I just read Brittany's birth story.... I feel bad that mine just focuses on all the bad things that happen to myself and Jonah. But what's worse is that I can't remember the good things. I was so exhausted by the end of everything and in so much pain from my tears. It was also like a dream. Surely, I didn't have a baby! It's a surreal feeling. I feel bad that I'm so negative sometimes.... So here.... Here's more of the story with more happier things mixed in.
I'll skip to the pushing and everything after (that I didn't already write about). Imagine yourself laying on a bed in a very dark room with a bright spot light on your lower half. It was something like out of a movie. As soon as the OB told us to start pushing, Jed went to our computer and put on my mix entitled "The Birth of Jonah". These were all songs that made me happy, like our two wedding songs and the new Five Iron Frenzy tune. Funny though... I didn't hear it at all. I was too focused on pushing. My legs were like jelly and I had trouble holding them up when it came time to push. At this point my contractions were still irregular (a gift from my mother apparently. she had them too). Jed was on my right leg and the nurse was on the left. The nurse was awesome at coaching me with each push. Jed did the talking in between pushes, telling me that I was doing a great job and that he loved me. He even took charge when the nurse stepped out to get the doctor. I was having a contraction, so he grabbed both of my legs and counted for me like the nurse did. He watched it all despite not really thinking he would want too. Jed said that it was "weird" seeing my body do some of the things it did. Almost "unnatural" looking, like I shouldn't be able to do that.
When the OB was preparing the vacuum, floods of new people/nurses came in. Within the first 5 pushes his head was out. It was a weird feeling when he was coming down. I was amazed how fast it was happening. Dr. Burns told me it wouldn't take long with the vacuum but I almost didn't believe her. We had to take a small break because the cord was wrapped around his head. She had me push 3 more times to get the shoulders out. I remember her pulling me down/open with the force of a body slam. I screamed in pain that time. Jed can't believe that Jonah could withstand that amount of pressure. The doc got her whole self into that pull. That was the worse part. I believe that's the moment I teared. Oh, one cool thing was that when Jonah came out of me on the Five Iron Frenzy song :)
The second he was free he was whisked away to the warming table. I didn't even get to see him and with all the nurses swarming him at the warming station I couldn't see anything. It took awhile for him to scream. They said it was because he was a little stunned. I had to go by Jed's reaction. Jed told a picture and brought it over to me. I was too exhausted at this point to complain or ask questions.
Passing the placenta was a piece of cake. I don't even remember pushing it out. I think Dr. Burns just wiggled it out. I was trying to catch a peek at my baby, listening to everything the nurses were saying to each other (though I forget everything) and not really paying attention to what she was doing.
The stitching was another story though. I won't get into that though.... trying to stay positive. After the stitching was done, they poured a bucket of warm soapy water on me and then another of pain warm water. I think at this point they bought him to me. I don't remember how I felt at this point. It was more like a dream and not something that was happening in real life. I think I was slightly in shock from all the pain and everything that just happen too. We did try breastfeeding right then. I remember the nurse saying how awesome he was with latching. He latched and stay on my breast. I don't remember when we stopped or if it hurt at that point. The moment I held him to the point they took him to the nursery is a blur. Which is sad, because that's the best part.
The unhooked me from all the IVs and monitors. The nurse had to empty my bladder one last time. They brought me apple juice and ginger ale. I had something to eat, but I don't remember what I had. I remember that despite being so hungry and not able to eat for 24 hours I had no appetite at this point. I was shaking uncontrollably at one point. The nurse covered me with extra blankets.
They transferred me to another bed super carefully. It felt really weird being carted to the second floor via bed. The nurse who took care of me when I got there was so sweet. She was dressed from head to toe in black. I forget the religion that requires everything to be covered but the face.... She was quite, but sweet. I'll stop here... the rest involves alot of blood, blurry moments of breast feeding, tons of people coming in and out of our room, and lots of sleeplessness.
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