I have had a few people asking about my labor. Hmmm it was fast and comical looking back. I started having a few contractions around 11:30 pm, but they weren't strong enough to get me out of bed so I went back to sleep. Around 1:30 I started timing them on my awesome IPhone app--Contraction Master--and they were about 8 min apart. I decided to get out of bed and watch my DVRd episodes of The Hills (I had fallen behind...shame on me!) and keep track of my contractions. At about 3 am I woke Tom up because they were about 5 min apart and really strong. I took a shower and got ready...the contractions being about 3 min apart by then. Tom was getting himself ready and telling me to hurry. I, of course, being vain had to blow dry my hair and throw on a bit of makeup. I believe I yelled at him that I couldn't deliver a baby looking like crap. He thought I was going to deliver right there in our bathroom. We left for the hospital around 4:30 am and I absolutely remember telling him I had to push in the car. He told me no kid of his was being delivered in a car so I better be kidding. We made it to the hospital (the guard at the gate on post saw I was in labor and told Tom to "just GO!" lol...I think I scared him with my screaming...) They brought me into a room and checked me. I was 6 cm dilated and 90% and the baby's head was very low (my reason for feeling I needed to push in the car). They brought me to the room I would deliver in and I decided to go without the epidural. The contractions were SO painful and at that point I didn't get a break. When a contraction was over, I still felt enormous pressure from the baby which was as painful as the contractions. All I remember were the nurses and Tom telling me to breathe, but I was pretty sure at that point I looked and felt like a mix of the girl from the Exorcist and Medusa. Oh well. So much for the hair and makeup. Finally the Dr. arrived and I told them (yelled I believe) that I had to push and 3 pushes later out came Madeline Irene. I did kick a nurse at some point in the end as well but she was really forgiving;) It was a fast labor and the worst pain I have ever felt. But the most incredible experience of my life.
We didn't have our camera or my bags with me at first (down in the car) so the first few photos of her life are Iphone photos!
Welcome Miss Madeline!
Welcome Miss Madeline!