Sammy

Here is my labor story with Sam.

WARNING I talk about going into labor, #2, and other gross lady stuff. You've been warned.  Proceeding is up to you.

Wednesday November 26 2014 (Due date)
I had my final doctor appointment that morning at 11:30 and everything was great.  She didn't check me caviar they were running late and she had to go pick up her daughter.  I didn't mind because we had scheduled my inducement for 2 days later (insurance reasons). I got home just before 1 and went to lay down before I had to leave.
At exactly 2pm I was supposed to be walking out the door to pick up a check from my brother-in-law and I realized I had to use the bathroom and thought I better go now. Oh my freaking ow! Worst poop ever! Contractions came on strong while trying to just relax. When I felt it was done I headed out.
In the ten minutes it took to get to my brother in law, the contractions started to get extremely strong and I knew something was up. I sat in the parking lot and tried to call Steven, but he didn't answer. Contractions were getting really strong and I knew that if I waited any longer I would not be able to drive and pick up Steven from work (the downfall of having only one car). I called him a second time and had to leave a voicemail of me bawling about pain and him not following the plan. (The plan was that if I CALL him he had better answer cuz something is going on) he called me back a few minutes later and I let him know I was coming to get him.
I had 3 extremely strong contractions in the ten minutes it took me to get to his work. I nearly had to pull over. I could barely concentrate but I just wanted to get to point b. When I got there, Steven had not clocked out yet and was still inside, then I had another contraction. I got out of the car to try and deal with it. Then I decided that maybe these contractions were because I still needed to pass the rest of that bowel movement. So I headed inside Steven's work and found a bathroom where I moaned, screamed, and cried for 15 minutes. I knew I needed to get to the hospital.
During this time Steven came and found me and realized how serious this time actually was. (I'd been in and out of the hospital with early labor contractions for amonth anda half. They'd always stop after a couple hours of being monitored. To my advantage,  by the time this spey took place I was already a 4+)
While he tried to be off help outside the bathroom stall a lady came in to use the toilet and was quite concerned.  She asked if everything was ok and I calmly (maybe) told her I was fine,  just probably going into labor. She cautiously asked if she needed to call an ambulance.  I said no and explained that the man awkwardly standing outside the bathroom is my husband and we were going to head to the hospital as soon as I was done. She silently did her business and left.
When I came out of the bathroom I could barely walk so Steven scooped me into his arms and carried me out to the car. We called the hospital to let them know we were on our way.  Contractions were coming every 5 minutes or less and we had a 20 minute drive. I screamed half the way there.
When we finally got to the hospital Steven parked in the garage and I had to walk all the way to check in. He thought there would be a wheel chair by the doors. There wasn't. I hated him for a minute.
When we got upstairs they weren't ready for us!  While steven signed the paperwork, they searched for a usable room, and I curled up on the floor. Once the nurses had found a room they all srung into action. One Gabe me my bravely add we walked, one stripped me and another hooked me up to monitors, and another gave me a narcotic to take the edge off the contractions. Now its about about 3:30. I was dilated to 4.5. At 4:30 they checked me again and I was already a 5.5! It's finally happening! No more false alarms! They set me up in a wheel chair and wheeled me to my room. By this time the drugs had worn off and I just couldn't take it anymore and requested the epidural. This took a little while but it felt so much better after I had it. I could still feel the contractions but they weren't painful. My mom came to help be my support at this time.
At 5:30 I was a 6.5. They asked if I wanted them to break my water to speed things up. I asked to wait so I could rest for a while. They let me rest for a couple hours and would come back to see how I was doing.
I think it was less than the 2 hours they came and checked me again because I was feeling some pain even through the epidural. I was 7+ and they broke my water. I am very glad they did because there was meconium in the fluid. We were scared but the staff were prepared. They said I was fine to just continue laboring. The anesthesiologist came and gave me more pain killer and we waited. Around 9 or 9:30 I was fully dilated and we waited for my urge to push.
I pushed for 30-40 minutes. They sang my praises. Apparently I did surprisingly well for a first timer. Steven held one of my legs while my mom stroked my head and massaged my shoulders during and after each contraction. It was hard and yet easy. I really enjoyed it actually.
Samuel Grant Carmean was born at 10:27 pm weighing 7lbs 4oz and 19 inches long.  It took him a couple seconds to cry; they said because of the meconium, that happens.
Steven cut the cord and a pediatrician took him to clear his mouth and throat out and make sure he was going to be ok despite the threat.
We love our Sammy and we're so glad he's here and ours :)