Thursday, July 14th - saw Dr. Heckman and was dilated to 1.5 cm and 70% effaced. We discussed induction for the following Thursday, July 21st.
Friday, July 15th - went to work as a usual Friday. Tia had planned a department dinner at Buffalo Wild Wings that evening. Went and ate the hottest wings I could stand (hoping to induce labor).
Saturday, July 16th - 3:00 am, felt a painful contraction. I had been feeling Braxton Hicks contractions for about three weeks, but they were not painful nor progressive. At 4:00 am I had another contraction, at 5:00 am another, and beginning at 6:00 am I had contractions every 5 minutes until 7:00 am. At 7:00 am I decided to get up and move around to see if the contractions would slow, and they did. We put our house on the market in April, and had an open house scheduled for Saturday (7/16) from 1:00 - 3:00 pm. We cleaned house all morning then headed to Embee's house for a fish fry. We arrived at Embee's around 11:00 am and I was still having contractions, but they were between 15 and 20 minutes apart. I labored on the couch while Mae, Milo, Maslynn, Melanie and Mema played. Embee was having a fish fry party with friends from high school and we were waiting for Debbie to arrive. The busyness of the party kept me distracted from labor. Debbie arrived around 2:00 pm and brought the birth plan and several props. Later in the day she messaged my hands and feet focusing on pressure points to stimulate my contractions and offer comfort through labor. All the while Embee's party was happening around me. Around 6:00 pm we ate fish from the fry, and I must say it was the most delicious catfish I have ever tried. After dinner Aaron and I brought Maslynn home for her regular night-time routine. Melanie came to my house and around 8:00 pm we decided to head to Northpark to walk the mall. Debbie and Embee met us there and Dani joined us too. We walked and walked and climbed and climbed. A friend suggested that if I climbed stairs my water might break. There were no stairs to climb, so we climbed the escalators going round and round, up and down - the contractions were between 7 and 9 minutes apart while at the mall. Below is a photo.
Around 9:30 pm I became exhausted from the tiring day and we decided to head home. On the way we all stopped for gas, then reconvened at my house (Groveland). Once back at home, the contractions were about every 7 minutes and we were all exhausted. I wanted to go to bed and wanted to let Melanie, Embee and Debbie get some rest as I expected it would be a long night. After some discussion, everyone went home and I took a Benadryl and went to bed. I was able to rest (and even sleep a little) between contractions even though they were very painful. My ability to rest was made easier since no one was here (except Aaron). At about 12:30 am (July 17th) I felt a deep contraction and a lot of pressure, then suddenly my water broke while I was in bed. I got up, called for Aaron, and told him what happened. I got in the bath tub and called Dr. Heckman. I told him my water broke and he asked: "No doubt about it?" To which I answered: "NO DOUBT about it!!" He then told me I needed to head to the hospital to get checked. I asked him if I could take a shower first and he paused then said, "I guess so..."
I showered, got dressed, and the contractions started coming one on top of another. They were less than one minute apart and very intense and my body started shivering uncontrollably. I was scared. Melanie arrived to stay with Maslynn and we told Embee and Debbie to meet us at Baylor. We got in the car and Aaron drove beautifully! At one point I 'suggested' that he not ride in the right lane because of the gutter bumps in the road, and he politely moved to the left lane. Just when I thought I could not handle one more bump in the road, we were at the hospital. I walked into labor and delivery at 1:30 am. I had to stop several times to work through the contractions, but finally made it to the desk where they checked me in. The nurse took me to room #10, which was the very same room Maslynn was born in. That felt pretty special. The nurse asked if I was planning to have an epidural, to which I answered that I had not intended to have one, but I was second guessing my decision. Dr. Banks, the resident, came in and said she needed to check me. I told her that she could check me between contractions, but that she would have to be fast because I needed to stand up to work through each contraction. She checked me and I was dilated to 8 cm. I asked if that was too late for an epidural and she said "No, but I really think you are there." I stood up for my next contraction and Evynn's head was coming out. I felt the need to push and the nurses required that I get back in the bed for the delivery of the baby. They were trying to connect the fetal heart rate monitor my belly and get the blood pressure machine on my arm. I did not even have my identification bracelet on my wrist yet (at one point the nurse had Embee identify the information on the bracelet since AB and I were delivering this baby so quickly). I told the nurses that I would get in the bed, but that I would be on my hands and knees. And that is what I did. Embee and Debbie arrived and I told Debbie to talk to me. She stood by my head, holding my left hand and walked me through Evynn's delivery. Three contractions/pushes later, Evynn was out at 1:51 am (I was on my hands and knees and Dr. Heckman missed the whole thing). She was blue and not breathing so they rushed her to the baby table to get her system started. The NICU team came in and she was given oxygen. Within 1 minute she was breathing and I heard her sweet, dainty cry. Unfortunately Aaron did not get to cut the umbilical cord, nor did we get our cord blood collection kit in from the car. The delivery was so fast and furious that I later found out (a whole month later) that Evynn's clavicle was fractured at the time of birth. She is such a strong, sweet baby who weighed in at 8 lb 14 oz and was 21 inches long. I would not have been able to get through it without Debbie's calm instruction, Aaron's firm yet gentle pressure on my spine, and the comfort of knowing my mom (Embee) was in the room guarding us all with her generous spirit. After about 45 minutes, Aaron brought Evynn to me and we were able to begin our bond. I also must mention that the security of knowing Maslynn was well cared for by Melanie and Mema allowed for such peace of mind while at the hospital that I was immediately able to bond with sweet Evynn. So there it is, the documentation of the exciting birth of Evynn Margret Jane. I will continue to review this as I recall details, but this process was the most amazing thing I have ever done in my entire life. I am so thankful for my wonderful family and I will never forget this weekend in 2011. Happy Birthday Evynn Margret Jane Baerwaldt. You are loved dearly.
