A Birth Story... Benjamin Silas.

About two weeks before this story starts. We had a false alarm. We thought my water had broken, so we rushed to the hospital... With full out excitement. When we got there, I was still leaking a tiny bit but I wasn't contracting. They made me stay overnight, walk for two hours, which was very hard I must say. They set up an IV, did blood-work and everything. I did not sleep one bit, and to top it off, I was a bit sick, and the cold air in the room irritated my throat, and I had a huge cough attack. After being there all night the doctor came in to tell me that it was just a tiny rupture, to go home. I was really upset... And yes I cried. I couldn't help it. I couldn't hold the tears back. I really thought that was it...we would finally meet our baby. God knows why it wasn't time yet.

Now, the baby was 5 days overdue, and I was schedule for induction on that upcoming Tuesday, which was actually the day he decided to come, the 17^th.  So there was no need for the induction.

I started contracting on Saturday night, the 14^th.I woke up a few times to a contraction but it took me Until 6 am, on Sunday morning, to realize they were actually contractions. That's when I said to Ruben] "Ruben, I think I'm having contractions". We then, got up, and made our way to the kitchen. Oh we were up, it was finally time. We woke up my sisters, who were visiting that weekend. They were all sleeping in the living room. Before we knew it we were all up chatting and eating breakfast. We did not go out that day, as planned. One of my sisters was keeping track of my contractions as we played games, watched movies, and chatted to keep my mind off the pain. We even had a mini photo shoot with my talented sister, who also loves photography.  it was actually fun, and distracted me of what I was feeling.  My contractions were really far apart.

By the time my sisters left, my contractions were an average of 12 minutes apart. Ruben continued timing them and when they were about 7-9 mins apart, we decided it was time to head to the hospital, It was around 7pm. So, we headed to the hospital...only to be sent home, again. They pretty much told us to come back when the pain was so unbearable, I couldn't walk.  I got mad, not going to like and I told Ruben I was not coming back to the hospital until I was passed out from pain, and he had to carry me in.

It was a very long night. The contractions were gradually getting stronger and more painful, but they never seemed to get closer together, just longer and more painful. I felt as though as soon as I would fall asleep, a contraction would wake me up. So needless to say, I didn't get much sleep...again!

The next day, which was now Monday, was a hard day. We stayed in all day again, and we did everything to keep my mind off the pain. We watched movies, chatted, paced around the house, anything to try and distract me from the pain. I even tried to take a little nap through one of the movies

Around 4ish, the contraction had become really painful. That's when I said to Ruben "ok, we need to go to the hospital, I can't take the pain anymore". Exactly right after that statement, I felt the strongest contraction ever, and suddenly I felt like something popped and water started trickled down. I yelled "ah! Ruben my water just broke", and ran to the bathroom. I took a shower, while Ruben got the car ready, and shortly after we were at the hospital.  After I arrived I was admitted immediately.

Eek! This was it! We were finally going to meet our baby. In my mind it would meet the baby right away but it took longer than expected.

I was 3cm dilated and contracting alright, but the contractions were not close enough. The nurses sent me to walk for about 30min to see if that would help me contract more. It felt like the longest walk 30 minutes ever, and was really hard.

Ruben was really great though. He walked with me, and held my hand. He waited patiently when I had to stop because of a contraction. He held me when I told him I couldn't go on, and encouraged me. He was the greatest support!

When I returned to the room, I had what seemed like the longest contraction ever. Even the nurse felt it, and she timed it at 5 minutes long.  That is the moment I decided to get the epidural.

After, what seemed like an eternity, the anesthesiologist finally walked in. I was really nervous about getting the epidural, I thought it was going to be extremely painful but, it actually wasn't that bad, and it worked almost immediately. The only thing was, that it was too high in my chest, which is bad for your lungs, so they had to turn it off, wait for some of it to wear off, and lower the dosage. This time it didn’t really work though, it worked in patches on my body.  Of course, in all the areas that didn’t really matter. The nurse said I was a very strange case.  So they gave me another medicine, which was to be given every 2 hours...and it worked for a little bit, and I was able to relax, and take a little nap, until it wore off. They also gave me a hormonal medicine to get my contraction closer together.

By the time medicine wore off. My contraction were closer, and really strong. This time I was getting a really strong urge to push. My body was, pretty much, telling me it was time. I let the nurse know, and she checked, and yes. It was time to push.

The nurse then said to me "Since it's your first time, you will be pushing for 1-3 hours. Ok?" I said ok, but my thoughts were “I CAN’T DO THIS”   but to my surprise after the first push, the nurse said again "oh..ok...you are NOT going to be pushing for an hour"  relief.

Pushing was the hardest thing I've had to do in my life. I almost gave up. Good thing, Ruben was there by my side and kept encouraging me and when I saw the top of the baby’s head (they forced me to look in the mirror) it was definitely a boost of encouragement. My thoughts changed to “YES, I can do this!”

At 4:16am, and after 30mins of pushing... I got to see the baby come out. Yep, I saw it in the mirror they forced me to watch. I’m not sure how long it took him to cry, but it felt like a while because I was waiting in suspense.  I said to Ruben “Why isn’t he crying?” and that’s when I heard that cry and I was filled with so much joy and relief.

The most precious moment, and the moment that made it worth it all, is when they handed me that precious little baby, and I held him in my arms. I saw the little human that had been growing inside of me, kicking and moving. He was so beautiful, and amazing, and I was filled with tremendous joy and love, and I just wanted to hold him, and never let go. That is the moment that makes you forget it all...it like time stops for a moment, and you forget everything that's still happening. It's just You and your baby. 

Everything happened so fast, before I knew it, they had examined my baby and handed him to my husband. I remember looking over at Ruben, holding our son. He looked so happy. I will never forget it. You could tell that he loved Benjamin as much as I did. I asked to let me hold him again, and he said "No, he's mine...” lol. The nurses told him to keep the baby warm. 

Finally the moment arrived to go to our room. That moment everyone talks about...when they sit you in a wheel chair, hand you the baby, and you make your way to your room... and the other people you encounter look at you, wishing they were you... You can't help but feel proud.  
 

Overall I had a good labour. I managed to stay calm, smile with the nurses and even crack a joke while pushing. The Doctor and the nurses said that they had been waiting for a good labour like mine, and they were impressed at how good it was.

The truth is that it wasn't me, it was all the prayers. I know that God was with me the whole time, and I am eternally grateful to Him. What a mighty God we serve!

It was quite an experience I will never forget. It's the end of one journey but also the beginning of a new one...

 

 Benjamin Silas 

January 17th, 2012 @ 4:16am

7lbs 1oz