The birth story

36.5 week appointment- dilated to a 1 and 50% effaced

37.5 week appointment- dilated to a 2-3 and 70% effaced

38.5 week appointment- no change- scheduled to be induced on the 19th with the due date on the 22nd; Doc thought it was a big baby and I wanted her to be the one to deliver the baby

39.5 week appointment- no change, at this point I was pretty disappointed that things didn't progress. I had my membranes stripped and the next morning was the 19th (D-day!)

8:30 arrived at hospital for 9:00 induction. It took a long time to get situated in the room with the health history and doctor check. Dilated to a 3 and 70% effaced. The nurse tried 2 times to get my IV placed but my veins have always been hard to find and had no success. A second nurse came in 30 min later and placed the IV in my left had under my ulnar tuberosity (it was so painful every time I moved my hand, but at lest she got it on the first try). About 11:30 they started the pitocin and gradually increased it from a 2 to 18. My Doctor rechecked me around 3pm and I hadn't progress so she broke my water. It gushed and gushed. My doctor was surprised at how much amniotic fluid there was and started yelling for help from the nurse to grab more pads. I pretty much soaked my bed with 5 or so bed pads. She also place an internal contraction monitor and found out that my contractions were not strong even though they were occurring every few min. Within 15 min I started having the worst contractions and asked for my epidural. The anesthesiologist was great and the epidural cured all pain but I could still feel and move my legs. Kates heart rate dropped below normal with the stress of the strong contractions and epidural that the nurse turned off the pitocin. I started contraction on my own but once again they were not strong- just consistent. My Doctor rechecked me only to find out I had only dilated to a 4 and still 70% effaced. The restarted the pitocin at a 6 around 5pm. Rich had class at 7 and it looked like things weren't going to pick up anytime soon so at 6:30 he left for class and Jaynann came to replace him and brought Hailey in to say Hi. At 7pm I started to feel a lot of vaginal pressure and sure enough it was time to push. We called Rich at 7:15 and I tried not to push until he arrived, but I couldn't wait. I pushed through 2 contractions with Jaynann and then Rich arrived shortly after 7:45. Jaynann left with Hailey and I pushed through a few more contractions and Kate was born at 8:05.