Madelyn's Birth Story {Part Two}

Okay, the last post left off where I told Leo that he needed to change bc this was real and it was for sure happening.

He ran, got changed and threw all of my things in the Jeep. I hugged everyone and Isabella was in tears as I was leaving. It really broke my heart but I knew we needed to get to the hospital soon...things were really intensifying at this point.

We're in the car and I told Leo to call my mom to tell her we were on the way to the hospital (Leo had called LDRP and they told him he needed to get me there soon). I couldn't talk to her because I was having more contractions and my back was beyond killing me at this point. I was trying to lift myself up to relieve the back pressure...not that it helped too much at this point!

Ahead of us was a Mississippi Highway Patrolman...I was *this close* to asking him to escort us all the way to base! People were driving sooo slow (at least it seemed like it) and base was at least 30 minutes away.

I resisted asking him (Leo talked me out of it, ha!) and my honey got us there and quick.

Less than 20 minutes later we pulled up to the gate and they got us through quickly. Leo parked and he helped me out. I had to stop twice to breathe through my contractions and focus on letting my body work how it was supposed to. At this point I still had some ability to do those things.

Once upstairs they placed me in and Antepartum Room...my stupid contraction monitor wouldn't fit correctly so we were having to hold it in place to show my contractions. The staff was short handed and there were 5 other women in labor...

They finally came to check my cervix for dialation around 12:30 or so. They asked me what I was dialated at on Monday at my appt. I told them a one. After being there for half an hour I was already to a four. I was in shock and happy at the same time. My blood pressure was really high and they had wanted me to walk (which there was no way with my back labor) so I had to stay in the bed.

An hour later I was in intense pain--mainly my back. Back labor? Yeah, it sucks. Horribly.

I requested an epidural and they were very calm telling me I had to wait until 2:30 to get checked again and then they would move me into my room for an epidural.

I was pretty pissed off because I knew things were getting moved along very, very quickly. At this point I was really loud and letting them know that HELLO!!! I am in PAIN!

The doctor poked her head in and said they would get me my epidural and possibly an iv pain med as well...at this point I didn't care. I wanted some relief from my back. It was taking over everything...and I thought I was going to die.

They came in checked my cervix. I was practically an eight. Freaking EIGHT CM DIALATED!!

I really felt like they probably thought I was a little dramatic over my pain...and then when they realized this they seriously got their butts in gear. My nurse asked if I could walk across the ward to my room....are you kidding me?! I couldn't even walk to the bathroom at this point. My contractions were coming one after the other with NO break in between them.

They get me to my room...I'm still screaming for pain meds. Nobody is listening. They are trying to get my iv in...and I thought I was, um, going to go to the bathroom right there. I told Leo I needed to get to the bathroom (okay, so I probably yelled it) and then I realized that I didn't have to go to the bathroom. I. needed. to. push.

They were freaking out, telling me not to push yet, I wasn't there. (Not push?! Were they crazy?!) They checked me and I almost fully dialated. Except for a lip or something. They had me do a couple of practice pushes but I couldn't concentrate. I still asked about my epi and um, that's when I got the bad news.

No. epi. for. me.

Leo said I cried.

I believed it.

The doc came in from another delivery and Leo told her hey--my water hasn't broke! She couldn't believe it, broke it and told me to push.

One contraction, three pushes later...and my princess #2 was delivered. It was 3:05 p.m.

I was in such a euphoric state...and I was so proud of myself for surviving major back labor and having her without the assistance of anything for pain.

Amazing.

Took my breath away.

And I'm still on cloud 9.

Now for part three...the pictures!