My Labor & Delivery Experience

I was scheduled for an inducement at 6:00 AM on Wednesday, August 24. As Philip & I drove to the hospital that morning, we held each others hands and reminisced over the three years of happily wedded bliss and our hopes for our future family.

The induction was put on hold for an hour because I ate Honey Nut Cherrios before arriving (note: you are not supposed to eat anything before an induction--this would have been nice to know beforehand). :)

I was induced at 9:30 AM and immediately began having contractions. Philip remained by my side at all times helping me breathe through the pain. I dilated to a 4 before requesting an epidural (12:30). By 4:30 PM, I was dilated to a 9.5 and stayed that way until 7:30 PM when the doctor told me a C-section was required because the baby was not in the right position for delivery. I was told I would go in for the surgery in 30 minutes.

After the doctor left, I began to cry for disappointment and tremble with fear. Philip steadfastly told me it would be okay. After medication was given to numb my body from the chest down, I began to feel on fire. The oxygen mask had been applied over the nurse cap on my head. The medication gave me cotton-mouth. With a sudden and uncontrollable fear, I begged for ice chips. The nurse sympathetically told me I could not have anything to sooth the burning. "This is the closest to hell I hope I ever feel" was what I wanted to scream.

After the doctor granted my request not to have my arms strapped down during the surgery, I was 95% sedated and was wheeled into the operating room. I remember very little other than the first sight of my son being lifted over my body and the sound of his cry. I had the strength to look over to see Philip stand over him while the nurse cleaned him and checked his weight and measurements. I could see he put his finger inside the palm of Baby Grant's hand and Grant clinched it. Philip brought him to me and it was love at first sight.

"Thank you, Jesus" I whispered.