Birth Story

Warning...this might contain too much info that you didn't really need or want to know, but I want to be able to remember all the details in the years to come, so here is the story of Jacob's birth. It will also be a very long post.

Friday night 10/3, I was feeling uncomfortable and after polishing off almost an entire pint of Ben & Jerry's Cookie Dough ice cream (like that would make me feel better) I decided to go to bed somewhat early. As usual trying to get comfortable in bed was nearly impossible and at about 1:10am, I got up to use the bathroom. Nothing out of the ordinary. While I was sitting there something weird happened and I thought to myself, what the heck was that? Did I just lose my mucous plug? Nahhh can't be. Then came the infamous water gush and I thought, my water just broke. I was in total disbelief and just sat there, I felt a little bit of excitement, like butterflies in my stomach excitement and I continued to sit there. I had absolutely no clue what to do. Doh! 9 mos of preparing and I was lost, dazed and confused (and half asleep).

I went into the bedroom and started to rub Brian's arm, he didn't realize I was standing next to him and started to turn over towards where I would normally be lying. I said hey, I think my water just broke and he groggily was like really? He too wasn't sure what to do. Do I call my mom? Do I call the doctor? Of course I needed to do both, but which first? Was it really my water or just my imagination. I looked for the mucous plug but didn't see it, so I thought I had to be dreaming, but it felt so real. Then I had this weird sensation and I ran back to the bathroom and the water gushed again. I started to giggle like a goofball. It was really happening. I never expected the water to keep gushing. I thought when your water broke it was either a trickle that was easy to deal with or a big gush and it was over. Nope, not me. At one point I was stuck on the toilet because every time I tried to get up it would gush again. Sorry, I warned you about too much info. LOL!!

I grabbed the phone and called the doctor. I was assuming an answering service would answer, but instead got this automated message...a very LONG winded automated message and when I chose the option I needed it got me nowhere. I hung up, called back, waited thru that long winded message again and realized I was supposed to have chosen another option and finally got through. The doctor advised me to head to the hospital within the next couple of hours and she would notify them I would be coming in. I ran around the house making sure I had everything I needed, jumped in the shower and at that time called my mom. Her and Kenny would meet us at the house and follow us to the hospital. (I had decided to have Brian & mom in the room w/ me while delivering). When it was time to leave, Brian was so nervous and impatient, we actually sat in the car waiting for my parents, when they didn't get here by 3, Brian started the car and proceeded down to the end of the driveway where he sat for the next 5 minutes or so. I finally told him to shut the car off as I'm sure the neighbors didn't appreciate our headlights shining into their bedroom. LOL!! Finally around 5 after, we decided to head out w/o my parents. Little did we know what they were going through just for a cup of coffee.

We got to the hospital and headed up to L&D. At first the nurses ignored us and finally one looked my way and I said my water broke. We went into the exam room where I changed and found out at that point I was maybe 1 1/2 cm dilated. My heart sank into my chest, I had this feeling it would be a long night. I was hoping for more progress since it seemed with my water breaking, my body was doing what it was supposed to. My parents arrived and the nurse basically told them to go home. They were going to insert the Cervidal and that would stay in for 12 hours to get the cervix to soften and then they would start the Pitocin. Nothing would be happening anytime soon. I started to cry because I didn't want my mom to leave, but I wasn't about to argue with the nurse because she was right, no sense for them to sit around with nothing happening. I also was freaked out about the Pitocin, I felt like I had no chance doing this without drugs if I had to be induced.

They wheeled me to my L&D room and about 5:15am inserted the Cervidal. You always here about how you lose all modesty during childbirth but I didn't realize how quickly that happens. I didn't even panic when a male doctor came in to check. I remember them saying something about an anterior placenta and how it was so high up and far back. They had a difficult time putting the Cervidal in. I also didn't realize that the Cervidal brings on contractions. At first things were okay and then the contractions became more and more painful. Around12:30ish, they decided to start the Pitocin and I said can I call my mom now? Each time they would check me I wouldn't be much further along than the previous time and I kept refusing drugs because I didn't want them to stop working when I would need them the most. My parent's arrived and after a little while longer, I gave in and got the epidural. That was pretty painful but once it was in, I felt so much better and was able to sleep. At some point around this time, I was like let's just get a freaking c-section so that it can be over with. Then they tell me they are inserting the foley catheter and I started to cry. All the things I feared most, I was having to endure.

Now, they say you can't feel the catheter and it's no big deal blah blah blah. Let me just tell you. I freaking felt it. I felt it going in, I felt it while it was in and I felt it when they took it out. None of it was pleasant at all. In fact I cried so much about it that they ended up giving me a shot of Nubain and used some numbing analgesic to numb the area. Once they did that I was fine with it in until the moment they took it out. I had to have the epidural topped off twice for the pain. Most of it was for the catheter (prior to the shot/analgesic). It was Saturday evening before I hit 91/2 cm and I felt the urge to push but was told I couldn't because there was still a little lip that hadn't opened and you can't push until you are 10 full cm dilated. I struggled really bad with this because I had to push so bad and it was hard not to. Finally, I'm guessing time wise, around 10:30ish pm I could push. I was told how well I was pushing and how it should have been working but for whatever reason it was not. It felt so good to push too. After a couple of pushes and with me being so exhausted from the whole ordeal, my doctor said nothing is happening and as soon as the words c-section left her mouth I was like YESSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!

They wheel me to the operating room and thank god with all the drugs I didn't need a spinal. I don't know if I could have handled that, but I didn't want to be put out because I really wanted to be able to see Jacob as soon as he was born. Okay, so now I'm thinking c-section, this should be easy. Yeah right. You see, I was so blessed with having a great pregnancy that delivering was a nightmare for me. Enough to make me rethink having baby #2 and definitely not baby #3.

I feel a lot of pressure and tugging and at 11:07pm, Jacob Daniel Sibiga was born. They dropped the curtain so that I could see him and I was so happy he was finally here and things looked good. Brian left my side to go take pics of Jacob and I started to feel this uncomfortable feeling behind my sternum and then in my stomach. It started to get worse and when Brian brought Jacob over, I cried for Brian to take him away because I was going to be sick. They did manage to get a picture of us and the anaesthesiologist put a tray next to my head in case I threw up. While this is happening, they are pushing and kneading my insides which is only making things worse. I start to dry heave and finally throw up. They keep kneading and pushing and because I'm so uncomfortable I start to panic thinking I just have to get away from here. Who cares if all my insides aren't back in and I have this huge gaping whole in my abdomen. I have to get up from this table and I have to do it now. The anaesthesiologist is trying to calm me down but he can't, so they give me more drugs. I think I fell asleep for a moment and then after what seemed like an eternity they were done. Total time in labor 22 hours.

They wheel me back to my room and I get to really see Jacob. He's absolutely beautiful with his squinty eyes and full head of brown hair. Everything was perfect about him. Brian and I absolutely adore him. Stay tuned for more on our hospital stay...coming soon.