Hi Everyone!
So Brayden is three months old now, and I haven't had the time to share my birthing story. So I figured while I have some spare time, I would try to elaborate on the events of that very special day. The day before my water actually broke ( July 21st), we had gone to the Alaska Regional Hospital in Anchorage, because my mucus plug came out and I thought my water had broken, but it turns out that my bladder had only leaked a bit. However, while they were checking me, they told me that the mucus plug was gone, that my cervix was 100% effaced, AND that I was already 3 centimeters dilated. Mom then told me that when she was pregnant with my brother and I, she was 3 centimeters dilated for two weeks before we were born. She reassured me that I was probably still going to be waiting a little while longer for Brayden to come. So we went home after getting some breakfast from McDonald's, and carried on through the day.
July 22nd, Mom and I got up early to carpool to work. I was feeling achy and tired from the Braxton Hicks contractions I had been having all month. The contractions I had that morning I hardly noticed (probably because they didn't feel painful at all), and so I carried on through the typical morning at Starbucks, and was glad to be headed home when Mom had finished up in her office. Over the next few hours I started to feel very achy, and I sat in the bathroom for almost 30 mins thinking I was constipated. I gave up, and headed upstairs to watch Switched at Birth while we ate burritos and Spanish rice for dinner. (Through out the whole time since I had gotten home from work, I had been texting Brandon. He was hanging out with some friends after work, and had promised to be home before 10pm.) I had started to get agitated because it was almost 11:30pm, and Brandon still hadn't arrived at home. He texted me that he was now leaving his friend's house and was on his way. I started to think "just watch, my water is going to break one night when he is out with his friends, and my parents will have to take me to the hospital." And then.... POP "Oh sh*t, what do ya know?" I look over at mom and Ruben and tell them I just felt a pop while I was relaxing on the couch. I go into the nearby bathroom, and sure enough my pants are starting to soak. That's when I realized that I wasn't aching because I was constipated. I was aching because I was having regular contractions, and it only felt like I was constipated. Mom says to start timing my contractions. (And guess what? I used an app for that!) I sat back down and after five minutes I start saying "Ow-Ow-Ow" and start to squirm in the chair. We realized after looking at my contraction app, that we should go to hospital right away. I call Brandon and let him know that we are going to the hospital.
Right before we passed Mat-Su Regional Medical Center, Mom realized that there was no way we were going to make it out to Anchorage with how fast my contractions were coming and going. So Ruben takes us to the ER doors at Mat-Su Regional, and Mom and I get out of the car and go in. The nurse at the counter starts asking me how close my contractions are, and as I start to answer, another contraction hits me hard. The nurse calls someone to get a wheel chair after my Mom finishes my answer for me, and they wheel me towards the Birthing Center while my Mom fills checks me in.
It's now just after midnight, about 30 minutes after my water had broken. The nurse has me in a special area where they can monitor my contractions, and vitals. They had me change into a hospital gown, and were hooking me up to a monitor as Brandon and the rest of the family joined me in our area. Another nurse comes and checks my cervix and confirms that my water has broken. She also told us that I was 5 centimeters dilated. At this point the contractions start coming every minute and I start losing track of the time. The pain starts to become to much to handle and some point I started screaming. After that the nurses showed us to my room, where I would be laboring, and then delivering. If I'm remembering correctly, Mom and Brandon had to support my walking to my room in before the next contraction started.
The room was very nice, and it had it's own bathroom which had a very large bathtub/ shower. Mom turned the shower on so it was nice and hot. I got in and tried to breathe and relax with the contractions. I remember standing and moving my legs and hips a lot with the water hitting my back. It helped for a few minutes, but then the pain became so unbearable that I couldn't stand anymore. Mom helped me dry off, and get into the bed. From that point on I kept screaming, squirming, all while Brandon stayed by my side and held my hand. Mom keeps telling me to breathe through it, but I couldn't help but scream and cry. This is when I really lose track of time. Meanwhile, while I had been getting out of the shower, the doctor or nurse had told my mom that the anesthesiologist was in surgery and wouldn't be available for 30 mins. Before 2 am someone finally puts some kind of drug in my IV. Right afterwards, I realize that "oh wait a minute, my body has been trying to tell me that I need to push" and at the moment I kind of look at my Mom and say "I need to push."
Around this time I start getting loopy from the drugs and it becomes hard to focus. The doctor comes in and starts working her magic, and we start pushing with each contraction. The whole room is filled with anticipation. Brayden starts to crown. Then finally the doctor says to stop pushing and she slides him out. They immediately put him on my chest, and I swear it was the most serene moment I had ever experienced. The pain immediately stopped. Brandon cut the cord, and after that it's a bit of a blur because the drugs finally completely kicked in.
The nurses did everything they needed to do with him in the room, and when they gave him back to me, they had me start breastfeeding him. Once everything settled down it was just the family and I in the room with little Brayden. Once the drugs wore off, Mom told me something funny. Apparently, the first time I pushed, I peed on the doctor. I had had no idea until she told me! And I can honestly say that I'm not embarrassed at all. In fact to this day I still think it's hilarious.
Anyways, Brayden was born at 2:02am Alaska time on July 23rd. He weighed 6lbs and 14oz, and was 20.25 inches from head to toe. Here are some pictures from his first day of life on earth!
Brayden is 3 months old now, and is a very social baby. He's also very vocal when he plays. I hope you enjoyed my story, and I'd love to hear about yours if you have one! Ta-ta!
The room was very nice, and it had it's own bathroom which had a very large bathtub/ shower. Mom turned the shower on so it was nice and hot. I got in and tried to breathe and relax with the contractions. I remember standing and moving my legs and hips a lot with the water hitting my back. It helped for a few minutes, but then the pain became so unbearable that I couldn't stand anymore. Mom helped me dry off, and get into the bed. From that point on I kept screaming, squirming, all while Brandon stayed by my side and held my hand. Mom keeps telling me to breathe through it, but I couldn't help but scream and cry. This is when I really lose track of time. Meanwhile, while I had been getting out of the shower, the doctor or nurse had told my mom that the anesthesiologist was in surgery and wouldn't be available for 30 mins. Before 2 am someone finally puts some kind of drug in my IV. Right afterwards, I realize that "oh wait a minute, my body has been trying to tell me that I need to push" and at the moment I kind of look at my Mom and say "I need to push."
Around this time I start getting loopy from the drugs and it becomes hard to focus. The doctor comes in and starts working her magic, and we start pushing with each contraction. The whole room is filled with anticipation. Brayden starts to crown. Then finally the doctor says to stop pushing and she slides him out. They immediately put him on my chest, and I swear it was the most serene moment I had ever experienced. The pain immediately stopped. Brandon cut the cord, and after that it's a bit of a blur because the drugs finally completely kicked in.
The nurses did everything they needed to do with him in the room, and when they gave him back to me, they had me start breastfeeding him. Once everything settled down it was just the family and I in the room with little Brayden. Once the drugs wore off, Mom told me something funny. Apparently, the first time I pushed, I peed on the doctor. I had had no idea until she told me! And I can honestly say that I'm not embarrassed at all. In fact to this day I still think it's hilarious.
Anyways, Brayden was born at 2:02am Alaska time on July 23rd. He weighed 6lbs and 14oz, and was 20.25 inches from head to toe. Here are some pictures from his first day of life on earth!
Brayden is 3 months old now, and is a very social baby. He's also very vocal when he plays. I hope you enjoyed my story, and I'd love to hear about yours if you have one! Ta-ta!
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