I couldn't sleep the night before my induction. I tried, I really did, but pregnancy insomnia coupled with the excitement of meeting my baby kept me tossing and turning all night. William snored beside me, I envied his ability to turn off his mind long enough to get some rest. At around 4:30 A.M. I gave up and ran a warm bath. I took my time soaking in the bubbly water and rubbing my round belly, knowing we'd be parting ways soon. Liam started his morning round of kicks and rolls, reminding me that he was still doing well. I got dressed, did my hair and makeup, and called the hospital to make sure that they had space for me. At 6 A.M. on Saturday, March 7th we were on our way!
We arrived at the hospital and I was put in a big delivery room with huge windows that lit up the whole room with sunlight. At 38 weeks pregnant I tested positive for Group B Strep, so the first thing they did was start an IV of antibiotics while we waited for my midwife to give the orders on how to start my induction. I was already 3 cm dilated and 80% effaced at that point so we'd be able to skip straight to the pitocin. At around 8:20 A.M. the nurse started a Pitocin drip. And then we waited...
The first contraction came and I was so excited. Things were really happening! Then another came...and another...and another. They were becoming stronger and closer together way faster than I expected. I tried getting up and moving around, bouncing on the birth ball, etc. but I wasn't able to keep the external fetal heart rate monitor in position while doing anything but laying down and since I had a pitocin induction, the nurses' wanted to keep a close eye on Liam to make sure he was handling the contractions well. So bed rest it was. That was rough. The contractions were bad and having to lay on my back while I had them was even worse. So at 10:30 A.M. I asked for the epidural.
I was really nervous about getting the epidural. Something about giant needles and my spine just doesn't sit well with me. It was also a little uncomfortable having to sit cross-legged and hunched over while painful contractions were racking my body. Getting the epidural was uncomfortable and I'll admit that it was a little painful for me but in the long run I really feel like it was so worth it. Again, that's my experience with the epidural and it really is different for everyone.
At noon I was 5 cm dilated - woohoo! One of my biggest fears about being induced was that I wouldn't progress and would end up needing a c-section, so hearing that I was in fact making progress gave me relief. My midwife also broke my water at this time and discovered that there was a moderate amount of meconium in it. I suddenly felt even better about my decision to induce at 41+1 weeks. Liam's heart rate started to decelerate, something that is apparently common when the water is broken, but it didn't make me any less nervous. My midwife rolled me on my side and put an oxygen mask on me, then she attached a fetal heart rate monitor to his head so that they could monitor him more easily. I cried while all of this happened. I know how silly that sounds but I was honestly terrified. His heart rate normalized pretty quickly and I calmed down. All was well again.
I should've used this time to sleep - I was exhausted - but instead I stayed up talking to William, my little sister, and my best friend. My dad stopped by for a little bit too. At 3:00 P.M. I was 7 cm dilated and 3 hours later at 6:20 P.M. I started feeling the urge to push. I was 10 cm dilated but my midwife was delivering another baby so I had to wait. Waiting to push was hard but it wasn't in vain. Liam was still pretty high, so that time spent waiting allowed him to move into the birth canal so that by the time my midwife got to my room, at about 7:10 P.M., he was more than ready to make his appearance.
Despite my exhaustion, I put my all into every single push. I wanted to make them count. My midwife was so incredibly encouraging. At 7:24 P.M. my little love came earthside screaming. His cry was the most beautiful sound I had ever heard, so I cried too.
I don't even mind that I have THREE chins in that second photo! Because when I look at it, all I feel is love. Motherhood is incredible. It truly is. I have never loved another person so much in my life. Liam is awake now and just in time, too because this post is about to get really cheesy and full of clichés about motherhood and other sappy stuff. So I'll end it here. Thank you for reading.
Liam Christopher | 8lbs | 2oz | 20.5 in.
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