A year ago today- a birth story- part 2

read part 1 here

before pain medication

after, much happier!

Almost twenty-four hours had passed since my water broke, and despite the painful contractions I wasn't progressing fast enough to have a safe home birth.

We would meet our baby boy in the hospital.

Luckily there was no reason to rush to the hospital 

and I was able to spend the next few hours laboring at home. 

I spent most of them in the shower, the warm water easing the pain.

^ ^ ^ ^

The midwife had told us to check in at the hospital at 4 a.m. 

So at 3.30 we decided we should head to the hospital. 

I got dressed, B. grabbed my hospital bag I had prepared just in case, 

and we headed out the door, took the elevator down 

and crossed the parking lot to our car pausing every two minutes due to contractions.

The ten minute drive to the hospital was almost the worst part of the whole delivery. 

Every little bump in the road felt like a mountain even though B.was driving so carefully.

When we arrived at the hospital it was so quiet and dark. 

We found our way to the delivery ward and checked in.

I was brought to a room, assisted onto a bed and hooked up to a million monitors.

This was not how I had imagined our birth experience to be.

^ ^ ^ ^

The contractions kept on rolling in and as best as I could I concentrated on my breathing, 

trying to get in some sort of relaxed mode. 

But the pain became unbearable. 

I was tired, sore, disappointed and just wanted to meet my baby.

I wanted something to relieve the pain, even though it felt like giving up.

I shared my thoughts with our nurse and she sternly but lovingly told me to ease up on myself.

And that was what I needed to hear.

I happily accepted some pain medication and finally I was able to relax.

The medication I was on made me a bit woozy and so the following hours flew by like a dream.

And then it was time. I was fully dilated and it was time to push.

to be continued...

Love, Maria

read the big finale tomorrow!