OB couldn’t make it in time.
Everything, after 2AM is truly a blur because it happened so quickly!! Mason’s notes in his phone also ended at 2 because of this. They pretty much had me just waiting to push until my doctor could make it. She managed to get to the hospital so quickly and as soon as she was in the door, it was time to push. Madden’s heart rate was still dropping when I was contracting and it was time to get him out. I’m not even kidding when I say, I pushed 2!!!! times and Madden was born. He seriously came out holding his umbilical cord and that’s why his heart rate dropped every-time I was having contractions! We even have a picture of him holding his cord! lol
Madden was born on October 18th 2019 at 3:16 AM! He weighed 6 lbs 13 oz and was 20 inches long! I was so thankful that he was here and was healthy. Mason and I’s heart truly grew so much the second he was born. It’s a feeling you can’t even explain. I was able to do skin to skin and breastfeed right after he was born and my heart was so full. He latched right away and that is just the best feeling.
We weren’t moved into a postpartum room until around 7 AM the next day and I was exhausted! Shortly after we moved rooms, my postpartum nurse who we actually knew, we both attend the same church, took Madden for his sponge bath and so we could get a little rest. I think Mason and I had both just dozed off when she came back into the room without Madden. Madden had turned blue during his bath and they had to suction him because of this he had to spend at least 12 hours in the NICU. I think we were both shocked because we just assumed everything would be good after birth like Hunter. The NICU nurse was actually a friend of ours as well so that was at least comforting. He did well for his entire 12 hour mandatory stay in the NICU and didn’t have any other breathing problems. Once Madden was able to come back to my room, he did have to get some light therapy for his Jaundice. Little guy was a trooper!
We had planned on taking hospital photos with Madden like we did with Hunter but Madden had other plans. His little NICU stay interfered with us taking pictures and I was really bummed. I am thankful that he was okay and we were able to go home. Madden is such a blessing to us and the perfect addition to our family. Thank you so much for following along during my pregnancy and for all your kindness. It doesn’t go unnoticed and we feel so lucky!
Our bed: Pottery Barn // Picture Frames: Pottery Barn (Large Rectangle – Graywash) // Madden’s Personalized Swaddle: SewMineDesign
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Mom says
Wonderful story.