Anderson's Birth Story

It all started on Thursday morning, 4/28/2011, when I was having a very strange feeling. The only way I can describe it is that it felt like the baby was scratching me every time I took a step or stood up from sitting or when I had a Braxton Hicks contraction. It was just very strange...almost like the baby was trying to claw it way out! I called my OB and since I was on the schedule to be seen the next morning, they told me to come in to the office for an earlier appointment instead of waiting until the next day. So, Owen and I headed in. At my appointment, there was no change from the previous week...still closed tight. So, I headed back home, assuming it would most likely be closer to the due date before the baby arrived. But, clearly, God had different plans! All evening, I continued to have that same feeling. Then, when I went to bed, I kept having to go to the bathroom. I can't tell you why, but it just seemed like I had to go all night long. At around 4:30am Friday, 4/29/2011, I started getting really crampy. That lasted until about 5:20am, when I had my first real contraction. I had been having Braxton Hicks contractions since about 20 weeks, so I could definitely tell the difference when this one came. 10 minutes later, I had another one. I woke Randy up around 6:30am and told him that I thought something may be starting, but that I wasn't too sure it would last once I was up and moving. I turned on the TV and watched a little bit of the Royal Wedding. At about 7am, after an hour and a half of contractions every 10 minutes, I decided I would get up and take a shower to see if they continued or if they would go away. While I was in the shower, I had 2 contractions that were both followed by a "gush" feeling and a "splat" on the bathtub floor. I was pretty sure that was my water breaking, but being that I was in the shower, I thought I might be fooling myself. So, after my shower, I called my OB and spoke to the doctor on call. She asked, "Are you going to come join my party today?" To which I replied, "Oh, it must be a busy day in labor and delivery?" She said it was beyond crazy! I told her what was going on and she gave me the option to either come to the hospital and wait out the massive overflow in labor and delivery or to go to the office and get checked to see if indeed my water had broken. We opted to go to the office versus potentially making an L&D run and being there all day for nothing. I was really starting to second guess my instinct that my water had broken because I didn't have any "trickle" or any more "gushes" since the shower. But, I continued to have contractions every 10 minutes, so I was certain there was something going on, I just wasn't sure it would be THE day. On the way to the doctor, Randy said that he had a feeling we would be told nothing was going to happen anytime soon and to go back home. I knew better, but just shook my head. He said that if it was the time, he would say "you're right!" So, when we arrived, the doctor took one look and said, "well, yes, there is a huge puddle of water in there...you have most definitely ruptured your membranes!" I was 1 centimeter by that point and we were sent to labor and delivery to have Baby #2! I pointed to Randy and said, "what are you supposed to say?!" That's right, I WAS right! Surprisingly, we were both very calm and joking around all the way to the hospital (in between contractions, of course). At the hospital, things were absolutely insane! There were tons of people in the waiting room and every triage room and L&D suite was full...they have 22 suites, if that tells you anything. So, we had to wait a little while before getting seen in triage, then we were there for about an hour. By the time we left triage, I was still only 1 centimeter, but my contractions were sometimes as close as 4 minutes apart. Things weren't consistent and I wasn't progressing, so we knew when we got to our room, I would be getting pitocin to get my labor going stronger. About 30 minutes after arriving in our room, the nurse came in and said that the baby's heartrate had accelerated and wasn't going back down, so there was some concern. But, after my doctor took a look, she reassured us that she didn't think there was any problem. She said she was actually coming in to discuss the possibility of a c-section due to what the nurses had told her, but when she looked at the pattern, she was very comfortable with what she saw and thought we could continue with starting pitocin. Prior to the pitocin starting, I was tolerating my contractions pretty well. Apparently I was having them every 3-4 minutes, but I was really only feeling painful ones every 5-8 minutes or so. That all ended when the pitocin kicked in! Holy smokes, things really got going within a short time of starting the pitocin! I cannot believe the difference that stuff can make...one with the strength of contractions and two, with the progress that it can bring. When I started it, I was still only 1 centimeter. But, within about an hour and a half, I was already 3.5 centimeters! It did NOT take me long after starting the pitocin to ask for the epidural. When it started kicking in, the contractions got really strong and were about 2-4 minutes apart. By the time the anesthesiologist arrived, they were 1-1.5 minutes apart and really, really hurting! I have to say that I was pretty proud of myself for staying calm and quiet and not letting myself get out of control. I think Randy was shocked that I wasn't screaming, but I knew that isn't how I handle pain, so I figured I wouldn't. However, I did think I might let out a few choice words. But, I only did that once and that was when I got a contraction at the exact moment I was sitting indian style and was supposed to remain completely still and relaxed for my epidural. THAT was NOT easy!! I quite possibly may have bent Randy's fingers backwards at that moment, but I can't say for sure...thank God they didn't snap ;) Once the epidural kicked in, I was in Heaven! I kept saying that I don't understand why any woman would choose to go without drugs...it was so much more relaxing once that kicked in. Our nurse said, "honey, we don't give gold stars to women who choose to go natural!" From that point on, they told me they would not check me unless I was feeling something different at the risk of infection since my water had broken. My Mom arrived around 6:30 and I was so relieved that she had made it in time to be there for the birth! So, sometime around 8:30pm, I was all of a sudden feeling my contractions down low...not exactly pressure, but just a much lower contraction. So, Dr. Hazel came in and checked me...I was at 7 centimeters and the baby was "sunny side up", hence the reason for the strange feeling. I was very concerned at that point because I knew that "sunny side up" could mean pushing for a long time and very painful. But, I just tried to remain optimistic and calm. About 45 minutes later, I began feeling the pressure, so again Dr. Hazel checked me and I was 10 centimeters! I was shocked that it had happened that fast. Also, the baby had turned in that short time and was not "sunny side up" anymore...smart baby! So, it was go time and I started the pushing process. I have to say I had no idea what to expect, but I for sure did not expect to be so worn out. Holding my breath and pushing was much harder than what I ever anticipated. I guess they don't call it labor for nothing! I kept wanting to go to sleep between pushes, I was so tired! I pushed for about an hour and towards the end, the nurses had to tell me to stop because they had to get the doctor ready...it was time for the baby to come out! The last thing I wanted to do was stop pushing at that point, but if I had of, I dont think anyone would have been there y]to "catch" the baby! Thoughout the labor, the baby's heartrate was doing some funky things and I kept having to change sides and have some oxygen. So, they had the pediatricians and NICU nurses in the room for the delivery, just in case. When the baby's head came out, the doctor said, "well, that's why you are having some heartrate issues, you have 3 necklaces!" Yep, the cord was wrapped around the neck 3 times. At that point, I was sort of freaking out because I could see it and all I wanted was to get the baby out and have everything be OK. But, the doctor was very calm and there was no sense of urgency. Apparently, because the heartrate was still stable, there was no room for concern. Once the baby was delivered, Dr. Hazel very calmly unwrapped the cord and said, "well, I was right!" During the labor, she was predicting girl, so I immediately knew that she meant it was a GIRL!! At 10:26pm on 4/29/2011, Anderson Leigh Voelp was born. She was 5 lbs 10 ozs and 19.25 inches long. At that moment, when they laid her on my chest, all of my fears and worries and anxieties of having a girl disappeared! In an instant my heart grew bigger for my precious new baby! I was worried that I may not have enough room in my heart for this new baby, but it is truly amazing how your heart really does just grow! She is just perfect and we are so in love!