The morning of August 4, Stephane and I headed to my follow up appointment with my OBGYN. The week before, after my follow up appointment, the doc sent me to the hospital because my blood pressure was way higher than normal. So, I had to do a bunch of tests at the hospital to determine whether or not I had pre-eclampsia. It's a condition that is often developed later in pregnancy that causes the mom to have high blood pressure, etc. Turns out, once I had gotten to the hospital, my blood pressure had already started to go down on its own and every single tests came back normal. I was advised to take it easy at home and to keep monitoring my blood pressure at least once a day.
But, the morning of August 4, for some reason, my blood pressure was up again. As a precaution, my doctor sent me to the hospital again to do some more tests. I figured it would take a few hours and I would most likely be sent home again. Stephane had an interview so he couldn't stay with me at the hospital so my mom came and hung out with me for a bit. A few hours passed by and the doctor came to see us with the results. The ultrasound came back fine, my blood tests were fine but the urine tests showed that I had a bit of pre-eclampsia. Therefore, the doctor advised us it was best for both me and the baby if I was to be induced right away. After all, I was 38 weeks pregnant and considered full term. I remember having to catch my breath! How was that possible? My due date wasn't for another 2 weeks. Even if my hospital bags were ready and the house was set up for baby's arrival - I wasn't mentally prepared to give birth THAT DAY. It wasn't the way it was supposed to happen. My water was supposed to break on it's own dramatically in the middle of a random situation just like in the movies. My contractions were supposed to start on their own and I was supposed to be driven to the hospital thinking ''this is it!''.
Nope. It wasn't going to happen that way and I didn't have much of a choice. So, I called Stephane after his interview and told him the big news - baby was going to arrive either that night or the next day! He was ecstatic and came to the hospital right away. Meanwhile, I was an emotional mess. I was crying out of excitement - fear - joy (ALL THE FEELS). I kept thinking to myself ''how is it possible that this baby who's been inside of me for 9 months is going to be out into the world??!!''. My mom was such a great support from the start. I could tell she was freaking out on the inside but tried her hardest not to show it.
They put me into a private ''delivery'' room. Room 219. A nurse came in, asked me a bunch of questions and typed it into a computer. Steph kept making jokes here and there. I chuckled nervously trying to calm my nerves. Then another nurse came in and explained what was about to happen. They were going to put a balloon inside my uterus and fill it up with water to help dilate my cervix from 2 cm to 4 cm. Then, they were going to break my water and give me some type of liquid through an IV to create contractions to help me dilate more and fast.
- 8:00 pm -
Once they inserted the balloon inside my uterus , they advised me that since it was my first time in labor, it would most likely take between 12 and 24 hours for my cervix to dilate from 2 to 4 cm. Turns out - we were all in for a surprise! It didn't take long for the contractions to start and for them to become stronger and stronger and closer together. I took a warm bath which helped with the contractions. But after an hour, it all became a bit too much. I needed to get up and walking to help with the painful contractions. The nurse then suggested I used an exercise ball. It helped for a bit but the contractions seemed to become stronger a little too fast.
- 10:00 pm -
My mom suggested that the nurse verifies how far along I was dilated since the everything seemed to be happening a little faster than the medical team had anticipated. Sure enough, two hours in and I was already dilated to 4 cm. The doctor then came in to ''break my water''. I didn't quite know what to expect. I though it would just feel like I was peeing. Turns out, as soon as my water broke, I felt a gush of water between my legs and it kept going and going and going (sorry if too much info). It didn't hurt but it was uncomfortable.
Afterwards, it was time to insert some drugs inside my body via an IV in order to help get to BIG contractions up and running. Again, I was told it could take MANY MANY hours until I would even dilate another cm since I was being induced and the whole thing didn't happen naturally. So, I tried to prepare myself mentally as much as possible for what was about to come. As soon as they inserted the IV in me, I decided to take another warm bath since it helped so much the first time. Yet, after only 30 minutes - I felt those contractions come in fast and strong. I kept thinking ''how am I going to survive so many more hours of this??!!''. My mom was by my side the whole time and Stephane was making sure I was well hydrated by being ''the water boy''. After another 30 minutes of being in the bathtub, I needed to get out. I needed to do something to ease the pain because nothing else seemed to be working at that point. I tried the exercise ball once again but it didn't do much for me anymore. I walked to the washroom and on my way back - I threw up my whole life. I knew at that point that it was my body's way of telling me it was having a hard time dealing with the pain. That's when I looked at the nurse and told her it was time for the epidural.
- 12:00 am -
While we waited for the ''special'' doctor for the epidural, the nurse checked to see if I had dilated and I was already at 6 cm. So far - it seemed like my body was ready to deliver this baby sooner than later.
If you know me, you know I'm deeply afraid of needles... to the point where I can easily pass out. But even before going into labor, I knew I wanted the epidural to help with the pain. But I advised the nurses that it would be best if I didn't see anything whatsoever. They were absolutely wonderful throughout the whole experience. While I was sitting on the edge of the hospital bed, a nurse was standing in front of me. She kept encouraging me and telling me I needed to stay still. I kept grunting and yelling because of the contractions (not because of the epidural). And the nurse kept saying I could squeeze her arm to help cope with the pain. *I felt so bad for squeezing her so hard - yet I couldn't help but do otherwise*. Stephane and my mom were watching from afar towards the end of the room. They weren't allowed to come near to make sure I would sit still.
Within minutes of having the epidural, I could already feel it working. After I laid back down on the bed, the nurse brought a bag of ice and put it on my legs to see if I could feel anything... I did not. I was able to move my legs but they felt numb. It was such a strange feeling! Then... a few minutes later... I had another contractions according to the machine next to me monitoring it all. I did not feel a thing. HALLELUJAH! I was in heaven!
I then got a burst of energy and kept talking to my mom who was by my side. I don't remember much of the conversation but I remember not being able to shut up. I kept babbling away. The nurse thought it was funny but kept advising me that I should take this time to rest! I then kept dozing on and off for a few hours.
- 4:30 am -
Somehow, the epidural seemed to have stopped working. I could feel it all... the contractions in my lower belly AND in my back. It kept coming stronger and stronger. The nurse told me it was a good thing since it would allow me to know when I should start pushing. I had a hard time catching my breath between the contractions. They were again coming fast and strong.
- 5:00 am -
I kept feeling a pressure in my lower belly. It was baby boy starting to make his way down - way down. The pain kept increasing by 1,000 at the same time. I then looked at the nurse and told her I was going to need to start pushing REAL soon.
The doctor came in quick to see if I could start pushing... and the answer was yes. I was dilated to 10 cm.
- 5:30 am -
Time to start pushing! The nurse prepped me by telling me what was about to happen. Asked Stephane and my mom to each hold one leg. Told me that with every single contraction, I needed to hold my breath for 10 seconds and PUSH. Then inhale and repeat 3 times. I was exhausted but the adrenaline kicked in. I was about to see my baby! Finally!
I felt so discouraged after the first few pushes. It seemed like all of my energy I had put into each push went no where since I didn't feel it did much at all. The nurse kept telling me not to give up and to keep pushing. I started getting light headed from pushing so much without being able to breath correctly. Then, after 20 minutes or so, the nurse told me to stop pushing since baby boy was on the edge of being born. She called the doctor quickly. I hated her at that moment. How could she tell me not to push when my whole entire body felt like pushing this baby out. As soon as the doctor came into the room, I yelled ''I need to keep pushing NOW!''. He quickly put himself into position and a few short minutes later... baby boy was born (at approximately 6:04 am) and immediately put on my chest.
That's the moment I became a mom. Best moment of my life.
Love you to the moon and back little man.
