December 29, 2009

Mr. Hudson's wild ride

Like last time, here is the non-TMI version of Hudson's arrival into this world.

I think it's safe to say that things went the exact opposite of the way they went last time.

Last Wednesday at my check I was 2cm 50%. My due date being today (Dec 22), Karyn (OB) and I went ahead and scheduled an induction for Wed morning the 23rd. Me, of course, hoping I wouldn't need it.

On Thursday, I had an appointment with Afua (acupuncturist). Last time, acupuncture was at noon, my water broke at 5am the next day. I was open to that being a coincidence, but was hopeful for a repeat. No dice. I went again on Saturday, no dice. Sunday night, Afua offered to make a Monday morning house call, and I took her up on it. After she left, Bubs and I both went down for a nap. A glorious 2.5 hours later, around 12:30pm, I got up feeling maybe like my water semi-broke, but decided I was wishful thinking. Cameron left for work around 1:30. At around 2:45, it became clear that I was not wishful thinking, my water had broken.

While my mother and sister (and friend Sara) were insistent that I had to get to the hospital ASAP, I was taking my time (the hospital is an hour away so that Karyn could deliver). My parents came over to pick up Bubs, Cameron headed home from work (halfway to the hospital, in St. Charles), I gathered up stuff. We got on the road around 4pm, arriving at the hospital around 5. Triage checked me, confirming my water had broken and that I was 3-4cm, fully effaced, -1 station. They admitted me, and we got into the room around 5:45pm.

Karyn was still at the office (which is adjacent to the hospital) and started to make her way over. My last labor was 20 hours, we most of us were convinced we had plenty of time.

They wanted me on the bed in the room, which was not happening b/c as I learned last time, that was the worst place for me to ride out contractions. I also didn't want an IV and wanted to walk around. All of these things were issues (last time I walked all over the floor at 8cm) but it quickly didn't matter b/c OMG it got bad quick. By 6:45, I began mentally preparing myself for an epidural. I told Cameron and my mom that I couldn't do it this time. I thought I was having what must be the famed "back labor" and there was just no way I had 6 hours of this in me. Then around 7:10 it started getting _really_ bad. Like, "where is Karyn we need to discuss this epidural thing right NOW" bad. By 7:15 I felt this TREMENDOUS urge to push and begged them to check me. Karyn ran in a few minutes later, couldn't find the baby's heart rate, checked me (9+cm, still no heart rate on the baby) and demanded I get on the table, we were having the baby NOW.

Two contractions, 4 pushes, and about 4 minutes later, (and me screaming like a banshee) Hudson was out. He had his hands up by his face and the cord was wrapped around his neck and shoulders. And he was blue. He cried immediately after Karyn cut and unwrapped the cord (only part of the way out). He went from blue to gray (total coincidence) in about 3 minutes, and was pinked up by 5. A loooong 5 minutes (my mom just said).

And by a miracle, everyone is just fine. My recovery has been better than last time, actually, and so far, Hudson is sleeping and eating like a champ. His Apgar was 8 to 9.

Nature is amazing. Being in good hands is a blessing.

Hudson Gray Hollway, born Monday 12/21, 7lbs 12 oz 21.5 inches at 7:24pm.

As Madea would say, "halleleuryah"

Posted by nikl at 05:15 PM | Comments (0) | Baby