Finally Lincoln Made It!

I guess I really need to be careful what I wish for in the future since Lincoln was born only 40 minutes after Superbowl Sunday.

That morning Nate and I got up all excited for the big game and knowing that my contractions were getting pretty tough to the point that I was borderline crying, we knew today would probably be the day. We literally did nothing all day except watch Superbowl coverage and the game. I proudly put on my Ravens hat, earrings and purple shirt and just sat waiting for either a Ravens victory or our son to be born.

That afternoon around 2pm, my contractions kept getting closer together and were getting really intense. After each one, I would look at Nate and he would say every time, "Oh Shit, he's coming today huh?" I would say back, "Yea probably." We went through this pattern up until I decided it was time to go to the hospital.

The first half of the game was so exciting for me that I really didn't want to have to leave until the last possible minute because I really, really wanted to see the Ravens keep dominating the 49ers, but once the stadium lights went out I decided that this would be the perfect time to go to the hospital. In my mind I thought if we left now by the time the lights came back on and the game started up again I would be in my hospital bed and be able to watch the rest of the game.

We then decided to leave, and the drive to the hospital sucked because first of all my contractions hurt like a bitch and secondly, we were listening to the 3rd quarter of the game in car and the 49ers began trying to make their comeback. It was miserable! I sat there and would be having a contractions and on top of it I was having to listen to the 49ers keep scoring touchdowns!

When we got into the assessment room at the hospital, they hooked me up to the fetal monitor and the nurse then checked me. Nathan at this point did not miss a beat and immediately turned on the television to the game. That made me feel much better. Then while the nurse was checking my cervix she informed me I was only at 3cm but then right at that moment my water broke. The nurse was all, "Well, I didn't do that! It's time to get this baby out." She then informed us that there was some meconium in the water but she wasn't too concerned. She then told us that the NICU nurses would be in my labor room as back up just in case and to help with really sucking his lungs out when he's born.

They then sent us to the labor room and Nathan immediately turned on the television again. It was exactly 7:55pm when they stuck me in there and things started picking up quickly from there. My mom arrived about 30 minutes after I had been in the labor room and my contractions were strong. I decided though that as of right now I do not need an epidural. I asked the nurse, Serena,  if there was anything that I could take to get me through the peak of my contractions she said we could do some IV drugs, and once I got those bad boys in me I was good to go for the first hour. Then at about 9:30pm, I felt like I had to go to the bathroom. I asked if I could go and my mom helped me up. The second I sat on the toilet, I felt like I had to push. I told Serena and she told me that,  "What ever I do, do not push!" I didn't and she checked me and I was already at 7cm. At that point, I knew I could do this without an epidural.

Then I had two really, really tough contractions. They were to the point where the idea that I could do this without an epidural went out the window. I looked at my mom and said, "I don't know if I can do this." She was a rock star labor coach and said back, "Julia, yes you can and remember every hard contraction means he is getting closer to being here." She was so supportive and amazing that I couldn't of done it without her. Then I felt the need to push again and Serena checked me and I was at 9cm. In about less than 5 minutes I had gone from 7cm to 9cm. Then I had three of those horrible tough contractions again and it was now time to get this baby out!

It was then that they told me that they could not give me anymore of the IV drugs and if I want an epidural this would be the time to get one. I told them no and that I was ok. Then Serena had me do a couple of practice pushes and once I found the right spot we got to work. I was shocked at how the pushing did not hurt. I sware! I kept looking at my mom and Nate and kept saying, "Mom, it doesn't hurt. Nate it doesn't hurt." I kept expecting it to hurt, but it never did. I pushed for about two hours. I was so sweaty, I had oxygen, and I was exhausted, but I just wanted to keep going and get him out. While I was pushing, Lincoln decided to flip and be what they call 'sunny side up' which makes it really hard to push him past my pubic bone. During this phase I do remember the Ravens winning the Superbowl and seeing the confetti pour onto the field. I was exhausted but watching the Ravens win did provide a bit of extra strength!

I kept at it and he finally 2 hours later, I got the point where I could deliver him. I was pushing and then all of a sudden Lincoln's heart rate dropped to 70 bpm. My doctor looked at me and said, "Ok, either you get him out with these next couple of pushes or else I will have to do an episiotomy and get him out myself." Well that was that! In my mind it was like either get him out or I will cut you. I did not at any cost want an episiotomy! I will never, ever forget that moment seeing my doctors face and telling me what I needed to do. It felt like a challenge and I was up for it! I pushed and pushed and pushed and pushed like I had never before. Then after 5 of them, Lincoln was born. I was pushing so hard that I didn't even realize he was out of me and my doctor and mom had to actually tell me to stop pushing and look because he was here.

Can't believe he came out of me!

I didn't have that all encompassing experience of being able to look down and see my baby because I was so exhausted that when they told me the news, I just laid my head back and closed my eyes.On top of it they didn't put him on me immediately because they wanted to suck his lungs out well. I went into my self because at that point because my body needed it. I had to take care of me and my body was telling me to just sit and rest for a few minutes. I honestly don't remember anything until the nurses told me to look over at the scale and I saw him and was filled with utter joy and amazement. They then stuck him on me and I just held him for the first 1.5 hours of his life. Just him and I. He was so happy and when I think about it to this day it just baffles my mind that this little guy came out of me!!

Nathan was so proud and to this day when he talks about seeing Lincoln born he still gets all welled up and I can tell he really is proud of me. Sorry there are no pictures of Nate and Lincoln right away we didn't manage to get any! My parents have some though.

The next day.
Of course he is sporting his Ravens beanie with a fist pump to boot in victory!

I have to thank all the nurses, my husband, my mother, and all of our family that came and waited in the waiting room for Lincoln. The nurses were utterly amazing at Sutter Memorial and Serena my labor and delivery nurse was absolutely incredible. I even had about 5 nurses in the room when I was pushing and delivering Lincoln and normally you only get one! They we're so supportive during the 2 hours I was pushing and delivering Lincoln that I felt so loved. The best comment I received was from another nurse when I was in recovery and she told me that, "Since this is your first baby, you don't even realize how special what you did was. Women just don't push out babies like you did anymore, its so old school." Now I realize that plenty of women, have pushed out babies with out medication but in today's society it is few and far in between.

My next blog will be about the experience of having a low medicated/non-medicated childbirth and my thoughts/opinions on how it is possible ladies and how rewarding it is! Of course it doesn't mean that you can't use an epidural! I say if you need 'em them get 'em! What matters is that you get this precious little soul out and how you do it is up to you!

~Julia