On my 36 week appointment (January 19th), I was 1 centimeter dilated - talk about getting exciting! By my 37 week appointment m(Jan. 26th) I was 2 centimeters dilated. When the 38 week appointment (Feb. 2nd) I was still 2+ centimeters, not quite 3. Casey and I had the bag packed and in the truck for the 39 week appointment (Jan. 9th). We just knew I would have progressed enough for the Doctor to admit us into the hospital. But during the visit the Doctor informed us that I was still 2+ centimeters and then he said: "Well, it won't be today..." I think our grins turned upside down and then he finished his paused sentence by saying: "but maybe tomorrow! Come to my office and we'll talk." We were so beside ourselves we just couldn't wait! The Doctor told us that my cervix was trying to dilate, but it taking it's time thinning, which was slowing the dilation. He said he was afraid Keegan would get too big for me to deliver without complication, so he gave us our options and we decided to enduce labor. He said to be back at the delivery room @ 3:30pm the same day and they would start the thinning and dilation progression induction using a jell call Petocin. He said they would keep me for a few hours to watch me to see if it would enduce labor then, but probably not. He said it would probably not start labor immediatley, but it would made the IV drip induction work faster/better so he would see me back in the delivery room the next morning @ 5:30am Wednesday, February 10th. So, I called in to take the rest of the day to rest before I had to be back at the delivery room for 3:30pm. We had the Petocin procedure done around 5pm and they were supposed to check me for dilation ar0ound 7pm, but didn't get to me until around 9pm due to an emergency. I had not progressed by this time, so they told me to get supper, take a Tylenol PM, take a relaxing bath, and come back @ 5am for the IV drip to induce labor. Well, Casey and I went to IHop for supper - I was good - I had a grilled chicken breast and brocolli! Well, Casey stopped by WalGreens to get some Tylenol PM and I took it on the way home and then took a long warm relaxing soak in the tub before bed. It was around 11pm. We set the clock to wake up early to be at the hospital on time and then just as Casey got up to turn off the light so we could get some shut-eye, I felt a tug... I said "Oooh", and Casey said "What's that mean?" I told him I felt a tug, but wasn't sure what it was. I got up to try to TT one last time before I went to bed - you know pregnant women always have to TT. Well, once I sat, my water broke... Casey was immediately on the phone with the delivery room nurses... My contractions started immediately after my water broke and were only 1 1/2 minutes apart. This put us in panic mode, because they tell you to get to the hospital once your contractions are 5 minutes apart and these were only 1 1/2 minutes... We got to the hospital and they told me I was 9 1/2 centimeters dilated. You only go to 10 centimeters and once you're so far they no longer want to give you an epidural - so I immediately started to worry. I asked if I could still have my epidural and after some discussion, they said yes and they called the anesthesiologist and Dr. Tanner (my doctor). Well, my water broke around 11:00 or 11:30pm and Keegan was born at 2:32am Wednesday February 10th! I wasn't in labor that long - thank you God! They did get me my epidural, which I was so close to delivery, the doctor almost suggested that I go without it - fat chance...
Keegan Joseph was born February 10th 2010 @ 2:32 am. He was 8 pounds and 21 inches long with blonde hair and blue eyes! Every toe and finger accounted for!!!
Casey was so good throughout everything - during contractions, I couldn't speak. I didn't really want anyone to touch me during a contraction, so they weren't getting a whole lot of verbal communication from me, he had to answer a lot of the nurses questions! He was such a great support! He's such a proud daddy!!!
When they handed Keegan to me, it was hard to beleive I had delivered such a perfecly shaped and healthy baby - I guess you just don't realize until they're in your arms!!! It was wonderful - I love my little man with all of my heart!
