Labor

It all started around 3a.m. June 19th.

I woke up to contractions every 10 minutes that lasted for about a minute apart. Funny because all I could think was that he waited till after his daddy's birthday to start his big appearance. LOL.

Any who, I was excited and scared all at once. I knew this was it and that by the weekend our little Alejandro would  be here. I sat in bed and emailed my sister and brother so that they'd be prepared and then rolled over and bared it out.

Before I knew it, it was morning. I went to the restroom and got what people call "bloody show." Basically, my mucus plug had come loose and again, was another sign of labor. I remembered this perfectly from last year. Only that last year I knew that there would be no baby in the end.

The whole day came and went and I got contractions throughout but nothing to drive to the hospital for.  Besides, on Thursday, the 20th I had a Dr's appointment, so I wasn't too worried.

The day came and went and before I knew it I was at the doctor's. He checked me and verified what I thought. He said "oh yeah... you're in labor... I wouldn't be surprised if you had your baby between now and Saturday."

The news wasn't a shocker because  I KNEW that was IT! Ha! At that moment he said I was somewhere between 3 1/2 and 4 cm dilated. This is when he swept my membranes in order to "speed" up the process, gave me kudos, and sent me home to wait it out.

Hubby and I left and stopped by my sis's house to give her the news. She was excited as were my nieces. While with her the contractions became stronger, but again... nothing to go in for.

Hubby and I went home and I went straight to bed. It had now been about 36 hours of no sleep and off and on contractions. Then at around 3:30p.m., Thursday, the 20th the contractions came every 5 minutes each around a minute long. I knew that was a sign to head in to the hospital.

My mom drove me and hubby to my sister's who's in route to hospital. I remember feeling every single bump on the road. It was painful! Then my sister drove me in to the hospital. As soon as I came in I was greeted by friendly nurses who took me in and tied me up to machines to check on both baby and I.

To my surprise... or maybe out of nervousness, my contractions literally STOPPED when I was being checked! I couldn't believe it! However, being that I was 4 days overdue the doctor on call decided to take me in.

They checked me into a beautiful room with an amazing view of the mountains. Now, this is nice, but when you're in labor, you're not really paying attention to the view! LOL.

Now normally feeling good is a good thing, but the on call doctor wanted to see me dilate. She checked me again and nothing had changed from earlier. I was 4cm dilated. Still long way to go. She recommended I take picotin to induce contractions and therefore help me dilate.  She recommended I take the epidural along with the picotin so that I would be able to handle the pain. Which I opted in to do.

So late that night around 9p.m. the anesthesiologist came in and started me on the epidural. I was so scared. I was shaking. I couldn't stop myself. I seriously had no control over my body. Luckily everything went good and before I knew it I didn't feel a thing waist down. Soon after, they started me on picotin.

Now, everyone recommended I sleep because I was going to need all the energy the following morning. I tried and tried and nothing. I couldn't do it. I was dead scared. Now all this time my hubby is there, but even he couldn't help me.

Now I have to mention that while I was literally a vegetable I was proded with a bunch of medical instruments to check on both baby and I. Under normal circumstances, this would have been a NO, NO!, but I was so out of it that I just let the doctors do their thing.

After several hours my body was much too heavy. I managed to move myself a bit to the other side... when the nurses came in and said that the baby didn't like that. They said his heart beat did not react positively when I laid on my left side. So again they positioned me on the right.

By then I wasn't necessarily in pain as more in severe discomfort. I didn't feel the contractions, but I felt the heaviness of every piece of me. No one ever mentioned that to me. Then I realized the epi was wearing off. I started to feel the contractions and the panic set in again. Then at 5:30 a.m. the doctor on call came in and checked me. I had not dilated past what I had the previous night. Then they went over the baby report and showed me how he reacted negatively to every contraction that I got. He was stressed out and that could possess some sort of negative impact if we continued trying for vaginal delivery.

I was heartbroken. I remember praying to God and telling him that I left everything in his hands. Now I could've pushed for a vaginal delivery, but so many things could go wrong and I wasn't willing to risk my  babies life for it. So before I knew it I would be giving birth via c-section.

I was wheeled in to the OR and soon the surgery began. I gotta say, I didn't feel pain. I felt kicked and punched over and over again in my gut. Sort of like a big bowl of jello. Only the jello was me :/

The surgery took no more than 45 minutes beginning to end. And although drugged up, I cried when I heard his scream.

At exactly 6:09 a.m. on June 21st my son Alejandro was born. To my surprise, he looked nothing like I imagined! He was, if at all possible even more gorgeous. Alejandro weighed 6 pounds 13.3 ounces and measured 19 inches. Perfect in every way.

His skin, nothing like mine because he has a very milky white complexion. He has to have gotten that from his dad. But I can definitely claim those perfect little lips and eyebrows (lack of). Everything else, he's all daddy.