11 p.m.: I head to bed after reading the latest "How big is baby this week" stuff. I was exactly 38 weeks that day and I was so excited for it to be only 2 weeks away. Todd had already been asleep for about 30-45 min as I crawled into bed.
12 a.m.: I go to the bathroom, like any other typical night at 9 months pregnant. This time was a little different. My water broke. Obviously never having a baby of my own, I wanted to make sure it was that and not just a "no control of my bladder" moment. Well, it was officially decided that it was for sure my water breaking and then I realized that we will be having a baby in less than 24 hours. Scary and exciting all at the same time. Called my Mom and told her the news, which she told me to call the doctor and head to the hospital. She then immediately told me that she was going to buy her ticket that night and head out here the following day. Then I called the doctor on call, no answer. So, we just decided to get our things and go the hospital at 1 a.m.
1:30 a.m.: Admitted to the labor and delivery unit
3 a.m.: My back labor pains were really becoming extremely uncomfortable and I requested an epidural at that time. Received the epidural around 3:30 a.m. but unfortunately the CRNA did not place the catheter correctly and ended up giving me a spinal block, which made me numb from neck down. After multiple passing out episodes, throwing up, blood pressure drops, and heart rate drops in me (and baby), the nurses and CRNA got it all under control and I was back in business
5 a.m.: Still very numb but was able to feel my chest again and I was feeling better and better as time went by.
9:30 a.m.: Spinal block is worn off by now and I was ready for the epidural dosing considering the back pain came back. (They had placed another epidural catheter during the spinal block episode but did not want to dose it until the block wore off). They dosed the epidural at a very low dose initially. I attempted to listen to some music to take my mind off things and it worked for maybe 20-30 minutes
10:20 a.m.: The epidural never really kicked in and at this moment I was ready to push. I did not anticipate doing this all without an epidural but at that point, I didn't even care, I was ready to go. April, my nurse, and my doctor were absolutely the best and by 10:42 a.m., Derek Kenneth Folkman was born. He weighed 6 lbs 15 oz and 20 inches long.
Our little man decided to bless us with his presence 2 weeks earlier than expected and we couldn't have been happier. He is absolutely perfect and we are falling more in love with him every day. Here are just a few pictures...
Proud Papa
Happy Mommy
Look at all that hair
