Today was my delivery day! Diane came to pick me up today because Mike was on call last night. He doesn't get off work until 7am and that is when I have to be at the hospital. We took Ashlyn to Amy and Robert's house, and off to the hospital we went. I was registered by 7:30am and had my IV in by 7:40am. Dr. White checked me at 7:47am, and I was the same measurements that I was on Monday (2-3 cm, 80% effaced, and 0 station). She broke my water at 7:55am,and by 8am, they had started me on Ptocin. The nurse came back in at 8:15am, raised the ptocin amount, and checked my blood pressure. At 11am the nurse checked me, but I had not changed much. I thinned out more but not much progress. My parents drove up to Indy this morning and were at the hospital by 12pm. My contractions were becoming much stronger by 12:30pm, and Dr. White said I was still smiling, so she raised the ptocin more frequently. At 2pm, they did another check on me. I was 4-5cm, same effacement, and I had dropped a bit more. The nurse told me I could have a liquid menu to choose something to eat, and I couldn't believe it. This hospital was so much different than the last one. I couldn't have anything but ice chips last time, and this time I can have water and now a liquid menu. Needless to say, I was extremely excited about that! At 2:30pm I had 2 bowls of cherry jello, and it was fantastic! By now my contractions were much harder, but I was still able to breathe through them. My nurse came back in to raise my ptocin, and I had just had 3 contractions right in a row that were extremely bad. I decided to get an epidural. At 3pm the anesthesiologist came in to give me my epidural. He was really nice and explained everything he was doing. Then at 3:15pm the nurse checked me and I was 6-7cm, 90% effaced, and 0. Dr. White came in at 4:25pm to check me and by then I was 8cm, complete and +1. I had to have the anesthesiologist come in and turn down the epidural because I felt short of breath. Once he turned it down, I was great. At 5pm they checked me again, and I was 8-9cm. Finally, at 5:35pm I tried pushing and after a few pushes the nurse decided that I was able to go ahead and start pushing for real. After Dr. White came in and everything was ready to go, I pushed for 9 minutes (5:40-5:49) and it was all over. Carter was born at 5:49pm, 6 lbs 14 oz, 20 3/4 inches long. His head circumference was 32 and Apgars 8,9. Mike's reaction when he came out was, "Another Ashlyn". Carter really looked like Ashlyn did when she was born only he is much smaller. We were blessed with a healthy baby boy and we are all doing very well. Thanks for all your prayers during this time.
