Our Baby is here! =)

Normal first labor versus my first labor:

·      Contractions start gradually

My contractions complete with nausea and shakiness hit me like a freight train at exactly 11:10pm                                             

·      Contractions build like waves                 

My contractions were being monitored because I was induced and so we saw the shape of them. My mom described them as skyscrapers. They went straight up, off the chart for 2-3 minutes and then straight down again.                          

·      There is 1-3 minutes between contractions

I had 15-20 seconds between contractions. That’s not even enough time to catch your breath before the next one hits.

·      Amniotic fluid helps dissipate the intensity of contractions

I had low amniotic fluid, which is why I was induced. So I had a “dry” labor, which makes every contraction incredibly more intense.

·      There is ample time to use different breathing techniques and methods

I barely had time to breathe. Period. I did use a breathing technique, but I really couldn’t relax at all.

·      Labor lasts 12 hours on average

Dainen was born at 2:47 am, making my labor 3 hours and 37 min long. You’d think a short labor would be a good thing, except I had to do all the same work, just in 4 hours instead of 12. It was crazy intense!

·      There is plenty of time to get pain medication

I was asking for something, anything, to help with the pain, but they don’t give epidurals and things like that until you’re dilated to at least 6. So I kept asking and asking and I wasn’t getting anything cause they didn’t think I was dilated enough. Then they checked and I was at a 10 so it was too late to get anything!

·      Pushing can last up to 3 hours

This is the only “normal” part of labor for me; I was pushing for about an hour and a half. I was completely and totally spent by this point and barely found the strength to get through the next contraction. But by the end, our beautiful baby boy was born!

My labor was horrible, it really was. I said at the time that it was like “hell on steroids” but that was an understatement. It was the hardest thing I have ever done in my entire life and way worse than I expected. My mom who has the most horrific labor story I’ve ever heard says my labor was way worse than hers, so I’m not exaggerating.
 Thankfully, when I was getting induced before the contractions hit, Quinn and I invited my parents over because we thought we had time to kill before the pitocin kicked in, and they were there and helped when labor started. Quinn and I originally didn’t want anyone else there, but as amazing as Quinn was, he just doesn’t have 6 hands. For hours, Quinn was holding my hand and pushing on my hips, encouraging me and helping me to stay calm and breathe while my dad rubbed my back and my mom rubbed my legs (for some reason my legs killed during labor, also not normal). I am so thankful to have such wonderful supportive people in my life; I couldn’t have gotten through it without all of them. My husband is amazing, he was exactly what I needed him to be the entire time, I’m so lucky to have him in my life!

 My parents went to the waiting room while I was pushing. After Dainen was born, Quinn and I had over an hour just us then my parents came to see him real quick before going home. It was not the labor and delivery we had planned (not that I’m shocked that it didn’t go according to plan) but it worked out. Mostly I’m glad it’s over.
       
Labor and delivery was horrible, but so worth it to have our sweet son here! Dainen is so mild and cuddly. He is just such a sweetie! He never cries for no reason and usually the only reason he cries is because he’s hungry. He was such a hungry baby the first few days, since then he’s slowed down a little. He’s even getting better at sleeping at night already! He got up to eat every 2-3 hours last night and then went straight back to sleep. We love our little boy!!! He’s absolutely adorable and we are just loving being parents =).
 

Here are some pictures of our hospital stay and of our sweet little son:

Just about to head to the hospital to be induced

Just moments after our sweet baby Dainen was born (he was even still a little blue)



Quinn is so thrilled to be a daddy!

Our peaceful son =)

Labor was hard on everyone!

It just doesn't get cuter than this!

Leaving the hospital with our bundle of joy!

One of my favorite pictures! He's just so alert!

Our little baby bundle =)