Wednesday, June 14th 2017
That evening I worked my last shift at WestJet and my sister flew in on our flight! I was SO excited for that flight to get in! Once my sister arrived and I got to hug her I instantly felt relieved and ready for baby boy to make his arrival. That was one of my biggest worries before I went into labor was thinking of who was going to watch Harbor for us. Something you don't have to think about with the birth of you first baby! So knowing that my sister was here and that I had just finished my last day of work I felt ready to have this baby!
Thursday, June 15th 2017
Thursday morning I had a membrane sweep scheduled with the OBGYN. I had purposely pushed the sweep back until my sister was in town JUST in case it actually did put me into labor. My sister, Chelsea stayed home with Harbor while Sean and I went to the appointment. Holy CRAP. That sweep was like no sweep I have ever had before! It literally took me off the table, made my eyes water and took my breath away. The OBGYN wasn't messing around. After the appointment I even told Sean, "If that sweep doesn't make me go into labor than I don't know what will!"
An hour later I had a hair appointment (it was the ONLY day I could get in and I desperately needed my hair done so had to do it!) I even joked telling my hair gal that I apologize in advance if my water breaks in her chair haha I was so uncomfortable and was in pain.. I felt beat up down there.
Later that evening my sister and I took Harbor to the park and I kept telling Chels that I just didn't feel the best. When we got back home I laid down on the couch and took a little nap. I just felt kind of off and sick. We had dinner, put Harbor down for bed and then washed up for bed myself. That night Sean slept in the guest room so my sister and I could sleep together (we always stay up late talking and catching up).
10:00 pm
I started to get some stronger contractions. "A good one" is what I always say when I have to close my eyes and breathe through the pain! After laying in bed and chatting for a while Chelsea dozed off, but I just couldn't sleep through the contractions. I ended up waking her up once they seemed closer together. Chelsea timed them and said, "Yeah they are like 3 minutes apart Ash! You should fix up, do what you need to do before heading into the hospital and I will go wake up Sean." She was right.. while brushing my teeth and grabbing my stuff the contractions got WAY more intense. Before we headed out the door I tip toed into Harbor's room and rubbed her head and said bye. (I couldn't lean over her crib anymore to kiss her with my huge belly!) While walking to the garage I started to tear up.. Harbor won't be my only baby anymore and I already felt like I missed her. I felt a mix of emotions I just couldn't explain.
Friday, June 16th 2017
2:50 am
When we got to the hospital they checked me and I was at about 3 cm dilated. My contractions were about 3 minutes apart. I was given a shot of Morphine/Gravol to help with the pain a bit. I honestly didn't feel like it helped at all. It made me feel a bit tired, but that was it. Sean walked the halls with me and I also labored on an exercise ball until the nurse came in to check me again.
4:00 am
I was 4 cm dilated and contractions were still strong so they admitted me and we checked in to room #3. Once we got into our room Sean ran the bath for me and I labored in the bath. I felt calm and focused in the bath. Sean played the music playlist that I had created (it was actually the playlist I created for Harbor's labor and delivery but I never used it) and it was so nice to try and relax, listen to the music and focus on it. I felt like that really made a difference for me. It was peaceful and exactly what I was hoping for.
6:00 am
My nurse came in to check on me and said I should hop out of the bath so they can check me again. I was 6 cm dilated and baby boy had dropped a lot lower. I then stayed out of the bath for the rest of my laboring. At this point I started inhaling Entinox (laughing gas) to help me breathe during contractions. The laughing gas definitely didn't take the pain away, but helped me focus on my deep breathing. When we first had checked into the hospital I was very honest and open with my nurse about my birth with my first child and how anxious and nervous I was about this delivery. I told her this time around I am definitely open to having an epidural. She was very positive and kept reminding me that it was going to be a different scenario this time around and that I CAN do it. I appreciated her positivity and I remember just telling myself that, "I CAN do this!"
6:24 am
8 cm dilated
8:10 am
9 cm dilated
9:24 am
My water still hadn't broke so the doctor said if it didn't soon he would break it. I started receiving doses of Fentanyl to help with pain. I started to doze off in-between contractions.
10:34 am
I was fully dilated, the doctor broke my water and I started pushing. No more Fentanyl or laughing gas could be given.
While pushing I tried in multiple different positions. Laying on my back, kneeling and hugging the back of the bed, standing and wrapping my arms around Sean, squatting on the side of the bed and even sitting on the toilet. I didn't really find one position more effective than another so I ended up laying on the bed for the most part. Sean kept giving me juice to sip on and kept putting cool cloths on me from the freezer that my sister had previously made up and froze. The cloths were frozen with water and lavender oil in them. I do remember them feeling really good in the moment cause i was really hot and sweating. I remember asking Sean and the nurses over and over if I was making progress. During the excruciating pain I needed to hear that I was getting somewhere! They did say I was making progress and that baby boy's head was crowning and the had dark hair!
11:00am
My nurse said to me, "He is right there Ashley! You will have baby boy in your arms by 11:15am!" and I couldn't believe that she really thought I was going to push this baby out within 15 minutes!
12:00 pm
Still pushing...
12:30pm
I was still pushing, but baby boy was now stuck and I wasn't making progress. :( The nurses were calling my doctor, but just my luck he was in the middle of a c-section! This was the part of the delivery that felt like it took forever. I was in SO much pain, felt so much pressure and kept pushing, but baby boy wasn't moving! It was awful. I remember at this point feeling so weak and telling Sean that I didn't think I could go any longer.
1:20pm
My doctor finally arrived and explained to me that he would be using a vacuum to help get baby boy out. I pushed while he pulled and oh my gosh I just wanted baby boy to be out!! The doctor told me he was going to need to do an episiotomy.. When he told me that I really started to panic. After a few more contractions...
1:37pm
Cove was born!
7lbs 13oz
21.25"
My sweet baby boy has arrived! Such a surreal moment holding your baby for the first time. I was so in love and so relieved!
So later on when the doctor came into our room to come check on Cove and I he explained to me that he had actually pushed back his scheduled surgery because he had thought I was going to be delivering right away when I was making progress, but as my progression slowed down he wasn't able to push back the c-section any further! He also explained the anesthesiologist was tied up with him during the c-section so when I was asking for an epidural (after pushing for 2 hours) I wasn't able to get one! This was the hardest part about the delivery.. I felt as though everything went pretty smooth up until he got stuck and I wasn't making any progress. I asked for an epidural but I kept being told, "He is RIGHT there Ashley! You can do this!" but he didn't come right away! It was very frustrating and in the moment I felt so defeated. The doctor also explained to me that he didn't leave his c-section to assist me because both baby and I had good vitals.
Proud dada!
Meeting auntie!
Meeting his big sister!
My recovery after Cove's birth was much better than my recovery with Harbor (thank you God). I did have an episiotomy but I didn't tear any further. I was happy the laboring went pretty smoothly, but I would be lying if I said the delivery was easier.. the long hours of pushing and him needing to be vacuumed out made me feel disappointed, BUT I have a healthy beautiful baby boy and it was all worth it!
xo
