Labor

continued from A New Start

Being a woman, I always wondered what childbirth would be like. Having a person grow inside me and having the ability to give life to a thinking, breathing human was a fantastic idea. My high school invented a new form of birth control; an informative video called “the Miracle of Life.” We watched it my freshman year and I am sure the idea of having kids was the scariest thing I could imagine after seeing the video. All the fluids and sweating… Gross!

I went in to my last appointment before I would be induced to give birth to Preston. I must tell you these appointments were not fun and having a woman push her hand up and the baby down at the same time was uncomfortable and slightly painful. I knew it would be over soon and he would be here. I was terrified of the unknown and questions whirled around my head like a tornado on a path to destruction. Will I be a good mom? How do I change a diaper? If I cannot change a diaper, how can I have a baby!? Will my body go back to the way it was before? What will I tell Preston when he is old enough to ask about his father?

My mom and I headed to Mary Birch Hospital for Women in San Diego, CA. As we parked the car, I nervously grabbed my things, as I knew I would be a guest of the hospital for a few days. I checked in to the hospital and the nurse started the medication to induce labor. I had my team of supporters with me that included my mom/coach, my dad, my sister Krystle, my brother Mike, and my cousin Shawna.

After six hours of inconsistent contractions, the doctor came in and told me it would be a long night. She asked if I wanted the epidural and I decided it was the smartest option since I would be in that bed a long time. Over the period of 30, yes 30 hours, my team and I watched the monitor as the little needle drew what looked like little mountains every four or five minutes.

The doctor came and did the uncomfortable task of feeling my dilation. She informed me that they would be breaking my water. Screw Hollywood and their glamorous portrayal of childbirth! What happens to the water breaking in some dramatic public situation? My water could have broken while I was angrily yelling at my best friends ex for breaking her heart but no… they used what looked like a crochet hook to break it for me. A flood of liquid that I had to sit in until the nurses could come help me switch bed sheets. Nasty!

It was time to push! The nurse instructed me of when to push and I violently pushed as hard as I could, feeling my face turn shades of red and then purple. I am surprised I did not burst any blood vessels in my eyes or face because I was pushing so hard. I could feel Preston’s head on my pelvis bone and I knew he was not moving. As my coach and the team cheered me on, I kept pushing and as the end of the 2nd hour approached, I started throwing up stomach acid from all the pushing. My vomit was green. That was a first for me and I told the nurse to get the doctor; my baby was not coming out this way...