5:00 am. Nothing like waking up that early on a day off! But this isn't your ordinary off day.
Kayla's mom and sister, Carly, were there bright eyed and bushy tailed. They were ready to have this baby just as much as we were! Susan was there for emotional support and Carly was there for her experience...in photography 😉.
The midwife came in about 7:00 am to check and see how the balloon went. Well, it did what it was suppose to. Now dilated to a 4. Finally away from that 2! They started the pitocin to speed up contractions so we could have this baby! Contractions did occur, but not as quick as we had hoped.
Nor did the dilation process!
Throughout the day, it was pretty much a waiting game. Little bit was being stubborn (Not sure where she gets that from!) and just didn't want to come out. Every couple hours, Doc would come check: "Still at a four." If I had a nickel for every time I heard that, I could pay for Sadie's college already! Is there ANYTHING we can do to hurry this up?!
Bounce on the ball a little, sit in the tub, back into the bed, bounce on the ball....a vicious cycle of activities that didn't seem to be helping. The worse part, the doctor wouldn't let Kayla really walk around the room because her blood pressure was too high. Well there goes that portion of the book we read!
They increased the pitocin every 30 minutes or so. She was maxed out by 11:00. The contractions were getting better and my wife was taking them like a champ! Quick plug: my wife is awesome! She did not complain hardly at all. She didn't snap at me but once, yes, only once! So I guess I did my job well.
The nurses wanted Kayla to stay in bed for the contractions, to steady Sadie's heart rate, and to keep her blood pressure down. Unfortunately, the contractions were just too sharp when just laying in bed. Kayla had asked about getting an epidural because the contractions were finally getting the best of her. It was more so because her body was "fighting" the contractions. This is when I managed to help her up. Where did we go? You guessed it, the tub! Pain went away. Call off the epidural!
During this whole escapade, I want to just say how FREEZING it was in that room! I feel like I was locked in a meat cooler and all I had was a pair of gym shorts and a tshirt. The nurses were great! They brought us blankets that were in a warmer so that we could wrap up in them! Prayers were answered!
Tub soaking over, back to the bed. NOPE! That didn't last long because the contractions were just too painful when she was laying down. The nurse wouldn't allow Kayla to get back into the tub but would allow her to sit under the shower. That didn't pan out so well since the monitor that was keeping Sadie's heart rate was being sprayed on and the heart rate wasn't being picked up.
Back to the bed. Now with pitocin in full effect, contractions really booming, it was too much for Kayla. She was a trooper and I know how bad she wanted to labor without an epidural. She looked me right in the eyes after saying she wanted one and said, "I'm sorry." We had discussed beforehand how we didn't want an epidural. She had absolutely NOTHING to be sorry about. This magnificent woman has been carrying my child for 9 months. She has been in good labor for well over 11 hours, and she is sorry? No ma'am! Don't be sorry. Don't apologize. I support you and your wishes. You are going through this pain and only you know what you can and cannot take.
The anesthesiologist came in and finally got her epidural in. I say finally because it only took three attempts. I was starting to get nervous. Don't you paralyze my wife! Once in, Kayla was OUT! I think of it like when you get laughing gas and the doctor tells you to count down from 10. You get to 8 and you don't remember a thing until you wake up. I don't think she got to 9! She was exhausted.
About an hour went by. During her sleep they put the "peanut" between her legs to move the dilation along. NOPE! Still a 4. Now everyone is starting to wonder, c-section? Another nurse came in,had Kayla roll over to her right side and hiked up her left leg into the stirrups. Not even 20 minute go by and she says she is feeling pressure.
"Where are you feeling it?"
"In my bottom."
"Oh! Let me get the doctor!"
Midwife comes in to check. At an 8!!!! Yes!! Doc says she will be back in an hour to check. Um, no you won't! Not even 10 minutes after the doctor leaves, Kayla has texted her friend Courtney, who was due to clock in any minute, "Come here!" Courtney come plowing through the doors like a scene from Nurse Jackie in the ER! She checks Kayla. "10! Don't push!"
Bring on the excitement! If you have never had a baby, or been in a room when a baby is about to be born, it is awesome! Seeing 3-7 people running around in perfect synchrony knowing exactly what each other is doing. Setting up equipment here. Moving stuff over there. Gloves flying everywhere! Who cares. SADIE IS ABOUT TO BE BORN!!!
Everyone is in place. Lights, camera, action!
All I remember is saying to myself "Don't lock your knees so you don't pass out. Don't lock your knees so you don't pass out." I wasn't at your normal husband position, holding my wife's hand and telling her how awesome she is doing. Nope, not this guy. I was all quarterback under the center! I was ready to bring this baby into the world. We are so grateful that we had a midwife that lets the father be an active participant.
PUSH! PUSH! PUSH! Rest.
Repeat 4 more times. Each time Sadie's head getting closer and closer! The nurse had to tell me, "Now would be a good time to put your gloves on." Oh yeah, those things!
PUSH! The midwife guided Sadie's head and shoulders out then it was up to me to bring our baby girl into the world! I grabbed her by the neck and legs. There she was. Our Baby Sugar!
I placed her on Kayla's chest and we looked at Sadie together in amazement. We create this!
I then was able to cut the umbilical cord. Loved experiencing that as well. A few minutes went by and the doctor showed us the cord. It had a "true knot" in it. This could have killed our sweet little girl, but like what we saw in the rainbow, He's got this! And He did. All the prayers Camden said at every dinner. All the worries washed away. Here is our bundle of joy and we are so blessed!
Thank you everyone who said prayers, sent us their best wishes, have visited so far, have cooked for us, and everything else! We look forward to raising our baby girl in this village, and what a great village it is!
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