We arrived at the hospital at 12:15am on Thursday, September 5th and had to wait in two waiting rooms before finally being checked into a room. They started an IV of fluids and added pitocin to start contractions. They also had to insert a balloon device to open up my cervix since it was closed. The resident tried this unsuccessfully 6 or 7 times and I was in so much pain I thought I was going to pass out even with medication. Craig was getting very upset as he saw how much pain I was in and how terrible the 20ish looking resident was, but luckily she got the attending physician to help out. He was able to insert the device the first time and I was so glad because I wasn't sure how much more pain I could handle at that point. Next we had to wait 6 hours for the device to do it's job and they checked on me throughout the night, but luckily Craig and I were able to get some sleep. In the morning the physician on call checked and said they device had not fallen out yet and she would check on me in a few hours. Luckily my doctor was also on call and she came in about 30 minutes later and said she will also do an exam so I didn't have to wait that long. She said when the device falls out I should be about 3 1/2 to 4 cm dilated and then she would break my water to get things going. When she checked me she happily reported that I was actually 6 cm dilated and she broke my water. What an experience that was! Afterwards I walked around as I was hoping this would speed up the process and started having contractions about 5 minutes apart. I was walking up and down the halls and was able to walk through the contractions, but knew they would be getting worse so I ordered the epidural and they said it would take about 30 minutes. I went back to my room as they contractions started coming every 2-3 minutes and started to get so painful that I could not talk or move. I held onto the railing and pulled as hard as I could and breathed through the contractions like I did in prenatal yoga and boy am I glad I did those classes as it helped so much. I started asking the nurses when the epidural team would get to my room as they were every 2 minutes and very, very painful. Finally they arrived at 11:15, about 45 minutes later and started the epidural. I had to hold still through the contractions, which was so hard to do, but they did complement me on how still I was so that kept me going. I focused on a black dot (it looked like an ant or something) on the floor and breathed through the contractions. Once it was done I was so relived and the pain went away. They upped my pitocin and I took a nap hoping I would get to 10 cm soon. Throughout the day they checked on me, increased my pitocin all the way up to 14, changed my position several times even having me on my hands and knees at one point as he was not tolerating the labor very well and had some heart irregularities. Finally at 6pm my doctor said because he was not tolerating the labor very well and we tried everything imaginable it was time for a c-section. At that point I didn't care how they got him out I just wanted him safe and in my arms. They quickly prepped me for the c-section and moved me to the operating room around 6:15pm. While they were doing the c-section they did mention I had a great 6 pack (ha ha - not anymore!) so that was nice to hear. What I heard next was very disturbing and again such a miracle. They yelled out that the cord was wrapped around his next twice and his body once and later told me he was also sunny side up which means his head was facing the wrong way for delivery. At 6:42pm Grayson Christian Braham was born weighing 8 pounds 2 ounces and was 21 inches long. When I heard his first cry I started crying and had tears of joy that my miracle baby boy had finally arrived after waiting 6 long years. It was the most amazing sound to hear his first cry, something I will never forget and finally it was all real. I was about to hold my son, MY SON!! What an amazing thing to say and what a surreal moment that was when I held him for the first time. Words cannot even describe how I felt when I looked at him for the first time...I was so in love! It was the most amazing experience! I am so happy to be his mommy and can't wait to watch him grow up to be a little man.
Grayson Christian Braham
8 pounds, 2 ounces and 21 inches long
Now, when they told me he was 8 pounds 2 ounces I thought they got it wrong as how could little old me (5'1'', 95 pounds) have an 8 pound baby?! He was a week late so I know that's why he was over 8 pounds, but it was still shocking to hear that.
Here are the pictures from his "birth" day:
Here I am after a very long day about ready to get the c-section
Yes, I'm very swollen from all the fluids they pumped me with for 18 hours
I brought 3 pictures to give me inspiration during the delivery…
1.) ultrasound picture of Grayson
2.) family picture
3.) my Dad and I
Right before the c-section
Video right after he was born
Grayson's Schedule
Going home!
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