Musings of a Mother: The Birth of William Lewis

August 30, 2006

I had my 36 week appointment today. I'm 2 cm and 50%, I still had to wait at least a week before this baby could come out. I was totally ready to have a break from work.

August 31, 2006

I received a call from my mother in law, by this time in my pregnancy I was getting daily calls asking how I was doing; so this was nothing new. But this call was different. I was informed that at 94, Lewis Grandfather, Francis, had passed away. We knew it had to happen sometime, but we were really hoping he would be able to meet the newest McCarthy. He just couldn't hold out, he had lived a long, life full of happiness and family. We morned the loss of a great man. We waited a few days to find out when the funeral would be. Lewis' brother would have to make the trek up from Alabama and we were waiting for him to get here. But then there was the question as to when our baby would arrive. I had been having contractions on a regular basis every evening. And already being 2 cm, we knew he would be coming early.

They planned the funeral for September 7th. I had a wealth of emotions. My doctor said she would strip my membranes for me at my 37 week app. That was planned for the 6th! I knew after she did that this baby would be coming. I really wanted to have this baby, even with how good I had physically felt, the mental toll of having regular contractions every night was exhausting, always being on the edge of labor, but nothing consistent enough to really kick it off. But now my plans were thrown out the window. I'm a big planner, and doing this to a hormonal pregnant woman just wasn't nice. Even if it wasn't anyone's fault.

September 6, 2006

One last visit to help us decide if I would make the trip out west for the funeral, I was 2 cm and 50% effaced. My doctor thought I would be able to make the trip out west, but something in my body told me I shouldn't go. I didn't want to be stuck giving birth in Winner, SD, that is the middle of nowhere. Do they even have epidurals? Lewis and I decided I would stay home and take an extra shift at work. My doctor agreed to see me the next day at 1 pm and strip my membranes then.

After my appointment Jack and I stopped at Rotary Park one last time before his brother would arrive. I remember sitting with him under a big pine tree and just trying to soak in what it was like to have just one kid. I knew very soon, that everything would change for all of us.

Lewis left in the afternoon and took Jack along for one last daddy and son trip. They enjoyed the time with family and even got to go fishing with Grandpa Dean, and I went to work. Another 4-9 pm shift filled with contractions every 10-15 minutes. So much fun! Can you sense the sarcasm?

September 7, 2006

I spent the morning preparing the house for the arrival of William, it was quiet and peaceful. I soaked in as much as I could to prepare for what was to come.

At 1:00 I headed over to the clinic, she checked me and said I was 3, a whole cm since the day before. She stripped me, ouch hurt that time, and I was on my way. I went home and took my ceremonial walk down the 21st ST boulevard to Phillips Ave. Its about 1.5 miles of the prettiest houses in town. I went home and took one last quiet bath and had my friend Krystal come over. She was due in early November, we were both so excited to have our baby boys so close in age. She stayed for about an hour, then I headed to work.

I think I went in at 4 that day. Earlier then I normally do, but since I didn't have Jack, I was trying to pick up some extra hours. It wasn't long after I got there that the contractions started. It was about 4:30 when I noticed they were coming anywhere between 5 to 15 minutes apart. But like I said above, I had them all the time so I was used to it and I was still able to keep working. I was able to stick it out all night. Towards the end of shift is was harder to talk on the phone through the contractions. My coworkers kept telling me to go home. But I knew I'd just be alone and at least there I had my mind busy. I reminded them I wasn't going to drop that baby on the floor, I was fine.

When I got home at 9:30, I took some Castor oil, which is supposed to keep contractions going or increase the speed of labor. I was not going to go through another stalled labor! Lewis and Jack returned home around 11 and the contractions became stronger and closer, about every 10 minutes. I called my Mom and Dad and had them come up so they didn't have to drive at 3 am. They arrived around 1 am, and went to bed in the basement so we could leave whenever we needed to.

September 8, 2006

After everyone was settled, I tried to lay on the couch and sleep. I think I was in and out of it for about an hour. None of the contractions had been a regular 5 minutes apart. I'd have 3 of them 5 minutes apart, one 3 minutes apart, then wouldn't have another one for 15 minutes. I remember feeling so frustrated, none of the baby books tell you that is a possible labor rythym. They are all supposed to be 5 minutes apart give or take 30 seconds, not 30 minutes! At 3 am, I went outside to look at the full moon and enjoy the quiet, cool air. I prayed and asked God to keep my labor progressing. I rubbed my belly and had a little chat with Will, "please, be a good baby and come out soon".

When I came inside, my dad must have heard me pacing around upstairs, because he came up to join me. He was welcome company, it wasn't any fun laboring alone, knowing that everyone else was in a peaceful slumber, and I wouldn't get to enjoy that again for several months. I labored quite well and was able to tolerate the pain. I spent much of my time leaning against my kitchen counter or squatting with my back against our couch. At about 5 my dad volunteered to get some video tapes for the camera so we could tape Will's birth. My mom got up shortly after and kept me company.

My dad returned around 6 and I woke Lewis and told him we would have to leave soon. My contractions were around 5 minutes apart, still not at all "regular", but I was unable to carry a conversation through my contractions. Jack woke up at 6:30, we gave him kisses and hugs and we were out the door by 7.

Four blocks away, we pulled into the valet parking, I got out with my pillows, praying they weren't going to send me home. When we arrived upstairs at the L and D I remembered I had forgotten to call and let them know I was coming! I can't think of everything at a time like this! We were put in the triage room since there weren't ready for us and there weren't any open rooms. Bright lights and Good Morning LA was playing in the background. To this day every time I see Jillian Reynolds ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jillian_Reynolds)I I think of the day Will was born. I didn't even get a nurse for the first hour I was there. But I didn't really mind. The contractions were still quite manageable. Lewis rubbed my hands, I got on my hands and knees on the bed and rocked back and forth. I had a head massager that worked wonders! By the time someone came in I was 5 cm.

We moved to my room at 9, by this time the contractions were getting stronger, but I could still tolerate them. I was honestly surprised how much better it was from my experience with Jack. At 3 cm I thought I was dying, and this time I was much farther and doing fine. But still I asked the nurse when I could get the epidural, she told me just as soon as my IV bag was empty. The only reason I really wanted it was from the horror story Cindi Gilland told me about natural delivery. Every woman would want to be infertile after hearing that one.

At 9:30 we put in the request for my drugs. The anesthesiologist came in and gave me my epi around 10. A few minutes later the nurse came in, checked me and said I was 7 cm. "Wow! Why did I even get the drugs?" I remember thinking. They weren't even really working anyway. Within 10 minutes they broke my water and 5 minutes after that I was 10cm. At 10:25 I began pushing. I could still feel everything. My stomach was a little numb, which took the cramping out of my abdomen, but that wasnt where the REAL pain was! The on call doctor was in the room, and he did a fantastic job coaching until Dr. Broderson arrived.

I just remember feeling so cheated. I got the drugs I shouldn't feel this! The burning pain was a major surprise. I remember pushing and pushing for what seemed like forever. Each time I thought would be the last. Looking back, I can totally tell he was my biggest baby. It took me 35 minutes to push William Lewis into the world, 10 minutes longer than Jack, and 25 minutes longer than my smallest, Ella, she was speedy. He took his first breath and let out an ear piercing scream, Lewis and I looked over at each other and wondered where that came from? He was a boy, they aren't supposed to scream like that!