Here is story of how Mara Ruth entered the world:
We went to bed on the 5th and I just had a feeling that it would be last time I went to bed pregnant. I woke up to my first contractions at 3:08 am. I went to the bathroom and then laid back down in bed for about an hour, timing them. My first contractions were already coming about 5-6 minutes apart and lasting from 30 seconds to a minute. Around 4, I decided I should go ahead and get up an in the shower. Ian noticed the bathroom light on and called out to me, so I went back into the bedroom and told him that he would not be going to his Monday morning lab meeting. He asked me if I was in labor and I told him that yes I was. I headed for my shower and told him to go ahead and try to sleep some more.
Ian did get up while I was in the shower and by that point, I was already having some trouble talking through my contractions. We discussed when we should call my friend Jen to watch the kids or did I think I could wait until it was time to take the kids to daycare before we left for the hospital. At the time, I was hoping to take the kids to day care.
At quarter to five I remembered that Jen had started taking an early morning workout class that started at 5:30. I sent her a text and warned her that she may not be able to go that day!
After talking to Jen, I called the hospital and asked them if I should come in. My contractions where close together but they weren’t lasting more than about 30 seconds. The secretary on the phone told me to go ahead and come in. I called Jen again and told her to head on over!
Jen arrived at the house by 5:45 and Ian and I were on our way out the door by 10 to 6. I called my mom our way to the hospital and told her the news. She wished me luck and told me to call her when I could.
We arrived at the hospital and I had to pause at the car to breath through a contraction before we headed inside. We went straight upstairs and I was put into a triage room. Ian went to move the car and I started to change into a hospital gown.
While I was doing that, a midwife, Laurel, came in and told me that she was finishing up her 24 hour shift at 7 am but she would stay with me since there were currently three midwife patients on the floor. She also mentioned to me that it had been completely quiet the night before. Not one baby. I suggested it was because the babies knew better than to be born on Super Bowl Sunday! J
Laurel checked me and said I was at a good five and my cervix was just melting away in her hand. She didn’t waste time hooking me up to the monitors, she moved me to a labor room. By now, it’s only a little after 6. Ian is getting my bags into the room while Laurel gets me settled and tried to hook the monitors up to me. I told her I didn’t want to lie down; it was easier to handle the contractions if I could walk about some. She asked me if I was going to go natural or if I wanted the epidural. I told her I was very interested in an epidural!
I was then told that anesthesia was with another woman but I was next in line. My contractions where so fast and painful I was worried I wouldn’t get the epidural on time. I was also feeling very hot and thirsty. Ian kept giving me ice and keeping cold rags on my neck and forehead. What sweet relief!
I asked Laurel if I would have time to get the epidural she told me she didn’t think so. I was moving too fast. But she told me I could have a spinal instead.
I suddenly felt the need to go to the bathroom so Ian helped in there. At this point I was in so much pain I just started crying. I tried to sit down and go to the bathroom but it just hurt too much. I told Ian I was afraid I wouldn’t get an epidural. He assured me that anesthesia would be there soon. Luckily, he was right! When we left the bathroom, two very nice men in scrubs were waiting on me.
Laurel asked me if I wanted to try sitting on a birthing ball. One had been set up at the end of the bed and was ready for me. I straddled it and tried to sit down with the doctor explained the risks on a spinal to me and started to insert my IV. As soon as I sat down on the ball I felt incredible pressure. I stood right back up and my water broke! It was everywhere!! I told my midwife that my water had broke (you know, in case she hasn’t noticed) The very next second I was pushing!! I didn’t even think about it, just started pushing. Laurel told me her head was ‘right there’. I had been given a pillow to put under my arms at the end of the bed and I’m so glad. I screamed and grunted into that pillow. My IV was finally in and I remember the nurses being told to quickly push a bag of fluids through me. In one push I had her head out. What sweet relief. But there was still a lot of pressure. Laurel asked me to stop pushing for a second and I told her I couldn’t. She just said, ok, we’ll work through it. One more tiny push and my baby girl was out!! I was told to go ahead and crawl into the bed so they could give me Mara. I did so as the nurse pulled my drenched socks off of me. Ian cut the cord and I was given my brand new baby. I told everyone I was glad she was so small. The midwife and nurses laughed at me and told me my baby wasn’t very small! While I snuggled my new ‘not so little’ baby I asked my midwife how badly I’d torn. I mean, I just stood at the end of a hospital bed and pushed a baby out in two pushes! She quickly checked me and told me there wasn’t even on little tear!! You’re kidding me??! I was THRILLED!
That’s pretty much it. Mara Ruth was born at 6:55 am and was 8lb 5 oz, 21 in long.
