I never wrote a birth story for Ethan, and it's better late than never! :)
Matt's best friend, who was stationed in Japan, was home for his Christmas leave. He requested another week off for leave so he would be able to be here for Ethan's birth. His due date was January 9th, 2009. Ethan decided to be stubborn and not come on time, and Matt's friend had to leave. I felt so bad that he took extra leave to be here, and wasn't able to see Ethan.
I had an OB appt on Monday, January 12th, 2009. The doctor scheduled me to be induced for Thursday, January 15th and told me to call the hospital at 6:30 am to see when they would be able to get me in. I was already 5 cm dilated and had been for the past week or so! I really didn't want to be induced, I wanted to go into labor naturally, but I was so over being pregnant and just wanted to meet my son!!
Well, Wednesday night, around 9, I decided to do some more things to induce my labor. My mom had been telling me to do nipple stimulation for the longest time, and I never did. I was desperate! I really didn't want to be induced! And, it worked like a charm! I started having contractions just a few minutes apart, and I told Matt we should go to the hospital! I thought he would freak out and try to rush us out the door, but I think he was so excited and filled with emotions, that he didn't know how to act. I was at the door waiting for him, with my bag, and he was in the bedroom just taking his time! lol
We finally got in the car and went to the hospital. Because I wasn't in pain, they took me to a little room (not the birthing room). They hooked my belly up to some monitors. After being in there for about an hour, they told me my contractions were increasing so they were going to take me to the birthing room. Matt then called his dad and my parents. Matt's dad showed up first, and Matt went down to the main floor with him to get something to eat. My midwife told me she was going to break my water, so I called Matt to see if he wanted to be there for it. He said it was ok to just do it without him. Well, I had the midwife in front of me, and two nurses on each side of her, and I was about to have my water broken, when all of the sudden Matt...and his dad...start walking in the room!!! I screamed and tried to cover up fast and the midwife and nurses quickly got them out! Luckily there was a curtain, but I saw their feet and that's why I screamed lol! So, they asked Matt's dad to leave, and Matt came in. I will never forgot the look on his face when they broke my water haha!
After my water was broken, labor started! My contractions came really fast and started getting really painful! It was around midnight at this time. I tried to go without pain meds for as long as I could. I decided to just take the one where it would just take a little of the pain away and make me a little sleepy. After awhile, I told Matt I wanted to just get the epidural. I just remember having our families in there, and it was so uncomfortable for me for them to see me that way.
I asked everyone to leave because I only wanted Matt in there. I fell asleep for a little bit, and so did Matt. Around 5:30 or 6...I woke up and was ready to start pushing! I remember at that point, I knew it was real! I was about to have a baby! Matt stayed down by my feet the whole time and helped me push! It was just hard b/c I couldn't feel a thing with that stupid epidural! I really feel like it took away from the whole experience! But anyways, after pushing for maybe...idk like 10-15 min. Ethan was finally out! I looked up at Matt crying and I asked him what was wrong..I didn't know that Ethan was out! I could barely feel him...that stupid epidural! Once I grasped the fact that he was out, they put him on my chest and I will never forget that moment! He felt so slimy and so fragile, but so beautiful!! He was 8 lbs 1 oz and 20 in! And I never had to be induced! :)
We then went up to my recovery room where we stayed for the next two days. I was so happy on Saturday afternoon when we were able to go home! I was so glad to be leaving that miserable hospital! Kennestone Hospital in Kennesaw, GA will not be where I will deliver my future baby(s)! I wasn't too fond on the nurses there, and the fact that barely any of them were pro breastfeeding, was difficult to deal with! I found a hat that I will put on my next baby to wear in the hospital and it says, "No bottles please, I'm a breastfed baby" and has a circle with a bottle and a line through the middle!
