Ed's sleeping arrangements
Me hooked up to the monitors
I was hooked up to the fetal monitor and was having contractions steadily, although I wasn't feeling them. That night the nurses monitored the baby and my contractions and first thing the next morning (6:00 am) they started an IV and Pitocin to make my contractions stronger and more frequent. At 7:00 am my doctor came in and broke my water which made things really start going. I did okay all night and most of the morning, but by 11:00 am I couldn't take it anymore and requested the epidural. I wasn't necessarily planning on getting one, but after things really started happening I honestly don't see how ANYONE can endure the birthing process naturally.After the epidural I felt no pain whatsoever. I pretty much went through the rest of the day resting. The epidural did have an effect on my blood pressure. It caused me to almost bottom out with a reading of 60/30 so I was given Ephedrine to try and elevate it. I progressed throughout the day, but by that night I was only at 6 1/2 centimeters dialated and my doctor wanted me further along. He said that I had one more hour and if I wasn't 10 centimeters I probably was going to end up having a C-section. I definitely didn't want that to happen if I could avoid it so for the next hour we dimmed the lights and I didn't say a word. I kind of meditated and willed the baby to come out. When the nurse came back to check me I was 9 1/2 centimeters and she said that was close enough. 
We started pushing around 10:20 pm. It was hard to push since I couldn't feel anything below my belly button. My nurse said I did a good job pushing, but I had to keep asking her if I was doing it right. I pushed for an hour and then finally, finally baby arrived! Our doctor is awesome and he let Ed catch the baby. It was pretty amazing to have your husband help deliver your child. Ed got to announce "It's a BOY!!" Baby Jack had finally arrived!! Of course Ed helped cut the cord and then Jack was weighed and cleaned up. Here is one of his first pictures...
We started pushing around 10:20 pm. It was hard to push since I couldn't feel anything below my belly button. My nurse said I did a good job pushing, but I had to keep asking her if I was doing it right. I pushed for an hour and then finally, finally baby arrived! Our doctor is awesome and he let Ed catch the baby. It was pretty amazing to have your husband help deliver your child. Ed got to announce "It's a BOY!!" Baby Jack had finally arrived!! Of course Ed helped cut the cord and then Jack was weighed and cleaned up. Here is one of his first pictures...
