Corey's due date on September 10th came and went like Ethan's did. I was prepared for Corey to come late, but not nine days late, especially since I started having my first false alarm on August 28th at a wedding Craig was in, and I had been having contractions regularly for weeks!
His Story
The Thursday before he was born I went in for my weekly doctor's appointment, and she told me that even though everything (amniotic fluid, placenta, baby's heart rate, etc) looked good, she recommended that we go ahead and come back Monday for an appointment and then she would induce labor. I had mixed emotions about this plan because I really wanted labor to start naturally, but I was also very ready to meet Corey! I left the appointment hopeful and excited knowing the end was in sight but also discouraged that he might not come on his own as I would prefer! I was already four centimeters dilated, so I just prayed and prayed that weekend that labor would start because I knew if it did then I should dilate fairly quickly.
Boy was I wrong! Friday, Satuday, Sunday rolled around with lots of regular contractions, but not the real deal. So Monday we went in to the doctor's office with our bags packed excited to meet our new bundle but nervous about the induction process. Our doctor threw us a little curveball when she told us that his heart rate was good and everything else was good enough for me to wait another week if I wanted. We were not prepared for that! Now we had a decision to make, when we thought we didn't before. Craig and I both decided that we were already mentally prepared for him to come so waiting another week would feel like an eternity!
I checked into my room about 11 am on September 19th and they broke my water! Even though I was being induced, I still wanted to give birth naturally with no medicine. That was my goal...but I was also open minded enough to know it might not be possible, and that was ok too. I was a little bit scared of how hard my contractions would be with Pitocin, so my amazing nurse Kim had the idea of trying to induce labor by pumping. Kim was a midwife for several years and also helped with lots of natural labors, so she was beyond helpful and encouraging the entire time!
I started pumping 10 minutes every hour. This actually started consistent contractions and I progressed to a six this way by about 5pm. Dr. Holland liked the progress but she wanted me to start out on a low level of pitocin to see if it would progress me further. I was a little anxious about this, but they started me out on a 1, so it was a very low dose. Contractions continued to progress and get more intense but they were manageable. I progressed to an 8 by 7pm, so everything looked on course to happen quickly. The doctor and nurses kept saying, "He will be here soon." (words that i think should be banished from all doctors and nurses mouths in labor and delivery):)
By 8, I had progressed to a 9 and I was in a lot of pain. My contractions were right on top of each other, and they kept intensifying. At this point, our other amazing nurse Kayla took over and she was super encouraging and helpful as well. Her and Craig were there with me through every contraction, rubbing my back and helping me breathe! I kept thinking "He will be here soon. I can do this." Then at 9, they checked me and told me I was still at a 9. I was very discouraged and in a lot of pain.
Our nurse told us that she could tell his head was turned, so he probably wasn't applying enough pressure to cause full dilation and kept me at a 9. At this point, we tried several different things to help me fully dilate....nothing worked. My doctor recommended I either increase my pitocin or get an epidural to see if either would push me to a 10. I was exhausted and discouraged but open to the idea of an epidural if it would relax me enough to cause me to dilate to a 10. At this point, poor Craig was exhausted as well. He had been so supportive and such a champ but I could tell her couldn't handle seeing me in pain anymore.
I decided to get the epidural, but when he came in to give it to me my contractions were so strong that I couldn't stay still enough for him. In the midst of him administering the test dose, I felt the urge to push and I told the nurses that it was go time. They checked me and sure enough, I was ready to push. Turns out the test dose was just enough to relax me to cause full dilation, so I didn't have to have the epidural.
I started pushing and 15 minutes later, precious Corey was born! I literally could not have been more excited because it had been a long day. I was just so happy to have a healthy baby boy in my arms!
Life with two has been way more natural than expected! Hard for sure but I feel very blessed, and I just love both of my boys!
More pics to come, hopefully sooner than later!
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