Our Delivery Story

My Father-in-law feeding me ice chips during delivery!
My wonderful nurse and doctor!
Our excitement started last Monday, February 2, 2009! We woke at 4 a.m., very nervous, anxious, and excited about the delivery process and the arrival of our baby boy. We arrived the hospital around 5:30 a.m. where they were waiting for my arrival. There were NO BABIES in the nursery, and I was their only patient that morning! CRAZY! So, they did all the routine questioning and TRIED to put an IV in. The poor sweet nurse, she tried in my right hand and hit a valve, and CONTINUED to try to poke and prod on my hand until I couldn't take it any longer and literally wanted to slap her to stop. After a few minutes she gave up, thank GOD! By that point it was almost time for a shift change at 7 a.m. so she waited for the next nurse to get my IV started. The new nurse came in about 7:30 for my new IV in the other hand, and had no problems, but it was still painful. At that point they only started me on fluids. We waited for the doctor to come around. About 8:30 he came in and examined me. 90% effaced, station 1, still closed though. So, they inserted a pill that in some people helps the dilation process start. It did nothing for me, I layed there with no results or changes until the doctor came around at noon. He checked me again, no change. They then broke my water at 12:30. That is all it took to get the party started, by 2 p.m. I was begging for my epidural. Thank God for modern medicine. I can not imagine doing that natural. WoW! So, after the epidural about 2:30, my pains pretty well stopped. My epidural took affect on the left side and not the right, so they had me lay on my right side for about half an hour. The baby didn't like this position and his heart rate started dropping. The next thing I know they are turning me and re positioning me like crazy to try to help the baby and his heart rate. It scared Lance and I both because when they checked me at 2:30p.m., I was only at 3 cm. At about 3:30 another nurse came in to help my nurse re position me, she asked my nurse if she had checked me lately, my nurse said no. They checked me and I was at a 7. They rolled me over on my right side and checked me again 2 minutes later and said I was a 9. The next thing I knew they were hurrying around preparing the room for delivery. In a matter of minutes I was pushing. I pushed just a few minutes when my doctor came in to check on things. He said I would be pushing a while and said he was going back to the office. That scared me because I KNEW this baby was coming out. I guess he changed his mind on going back to the office because in less than 5 more minutes of pushing, my nurse told me to stop because she did not want to deliver this baby. At that time the doctor walked in and in just a few minutes we had a B-I-G boy! Delivery was honestly easy and not bad at all like I expected. It was very doable -AFTER- the epidural. And, considering I was only in active labor from 12:30 to 4:20 p.m. it wasn't so bad!
Kaden Angus Mabe was born at 4:20 p.m., I had requested him to be placed directly onto my chest, and to breastfeed immediately, so he didn't get weighed until about an hour later after birth. He weighed 9 pounds and 3 ounces! He was 21 inches long, and his head was 13 1/2 !!!
I had wanted to avoid an episiotomy if possible, and unfortunately ended up tearing into the flesh to one side, it is VERY painful, and I wish I would have never mentioned to the doctor the I didn't want an episiotomy! It would have been far better to be cut that way than the way I ended up torn. My stitched tore open on Friday afternoon and now I am having to deal with healing up an open flesh wound, which I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy!
I give LOTS of credit and love to my nurse, she was AWESOME!!! And, she did all the work, the doctor literally arrives to catch the baby. And, to sew up the mess. Nurses are much like teachers, they do all the work and get no credit for it! Except the make considerably better salaries than teachers. I am thankful for a good staff and doctor though.
Immediately after delivery, they brought in a dinner tray and a Coca-Cola. If you know me at all you know that I do not and can not drink Coca-Cola. The caffeine in one Cola will make me shake and have accelerated heart rate, so I try to stay away from Caffeine all together. But, let me tell you, my nurse stuck a straw in the Coke can and stuck it in my mouth. That was the BEST drink I have ever had in my life!!! I'll never forget that Coke!
Our baby boy came out with light RED hair and blue eyes. He is just precious! He knew exactly what to do, and has nursed perfectly since birth. I am so thankful for this because I certainly didn't know what to do. He has been a trooper, and doesn't seem to notice or mind that I am in a considerable amount of pain still with the open flesh wound and breast engorgement, plus a yeast infection in one of my breasts. FUN! Pain in two places at once, plus the cramping that comes with breast feeding and the blisters. But, let me tell you I wouldn't trade the pain for anything, because I have the BEST reward for all of the pain. It's just funny to me that the actual delivery went so smooth and easy and the pain is afterwards...
It has been really hard to get a routine established with Kaden because of lots of visitors during the daytime. I have been unable to nap/sleep when he does which makes nights REALLY hard when your tired and hurting. My gift of knowledge for any expecting moms, don't have visitors the whole first week. FOR REAL!!! I'm still exhausted, and the doctor said yesterday that it will take approximately 10 more days for my battle wounds to heal. I am looking forward to being pain free!
Kaden has been such a blessing from God in my life, and I just sit and look at him, hold him, love on him, and thank Jesus for him each day. I truly know what motherhood is all about now. You worry about them from day 1. But, they bring so much joy! We are so thankful for a healthy baby and an easy delivery. Thank you all for your many well wishes, gifts, and prayers. We love you all! The Mabe's