The Birth Story

We got to the hospital at 8pm and it felt a bit like checking into a hotel. We walked in with our bags and were greeted by a nurse who let us in and showed us to our room. I changed into a gown, gave a urine sample, got my IV hooked up and got me and the baby hooked up to the contraction and heart rate monitors. They started fluids and medicine because I was Strep B positive, and checked how dilated I was. I was really hoping I would be more dilated than at my appointment the day before, but was still only 2cm dilated and 50% effaced. After talking with my doctor, the nurse had me take cytotec at 9:30pm. 

We watched Forgetting Sarah Marshall while we waited for something to happen. The nurse informed me that the plan was for me to take the cytotec every 4 hours and then start pitocin at 7am. When the nurse came in at 12:45 she informed me that I was having contractions every 2-3 minutes and that as long as the contractions stayed steady like that they wouldn't give me more cytotec. The cramps only felt like slight period cramps and I had a tiny bit of back pain (although that might have been from the uncomfortable bed). My pain level (which was at a 0 for quite a while) was at 1 at that point (mainly because I figured I had to say at least 1 since I felt something), but I barely felt the contractions. It felt very similar to when I went to the hospital for my pre-term contractions. After we finished Forgetting Sarah Marshall, we decided we should try to get some sleep. Nic had to sleep in a reclining chair so I'm sure he got a pretty bad night of sleep. My hospital bed was a bit uncomfortable, the room was a bit cold and the nurse kept waking me up every so often when she would come in to check on me. Overall though, I slept pretty comfortably considering. 

By 7:20, a new nurse came in and checked me again. She said I was about 1-2cm dilated. I about had a heart attack!! Was I going backwards?! I told her both my doctor and the other nurse had said I was at 2cm and she said it was a generous 2. :( She did say that my cervix was much softer though and she started the pitocin. 

At 8:25, Dr. Nelson came in and broke my water. It was so weird! It felt like I had peed all over myself, but with jacuzzi water. Nic said I had such a weird look on my face when it happened. Then water just kept pouring out, especially whenever I would laugh. She also inserted a contraction monitor and did an ultrasound to check baby's position. He was straight up and down with his back facing out and his head down, so he was in the right position. Thank goodness!! Dr. Nelson said I was now closer to 3cm dilated and mentioned that now that my water had been broken the contractions should get quite a bit stronger and more painful. She wanted them to be above 60% each time. So we watched the monitor and every contraction started to go above the mark. I still wasn't in pain and actually thought the contractions were kind of cool. I would tell Nic when I thought I was having one and he would confirm on the monitor. I think during the contractions, I was maybe at a 3 pain wise, but still nothing bad and nothing like I imagined. 

Dr. Nelson and the nurse had mentioned that I could get my epidural at any point and the nurse reminded me that if I waited until I absolutely had to have it the anesthesiologist may not be available at that point as she has surgeries, etc. I really wanted to wait as long as possible because I had heard the epidural slows things down, plus I kind of wanted to see what all this labor pain was about since so far it had been so easy. The nurse came by around 10 and mentioned that the anesthesiologist was administering an epidural for someone else and recommended that I get mine afterwards while she was here. I figured I must be dilated to a 4 by that point and figured I might as well just get the epidural now.

At 10:20 the epidural was administered. I thought I would be nervous about it, but I wasn't at all. It felt a bit weird and I was a bit paranoid about moving so I held perfectly still the entire procedure. Even when she was just washing the area, etc. She actually made a few comments about the fact that I had held perfectly still during a few rather large contractions and that she wished all her patients could be like me. (Of course the perfectionist/overachiever in me was so happy to have impressed her). The epidural was so cool. I thought it felt bizarre going in, then the trickle down my back and the ice test were all so interesting too. A few minutes later, the nurse put the catheter in and checked my dilation again. She said I was still only 2-3cm and the baby was still high. I was so disappointed! First, I was getting annoyed at how slow I was progressing and Second, I was a bit bummed that I had gotten the epidural so early on. At that point they decided to up the pitocin to move things along. I continued to marvel at the strange sensation of my legs getting fuzzier and heavier. The nurse would come in about every 20 minutes to help me roll over. The first couple of times, I could help roll over (they seemed surprised, so I'm assuming it took longer to kick in because I'm so tall), then all of a sudden, I went to help with the roll over and my second leg just flopped back down of the bed. It made me laugh so hard as I realized I had absolutely no control over it. 

We decided to watch the Hangover to kill some more time. Watching comedies was the best idea ever. We spent most of my labor laughing hysterically. 

By 1:20pm, I was 80% effaced, 4cm dilated and baby was still high at -2. At least we were finally making some progress!! At this point, they decided to up the pitocin. Sometime in the afternoon, my mom, Sabrina, Susan, Rob and Rachelle came by. Of course my mom Sabrina and Rachelle were cracking tons of jokes and we spent the next couple of hours laughing hysterically. 

At 4pm, I was 100% effaced and 6-7cm dilated and the baby was at -1. Things were finally starting to move along. They decided to keep the pitocin the same (36). At that point everyone left to run some errands and Nic and I finished the Hangover. We asked the nurse about how much longer it would be and she said people usually progress about a centimeter an hour.

At 5:35pm, I mentioned to the nurse that I was feeling some pressure down below. She checked me and I was 9 1/2 centimeters dilated and the baby was at +1. I could slightly feel the contractions and during each one I had a slight urge to push. The nurse said whatever I do, do not push until I'm told to since I wasn't fully dilated yet. This was probably the hardest part of the whole process. I again could tell Nic exactly when I was having a contraction because I was having such a strong urge to push. It didn't hurt, but I had to stop talking and completely focus all my energy on not pushing with each contraction. At this point, everyone came back in and we got some photos. When they left again for the waiting room, I realized we were getting really close and the next time I saw them all I would be a mom.

At 6:20, the nurse said I could start pushing. At that moment, this wave of excitement and emotions came over me. After all the waiting and hanging out, it was time for me to actively try and get my baby out. I was a bit nervous! I did terrible the very first push and new it. I could tell exactly what I needed to do and had it down by the second push. It actually felt really good to push. Nic and the nurse were both very encouraging and said they could see the baby making progress with each push, which was exciting to hear. Nic was still cracking jokes constantly. In between pushes he would give me an ice chip and take two for himself and at one point he collapsed onto his recliner and said he was exhausted from all the hard work. All the nurses kind of gasped and waited for me to bite his head off, but when I started cracking up, so did everyone else and I think at that point the nurses realized that it was going to be a lighthearted atmosphere and delivery. Nic also made some other joke with impeccable timing that I for the life of me can't remember, which has been driving me crazy because it was so perfect. My doctor said something about how well everything was going because of the great nurses and how amazing I was pushing and Nic chimed in with something about a loving and supportive husband being the biggest key to how well the labor was going. 

Anyways, back to the pushing. At one point, my doctor started putting on all this gear and they placed a big mat on the ground and put my feet in the stirrups. At the point, I realized we must be getting close. I was getting really excited and nervous all at the same time. With every push, I would close my eyes and really focus all my energy into my body and pushing as hard as I could. My doctor kept saying things like "keep going" and "he is so close" and it really inspired me to push as long as I could (sometimes even a few seconds past the 2 sets of 10) and as hard as I could. Nic kept saying that he could see a tiny bit of his head and I could hear all the nurses talking about how he was going to be bald. Apparently Nic could also hear the nurses talking about how his head was never going to fit out of me (luckily I didn't hear that because that probably would have stressed me out). Apparently a part of Hudson's head had caught and was starting to swell. Dr. Nelson and the nurses started talking about what a big cone head he was going to have and we all had a laugh about it. Then (according to Nic) he and Dr. Nelson decided they would give me another push before taking action. Dr. Nelson told me that I wasn't tearing and something about it being too tight down there, so on the next push I ended up with an episiotimy. I again had my eyes closed and was focused on my pushing. All 5 or 6 of the nurses in the room were cheering me on  when all of a sudden Dr. Nelson said to stop pushing and one of the nurses told me to look at my baby. (That is the point in the story that chokes me up every time I tell it). I opened my eyes and looked down to see my little boys head! It was the most amazing moment!! It was so strange, but so incredible all at the same time! Then in another second, he kind of just slid out and a few seconds later my little boy was in my arms. Nic and I both had tears in our eyes and just stared in amazement at our son. Hudson Glenn Campbell was born at 7:18pm. He weighed 8 pounds 10 ounces and was 22 inches long. His first apgar score was 8.9 and his second was 9. Dr. Nelson and the nurses kept saying how amazed they were that Hudson's heart rate never dropped once the entire labor. They were especially surprised because of his head getting stuck. We also discovered that he had a big knot in his cord, which made the lack of heart dropping even more surprising. 

The next bit of time is all a blur. After Nic cut the cord, they weighed, measured and cleaned Hudson then brought him back to me. Then we tried breastfeeding for the first time, which was super bizarre. Dr. Nelson gave me a hug and told me I had done such a great job, then she admired the little guy and took a photo with us. Before we knew it almost an hour had gone by and we realized no one had gone and told everyone in the waiting room. Nic ran out to deliver the news and tell everyone they could come in to meet the little guy. Nic came back in first and held Hudson for the first time before our families came in. It was pretty amazing and emotional watching my parents, Nic's parents, Sabrina, Rachelle and Judy walk in. Everyone was crying! Hudson got passed around so he could meet everyone. Then we took about a million photos. It was such an amazing night!!

It was a very difficult decision for us, but Nic and I decided that we really wanted the birth of our first child to be shared just between the two of us, but we also really wanted photos of what we knew would be one of the best, most important moment of our lives. So we decided to hire a birth photographer. I know that might seem a bit weird to some people, but we figured there would be a bunch of nurses (strangers) in the room so why not have one more and get pictures of our son's birth. We hired Jade Brookbank, www.theletterbphotography.com, to do our maternity photos, birth photos, newborn photos, 6 month photos, and 1 year photos. She is amazing and we highly recommend her. Hiring her to capture Hudson's birth was the best decision ever! It all happened so fast and seems like a blur already, but every time we look at the photos all the memories and emotions from the day come flooding back. I know we are going to treasure these photos always!!

*On another note, we had a little contest amongst our families to see who could guess Hudson's arrival date and time, weight and height. Justin won the contest. :)