Emmersyn Ryleigh: Birth Story

She is here!

At 40 weeks and 2 days I was ready for our baby girl's arrival.  The day before her arrival I really didn't want to be induced, but I was so anxious for her arrival and everything that goes into labor and delivery I was ready to discuss the option with my doctor at my appointment the next day.  Ryan and I had discussed it and were ready for that to be the way my labor started.  I was more than excited when I started to have contractions on Wednesday May 8th.
The day started out just as any other.  I was feeling good and planned to spend the day with Rowan playing as we usually did.  I was pretty tired as the day went on, but nothing out of the ordinary.  Ryan had to work late so I didn't start thinking about dinner till around 7.  I decided to do the dishes first and while doing those I had a pretty big contraction.  I had been having minor ones for weeks, but this one made me stop and hold onto the counter.  I didn't think to much of it though, and kept on washing.  I had another one about 20 minutes later right when Ryan got home from work.  I told him I had had a couple of strong contractions, but didn't think it was real labor.  I wasn't really hungry so Ryan made him and Rowan something to eat and I sat down to rest.  I continued to have pretty strong contractions about every 15 minutes and started to really think this might be it.  We put Rowan to bed at his normal time around 9:30 and went about our normal business.  The contractions continued though and were closer to 10 minutes apart.  Around 10:30 we started to talk about what we wanted to do.  Should we take Rowan to the sitter's now or wait till we knew it was the real deal?  Our sitter is a little older so we didn't want to wake them in the wee hours, but we also didn't want to take him for no reason.  I had talked to my mom and she was on her way  so maybe we would wait till she got there and we wouldn't have to take Rowan to the sitter at all?  We finally decided that it was best to just take Rowan to the sitters and hope for the best.  Ryan called and took Rowan over there.  He left at 11:00 and I decided to take a bath.  As soon as I got in my water broke.  My water broke with Rowan, but I didn't really know it. This time I was sure it had broke.  I had a really strong contraction and then there was a pop and some clear liquid.  Ryan was still gone so I knew I had some time on my own.  With Rowan my goal was to stay home as long as I could in order to try and not get an epidural.  This time I had decided that I would do the same thing unless my water broke.  If my water broke I wanted to go right to the hospital.  I had a fear of labor going really fast and not being at the hospital when she decided to arrive. 

Ryan got home around 11:30 and we started packing for the hospital.  My contractions got a lot stronger and we had to make several stops for Ryan to push on my lower back through each contraction.  By the time we got to the hospital I was in a lot of pain, but could still talk and answer questions.  I remember walking down the hall to the delivery room and looking at the clock.  It was 12:15.  I was miserable by the time I got the gown on and in the bed.  The nurse said I was a 4 and I asked for the epidural. The nurse kind of sighed and said I was probably not going to be able to get one.  I said a few choice words.  The anesthesiologist was in a C-Section and the nurse didn't think he would make it down in time for me to have one.  I started to freak out a little bit.  I was in a lot of pain and didn't really think I could do this on my own.  I had prepared for a natural birth with Rowan, but didn't for this one so I was freaking out.  Ryan assured me I could do it and deep down I knew I had no choice. 
When they hooked me up to the fetal heart moniter and I had a contraction baby girls heart rate dropped dramatically.  So much so that I asked about it.  They quickly hooked me up to the internal monitor and gave me oxygen.  I was really nervous at this point but in a lot of pain so I was concentrating on that. At the next contraction baby girl's heart rate went up so the nurses said they would continue to watch it, but it seemed better.  Contractions continued to get stronger and I continued to freak out.  Ryan was absolutely amazing at keeping me calm and ensuring me I could do this naturally. 
The on call doctor was called and was there in no time to check me.  I was 6cm dilated when he arrived.  He asked if I was getting an epidural and the nurses filled him in on the whereabouts of the anesthesiologist.  He told them to just let him now when I started to feel pressure.  The second or third contraction after he left was like nothing I have ever felt before.  I was sure the baby was coming out right then.  I told the nurse I was feeling pressure and she called the Dr. back.  He checked me again and I hadn't changed a whole lot.  He told me I couldn't push yet cause my cervix wasn't fully dilated.  In my head I was like "WHAT!"  I didn't feel like I had control over pushing or not.  My body was telling me to push and that's what I was going to do. He told me that if I pushed before my cervix was ready it could start to swell and then I wouldn't be able to get baby out that way.  I think he could tell I was starting to panic because he stayed with me and got right in my face to help me breath through each contraction.  He made me keep my eyes open and look at him.  I was supposed to breath like I was blowing out a candle, but for the life of me I could not make that happen.  I have no idea what I was doing, but I know I was thinking this is not what I'm supposed to be doing!  Ryan told me later I was making the most ridiculous noise and he had to try really hard not to laugh out loud.  I knew I wasn't blowing out the candle, but at that point I was just trying my hardest to not push.  I did not want to have an emergency C-section. 
At this point the Dr. checked me again and said I probably had 15-20 minutes left before I could start pushing.  The nurses thought differently and they were right.  At 1:15 I was told I could start pushing.  I had been in the hospital for an hour.  I pushed 3 times and out she came at 1:21am.  It was the most amazing experience.  The dr. gave me local anesthesia so the pain of her actually coming out was lessened, but I could still feel everything.  I just know there was a whole lot of liquid and then a baby girl.  I felt incredible afterwards.  They took her to be checked out and Ryan went with. 

I could hear her cry and them talking about her hair.  Ryan came back over and we talked about her name. We had two names picked out, but hadn't decided on one yet.  I told Ryan he could decide and he picked Emmersyn.  I decided on Ryleigh as her middle name.  When they were done checking her out Ryan brought her over to me.  She was perfect. 

I couldn't believe how good I felt for just having a baby. I did a lot of apologizing to the nurses and doctor.  I was sure I had been one of those crazy ladies you see on tv, but everyone assured me I wasn't.  It took almost 4 hours for the epidural to wear off with Rowan, but I was ready to go in a half hour after Emmersyn was born.  I had to wait for a room to be available so I didn't leave the delivery room for about an hour and a half.  I nursed my baby girl for the first time and enjoyed the time with Ryan.   Once up on the mommy/baby floor we got setteled in and I continued to try and nurse. My mom arrived a few hours later and got to meet her 3rd granddaughter.  Then we all slept!
It was by far the most incredible experience that I don't know if I would want to experience again!

~Nicki