Brecken

October 4th, 2015

3:30 am  I woke up with a contraction that felt stronger than the random few I had in the days/weeks leading up to this day.  I didn't think much of it and tried to fall back asleep.  Within ten minutes another one came and I felt sort of sick to my stomach.  I spent the next thirty-forty minutes getting up and going to the bathroom each time I felt a contraction.  They were probably 10 minutes apart at this point. 

4:30 am  I told Brandon he should probably go do his chores and try to come home early because we would need to go to the hospital.  In my mind I didn't think we would need to be heading that way until at least 9 or 10 because labor progresses so slowly.  I decided to get in the shower because I couldn't sleep, and as I did I noticed I was having more contractions and they were getting a little more intense.  It took me almost an hour and a half to shower, get dressed, and dry my hair.  I was having contractions about 5 minutes apart and I didn't think that could be right so I started timing them.  

7:00 am  After timing my contractions and realizing that they were about 3 minutes apart, I called Brandon and told him to try and get home as soon as possible.  I also went and woke up my Mom and told her that we were going to the hospital.  I tried to get the rest of my bag packed, but I had to stop quite often for contractions.  

7:30 am  Brandon got home and Mom decided to follow behind us in her car.  I only ate a little yogurt because I felt gross and just wanted to get to the hospital.  

8:00 am Not exactly at 8, but close enough, we arrived at Logan Regional Hospital and started in to the 3rd floor.  I stopped three times for contractions before we made it to the check-in window.  After we got into our room, I dressed in the beautiful hospital gown and laid down.  They put in an IV and set up heart monitors on the baby and a contraction monitor on me.  I then got checked by my nurse, Aubree, and she said I was at a 6.  I was shocked!  I knew I was progressing, but that was really fast.  She asked me if I wanted an epidural and I said yes.  Brandon and I talked for a few minutes and he held my hand during contractions because they were pretty strong.  I had to get some fluids in me before the drugs, so we waited about 20 or so minutes. 

9:00 am  The anesthesiologist came in and very carefully gave me the epidural.  I actually did not feel anything except the small pricks that put in my back to numb the area.  I didn't even know he was finished until he told me to lay back down on the bed.  Within 30 minutes I was completely numb and felt great.  My nurse said to rest, so I tried.  

By 10:00 the doctor (mine was out of town) said that they should try to break my water.  Dr. Flansburg came in to do that, when she checked me I was at an 8 and she said my water was already broken!  I actually think it had started leaking a day or so prior, but I just thought it was fluid.  I was happy they didn't have to break it. My nurse said we should check me again in about an hour to see if I was complete.  I tried to rest my eyes while Brandon went to get some breakfast, but I couldn't fall asleep from the excitement I felt and the noise of the hospital.  When Mom brought him his food she came in the room and we all just talked and shared what we thought the baby was going to look like, weigh, etc.  I said that I thought he would be 8 pounds 3 oz, which turned out to be right on.  

At 11:00 the nurse came in and she checked me again.  She said I was completely dilated and we just had to wait an hour and then we could start pushing.  The whole process up to this point had been pretty seamless and I was only a little anxious about the pushing part.  The fact that I could not feel anything was making me feel confident about the rest of labor.  

At 12:00 Aubree came in and said we were going to start to push.  Mom left and Brandon and I got ready.  At the hospital they require that you push for 2 hours before the doctor can come in and assist you.  Because he was so low, she didn't think it would take very long to get him out.  As I started pushing I felt good and excited.  After an hour of pushing, she said that his head was struggling to come down through the pubic bone and she wasn't sure if I could get him out myself.  We kept pushing to no avail, and after two hours the doctor was called in.  If I couldn't get him out with the aide of the doctor then we would have to do a c-section.  Brandon and I both knew we didn't want that.  Dr. Horseley came in and told me that the baby's head needed to be turned and that with forceps we could try to push him out.  If that didn't work, then c-section it would be.  He said he wasn't sure if my little body could do it and I would have to push really hard.  Well, I did.  We pushed for about 30 more minutes.

3:03 pm  Brecken Todd Andrew was brought into this world with the help of forceps.  I felt his body leave mine and sort of just sighed in relief, excitement, joy, and exhaustion.  Brandon was in tears and we both were in love with this little boy covered in goo.  They put him on me and wiped him with towels.  Brandon took some photos, they got is weight, etc.  He had a terrible wound on his head and marks from the forceps on his face.  He was pretty swollen but perfect nonetheless.  He weighed 8 pounds 3 ounces and was 19.5 inches long.  The doctor told me that my body was fine, normal stuff as far as damage.  He told me I was a champion and he didn't think I would be able to do it because of how little I was.  

All I knew was that he finally made it and he was healthy.  Brandon and I took some pictures with him and I held that baby close to me.  Brandon held him.  We did some skin to skin care and I tried to get him to latch on to eat.  He struggled with it, as all babies do.  When all the nurses and doctor left, we talked about his name.  Brecken Todd was what we had thought he would be, but it was confirmed.  He had tons of dark hair (which shocked me) and his face was shaped like mine with my chin.  Everything else looked like Andrew/Brandon.  After about an hour they wheeled us up to the 3rd floor.  Mom was in the waiting room and could hear him being born and she went upstairs with us.  We let immediate family know he was here and we just relaxed in our room.  Holding him was so sweet and the nurses were kind to us. 

The only visitors we had that day were immediate family.  It was actually the September birthday dinner at Ted and Kayleen's, so everyone was able to come at once.  Brecken didn't sleep at all until about 9:00 that night.  He was up and aware of everything going on.  The nurses took him for his checks and he got a passy because of his poor headache.  We got help from the nursery so we could get some sleep too.  

Most of the evening was a blur because I was completely exhausted.  I remember eating some Wendy's and waiting as long as possible to go to the bathroom (traumatic experience).  

Life has truly changed.  Brandon gave me a beautiful blessing today, reminding me to pray continually and to know that the Lord trusts me.  I was also blessed with love.  I hope that throughout this time I can rely on the Lord and allow others I trust and love to help me.  What a glorious, crazy time of our lives.  I am so happy and yet so overwhelmed by many other emotions.  I want to be the best mother to this little boy that I can.  I hope that in doing so, I can raise him to be the man the Lord intends for him to be.