Labor & Delivery: The Long Version

Monday, March 31st: I started experiencing contractions that were 2-5 minutes apart, However, the intensity wasn't too strong. I ended up going to the hospital to get checked and I was 2cm's dilated, however the contraction monitors calculated my contractions at 1-2 minutes apart for over an hour, they classified me in early labor. They wanted to break my water at this time but I declined, I just knew he wasn't ready to come out. I ended up signing myself out of the hospital and going home. I was uncomfortable but the pain wasn't intense enough where I couldn't get sleep, so I kept resting and laboring.

Thursday, April 3rd: Earlier in day I literally took an 8 hour nap, despite my contractions. Now looking back, I knew that was because this would be the last sleep I would get before I started my actual laboring process to meet Baby Zakk. By 4pm, I was awake and was still having contractions and not the least bit tired. Little did I know, I was going to be up for the next 50+ hours. That afternoon and evening, I was laying in bed and had 63 contractions that were intense but it was nothing I couldn't focus myself out of, until 2:27am hit and then I KNEW this was it.

Friday, April 4th: It was almost 4am, and my contractions were getting more intense and closer together so I called my mom, who I begged to "hurry" and get to my house as if she was God and could relieve this pain; Mom's always make everything better though. I was keeling over and was so uncomfortable I just needed her next to me. She finally arrived which felt like hours, and was able to soothe me and get me into a calm place. My birthing coach, Tiffany, came over shortly after to help as well and all three of us labored together for hours at home. I was proud of myself for keeping my focus and not letting the contractions take over. Tiffany suggested walking, squatting, and different techniques on the yoga ball to help with contractions. My contractions were still 2-5 minutes apart but sometimes they even went up to 7 minutes so we decided to stay at the house till mid-afternoon. I just remember that every time I was done with a contraction, I would relax in that same position to get relief but the minute I would move or stand, another one would come on. I took many drink and bathroom breaks to keep me hydrated. Each bathroom break brought on another intense contraction, but I was welcoming of it and ready for them. After all the more intense and close together the contractions, the sooner I could meet my son. At least, so I thought.

We decided around 1pm that we should pack up and get to the hospital. I sat shot-gun in Tiffany's car, and my mom sat behind. David drove separate with the car seat and our bags. Once we got to the hospital, I was still having contractions but at this point I was managing them well. I went in to the registration area, and didn't accept the ride in the wheel chair because I wanted to walk myself up to my room. Once I was there I was greeted by the nurses and I was able to sit on my ball while I they read my contractions; I was officially in labor! WAHOO. I for sure thought Zakk would be coming soon... Hours pass and still, NO baby!

The contractions did get progressively stronger but the pain was consistent, it was almost like I was working out. I walked the halls of the L&D ward, did squats, showered, and meditated through all of the pain. I didn't cry once until the very end when they checked me for what they thought was my last time, but I was only 7cm. The nurses said my contractions were back to back. I was physically and mentally exhausted.

Saturday, April 5th: The head nurse came in around 1am and talked to me to let me know they wanted to put me on Pitocin. I was SO against it but I was also not progressing and my contractions were unbearable, where I was throwing up and in A LOT of pain - which is usually a sign of active labor. They for sure thought I was ready to push and I wasn't even close. My OB told me that he was going to either put me on Pitocin or get me in for a c-section, which I REALLY didn't want. I chose to go on Pitocin and they gave me epidural as well (which was painless might I add), so I could rest for pushing. By 8am that morning, I was dilating to almost at 8cm and at peace, waiting for the minutes I could push. By 11:50am, I was at 10cm and ready to push... 40 minutes later, our sweet baby boy arrived and my world at that moment had just begun. He latched right away while they stitched me up. It was a perfect moment for my new, little family that will be in my memory forever.

Zakkrey James Stern

DOB: 4/5/2014 at 12:35pm

8lbs. 12oz 21.5in

Here are the photos:

Walking the halls.

My Support!! (Minus Jessyka - sister/photographer)

Me in action!

My birthing coach, Tiffany, made this all possible!

David was by my side the entire time.

"Plan of Care: Meet Baby Zakkrey James"

Dr. VanGeem is seriously the BEST!

Complete.

Bigger than we ever imagined!

Baby Feet.

One happy Grammie.

Proud Dada.

The Beginning...

All photos courtesy of Jessography Photos

One Day Late, Update.

Well, I woke up this morning at 5am with pretty intense contractions. They were 3 minutes apart and painful for over an hour. More painful than I had experienced before. David and I decided we should get to the hospital to get me checked out. After David packed the car, we arrived at Los Robles at around 7:15am. My mom met us at the hospital and we all checked-in and went up to Labor and Delivery.

After I was in the room, and hooked up to the monitor, the nurse checked me and sadly, I was only 2cm dilated. However, the contractions recorded were 1-2 minutes apart. Zakk's heartbeat was right on target, no stress there, and my blood pressure was perfect as well. I stayed on the monitors for about 30-40 minutes until my doctor arrived to talk with me. He suggested we could break my water to speed things along since my contractions were really close together. I didn't feel easy about that idea because I was only 2cm's and the pain wasn't unbearable yet. My birth plan is to not have any interventions, until absolutely necessary; which it wasn't. They kept me on the monitor for at least an hour and determined I was in true labor, but only the early stages. I told the nurse I wanted to go home and labor from there until I felt I needed to come to the hospital. She called my doctor and he agreed that it was fine. Especially since I was seeing him anyway at 4:15pm for my already scheduled appointment. I really didn't want to be stuck at the hospital all day and night; they don't feed you, you are strapped to monitors, and it's not the most comfortable place in the world. After I got home, David and I ended up napping despite that fact I was still having contractions. It was less painful but still as consistent. After we woke up, we went on a little walk to help things along before my doctor's appointment.

At the doctor's office, they put me on a heart rate monitor, and baby's heart rate was in good range (see above) and under no stress. I was still having contractions about every few minutes. However, when the doctor checked me again, it was still only 2cm. He sat down with me and discussed what could be going on. He said that I am in labor, but there are 3 types. One, I could have been in "false" labor but since my contractions have been consistent for one hour or more that was ruled out. Two, I could be in "real" labor, meaning I was in labor but in my case progressing slowly. Three, I could be in "dysfunctional" labor, meaning my uterus was contracting from bottom to top, rather than top to bottom (which helps to dilate the cervix). With dysfunctional labor, there is no real way to detect it unless I was to be in a lab but what happens is, it will fizzle off and eventually stop itself, and then real labor will start up from top to bottom as it should. I told the doctor I am in no rush and wanted baby to come when he wanted to. He said, that was totally fine with him and he said I could go home and labor there until I knew it was time to go to the hospital. He mention, I will definitely KNOW it's time. With that said, I felt relief. He told me to just relax, take baths, and to make sure to come to the hospital right away if I experience my water breaking, any bleeding, and/or no fetal movements. 

At home, I was able to finally relax. I ran a bath, lit some candles, listened to music, and am breathing through contractions as needed. The bath really made the contractions less intense, I barely felt them. I could only really tell I was having them when I saw my stomach tightening. Even though my contractions are super close together, they aren't really painful. I'd say a 3-4 on a scale from 1-10. I do have a pretty high pain tolerance but they are manageable and only take my breath away when they peak for a matter of seconds. Luckily, David is a really great coach, he reminds me to relax my muscles, let my body drop, and breath. I tend to tense up when contractions start and forget to breath. He's such an angel with all of this and has been taking great care of his mama to be. 

Now, after a nice dinner, I am relaxing from bed reporting my long day. I know everyone has been very curious about what was going on. I wish I could say Baby-Z was here in my arms but it will NOT be long. I just want everything to happen naturally and I know he will be worth the wait in the end. Thank you for all of your support, continued thoughts & prayers, and all of the excitement! I will keep everyone posted as the days progress until our little bundle of joy is here.