Kevin and I wanted to share both sides of our experience with Remington's grand arrival! We had prayed over and longed for this amazing blessing for a long time, so we are excited to share it with you! This is my (Alysa's) version of the birth story. Enjoy!
On Friday, May 2 (also our 5th year anniversary) I had a routine doctor appointment with one of the midwives at Kaiser. I was one day shy of being 39 weeks pregnant and anxious to meet our little guy! Since my doctor had stripped my membranes the week before at another appointment and nothing substantial happened, the midwife proceeded to strip them again. If you don't know what stripping membranes are, it's where a doctor separates the cervix from the uterus. It's an uncomfortable, but quick procedure that supposedly releases labor inducing hormones. Well, it worked for me the second time! Within hours after the appointment I began feeling minor contractions. By 6:00pm that night, the contractions were steadily becoming stronger. By 10:00pm, my contractions were super painful and within 1-2 minutes apart. Even though the contractions felt like the real thing (and made me feel a little crazed), I was still unsure because everything I had read and heard had said to wait until contractions were five minutes apart for at least one hour before going to the hospital. Well, my contractions were only five minutes apart for about 20 minutes until they quickly increased to 1-2 minutes apart. Because of this, I thought I was having false labor. After a few phone calls to Kaiser's Labor and Delivery department, Kev and I finally decided to go ahead and drive to the hospital at 11:30pm. I barely remember the drive over as I was focusing on breathing and getting through the pain of several contractions.
After we checked in at Kaiser, a nurse assessed me and informed us that I was in active labor, was dilated to 4cm, and that we were going to have a baby soon! It felt so surreal, especially since we expected them to send us home. I did not feel ready at that point, but was looking forward to an epidural and meeting my son!
Forty-five minutes later I received my wonderful epidural! It felt really strange going in and I flinched twice (which you are not supposed to do... right!), but I felt great within seconds! I finally had relief, but I was too excited/nervous to get some sleep before the hard part began. Everyone kept telling me to rest up because I would need it and I really wish I would have, but I just couldn't sleep! The midwife told me I would most likely be fully dilated and ready to push by 11am the next morning (May 3rd). It seemed to go by quickly and I felt really unprepared. I became increasingly anxious as 11am drew closer. I can't recall exactly when, but somewhere in the early morning hours the midwife had to break my water since it hadn't happened yet. Shortly after that, I began to spike a fever. The nurses kept reassuring us the fever was caused from them breaking my water, but it sure was annoying, especially during the last stage of labor.
The midwife checked my progress one last time around 11am and we were good to go! Kevin, my mom, and my mother-in-law, Kelly, were all in the delivery room with me for support and encouragement. Because of the epidural, I had a really hard time knowing how and where to push. It was strange because I could feel my contractions up until it was time to push. Because I couldn't feel the contractions very well anymore, I began to get very frustrated. I was scared and felt like I was doing everything wrong. The midwife decided to lower the epidural dosage to the lowest setting (from a 12 to an 8.. whatever that means) and also added Pitocin to increase the feeling of the contractions. Well, that just sent me over the edge! I felt everything at this point and became a crazy woman! You know those movies and shows where you see the sweaty lady screaming and yelling during childbirth? Well, that was me. I felt out of my mind! I kept having panic attacks and saying I couldn't do it and didn't want to do it. It was a very scary experience for me. The nurse had to keep getting in my face and telling me to listen to her and that I needed to do this for my baby. I was so thankful we had asked our moms to be in the room with us. It was comforting having my mom there and Kelly was amazing with coaching me through it all! I pushed for almost two hours before Remington was finally out. I felt so embarrassed afterward because I was so crazy!
When Remington's head appeared, I heard the midwife yell, "Cord around the neck! One time!" After I pushed him the rest of the way out, a NICU team swept him up to the baby station on the side of the room. He had peed and pooped inside of me, so they had to make sure he didn't ingest any of it. Little did I know that he had also flat-lined at the end and wasn't breathing right away until the NICU team had him. Kevin did a good job of helping me stay calm after he was born and not letting on that there was anything wrong. I was just relieved he was out and that I could finally relax. I was beyond exhausted!
After a few minutes of laying back in a stupor, I was finally able to think somewhat clearly again. The midwife and Kevin kept telling me to look at my baby. I heard them through the fogginess of my tired brain and looked over to where I heard Rem crying as the NICU team was doing what they do. That was the sweetest sound! I looked over at Kevin and saw him crying with joy. A few minutes later, they laid my son in my arms for the first time! It felt so foreign, but familiar at the same time. I had given birth to a son and he was perfect.
Childbirth was not how I expected it to be at all, which I am sure every mother can attest to. It was horrible, it was messy, it was exhausting... but it was also the best and most challenging thing that I have ever done! And now, looking back (and still a bit traumatized), I am so thankful for the experience. God took us on a crazy journey and He blessed us with a beautiful son.
