Baby Ben's birth story

I will try to make this as brief as possible not to bore anyone, so here are the details on how Ben came into the world.

Wednesday night, May 21, I was very itchy and thirsty. One call to my friend and she told me to alert the doctor as this was not normal. My doctor concluded that I needed to come in for blood drawns, urinalysis, blood pressure check and non-stress test.

So, I got ready for work on Thursday and went to the doctor. Everything came back fine with the exception of the blood pressure checks which were as high as 172/101 and all over the place. My doctor then told me that I needed to go to the Family Birthing Center for more tests and I was to go on bed rest until our little guy was born.

When I got to the FBC, they started checking my blood pressure every 5 mins along with the baby's heart rate. I called worked teary eyed and told them I couldn't come back. I was feeling really guilty about this. Then my husband showed up and was ready for the challenge of taking care of me for a week. Then we got the news from the attending OB -- I wasn't going home until I had the baby.

At this point, child birth was the furthest thing from my mind. I wasn't scared of it but now the panic of actually delivering a baby set in. In the back of my mind, I prayed I didn't need a c-section. I told no one this and no one mentioned it to me. So they admitted me to the FBC of the hospital and my husband ran home to drop off the car, gather some things and get the dog taken care of for a few days.

The plan of action -- try to dilate my cervix with meso (sp) and then start pictocin Friday a.m. In the mean time, I had to have my blood pressure checked every 30 mins and I couldn't eat anything but clear liquids. The last thing I ate was a bowl of Cherrios with strawberries at 8 a.m. I rested, my husband watched movies on the computer.

At 1 a.m. after three doses of meso, they decided to start the pit early and break my water in the morning. I slept all night until 8 am when the attending OB came in and broke my water. I thought she was giving me an exam (at this point I was dilated at 2 cm) and then a warm gush of water and the contractions started. At 10 am I was calling for the epidural. I knew I wanted it but I was really scared of getting it but the doctor giving it was awesome and I hardly felt a thing until they injected my IV with fentenal (sp) and I felt the most drunk I have ever.

At noon, I was only dilated 4 cm which was so frustrating. Then I threw up and made the comment that I felt I had to pass a bowel movement. (the only times I threw up during this whole pregnancy was on labor day) The nurses checked right before 1 p.m. and BINGO, I was fully dilated and effaced.

I pushed for 100 mins. I won't lie, it was hard even with drugs. I needed oxygen. I wanted to give up. I tried to focus on seeing the little man I've been carrying for 37 weeks. Then Brian could see the head -- he was so excited and then came the news that the cord was wrapped around Ben's neck. I knew this might happen and was prepared as alot of my friends have had this happen lately. Then he was out and I got to meet him for a whole 10 seconds before they started working on getting him cleaned up.

This is the scary part -- he was grunting -- which indicates a tear in his lung. Before rushing out with him (my husband tagged along), I got to see him again -- grunting. Everyone assured me that he will be fine and in my heart, I knew he was OK. He had my mom looking over him and Brian with him.

Brian took some photos and brought them back to me while I rested. Our pediatrician explained the situation that there was a tear which repaired itself within two hours but needed to stay in the NICU over night for observation. I wasn't allowed down there until I could walk and pee on my own (nice side effect of the epi) and I cried. When they took me to the bathroom at 8 p.m. (5 hours after he was born), I fainted and couldn't pee but I think the tears I cried to see my baby convinced them to wheel me down to see him.

Though it looked really scary, they handed me my little guy with wires attached monitoring his lungs and heart. I even got to feed him and he knew exactly what do to. I was only allowed to be with him 20 mins because I couldn't walk or pee still and the nurses told me to come back and get some sleep. So that's what I did until 4 a.m. I spent most of the next day in the NICU holding him and feeding him until he was released to my room.

It's amazing how much you could love something like your 6 hour old baby. I was worried about bonding and I instantly knew I loved him.

We left on Sunday. Saturday night was pretty wild and we got no sleep. I learned a little more about breastfeeding and we watched the baby care video while getting checked out.

So, that's the story. Sorry it took me so long but getting on the computer and writing blogs or twittering have taken a back seat to taking care of the baby.