My Birth Story.

I know, finally right?! It may be late but here it is.

Well lets start out with Friday February 6th.

I was having a "needy" day for some reason so Brett agreed that we would go home, make dinner and spend the rest of the evening just laying in bed together like we use to. No TV, no Playstation, nothing but good old quality time with each other. We talked about everything under the sun, we joked and laughed, we really just enjoyed being alone (we figured we wont get a lot of that once the baby came).

Around 1am I figured I should get some sleep, we had a busy weekend ahead of us. We had our birthing class and hospital tour the following morning at 9am and then my maternity photo shoot on Sunday.

I woke up to the worst cramping feeling EVER at about 5:30am. This may be a bit TMI but it was the kind of feeling you get when you really need to poop but times 100! So I stumbled to restroom and sat with NOTHING for a good 10 minutes (another TMI) meanwhile the cramping was still there as well as the worst back pain I have ever experienced in my whole life. After not being able to have a successful poop I pulled my pjs back on and sat on the end of the tub hoping that it would all pass. I decided to grab one of my MANY pregnancy books and keep myself entertained because I knew there was no way I could go back to sleep until this pain went away. I read everything I could find on contractions and early labor. I couldn't decide if I was psyching myself out or I was actually experiencing contractions. The more I read the stronger and more frequent the cramps seemed to get. I didn't have a way to time the cramps so I would just count in my head, they would last for about a minute and the dissipate for a couple of minutes. It eventually got to the point where I could not breath and was literally on my hands and knees on the bathroom floor in tears.

I finally came out of denial and figured that something was going on other than I just needed to poo, I just wasn't sure what so I decided to call my Dr. (thank god for her emergency line). I honestly don't think my Dr. even comprehended who she was talking to as she calmly told me that I could go to Labor and Delivery and get checked or if I could tolerate it she would recommend me staying home because if I am not progressing they will most likely send me home. There is no way Kathy would have told me this if she had realized who she was talking to and that I was only 34weeks along.... at least I hope not.

At this point I figured I should wake Brett up. I think back now and I should have gone about this part waaaay different. I am seriously surprised I didn't give him a heart attack. It was pitch black in our room as I shook his shoulder, it took a couple shakes until I finally got any sort of response out of him. Just the sound of his sleepy voice sent me over the edge and I broke down to a full out cry as I not so calmly at all sobbed "I think we need to go to the hospital!" I have never seen Brett move so fast in his life. He practically jumped out of bed as I explained what the last 30minutes had consisted of. We quickly got dressed, brushed our teeth and put Turbo into his kennel.

Brett did such a good job of attempting to calm me down. Did it work? No. But he put a whole lot of effort into it and I am glad he was calm because I sure in the hell wasn't. As we drove the drive that seemed to last 3 hours when actually it was only about 10 minutes, the contractions got significantly worse. I was kicking the floor of the car, screaming profanities and arching my back exorcist style. Dramatic right?! Would you expect anything less of me? Haha Brett was still doing such a good job at calming me down. He would calmly rub my leg and say "just breath babe" and I would respond with "I CAAAANNNN'T, SHIT!!!" The funniest part was that when I was not having a contraction I would be just fine, crackin' jokes and being my usual wacky self but OH BOY the second one hit it was like night and day and I was ready to do some serious damage to anyone or anything that got in my way. I would be something along the lines of .... 'Hey at least we will already be at the hospital for the birthing cla.....OH SHIIIIT, DRIVE FASTER NOOOOOOOOW!'

We finally made it to labor and delivery around 6:30, where my mom met us as I checked in. In all honesty I wanted to reach over the counter and choke the nurse at the check-in as she looked at me thinking I was over exaggerating and that I was probably just experiencing braxton hicks. They took their sweet time getting a room ready as I paced back and forth in the waiting room.

FINALLY, a room was ready. I was asked to undress and give a urine sample. I don't know if it was the nerves but I could not for the life of me give a urine sample. I was told that was fine and they would just get one a little later (ha little did we know Chaz had different plans for later). I was hooked up to the monitors and right away felt great as I heard our little mans heart beating away. The nurse said that I was definitely experiencing contractions (no shit?) and that I would be receiving a shot to stop the contractions and sent home to rest. Before I could receive the shot my cervix was to be checked, now keep in mind 2 days prior at my regular appointment I was not progressing at all and everything looked just as it should at 34 weeks. I will never forget the look on the nurses face and the words that came out of her mouth as she checked me. "Wow, you are dilated to a 5...... Rachel, you are having this baby today!"

This is the point at which I came completely undone. I burst into tears repeating "No, it's too early, he isn't ready." I was immediately wheeled to a delivery room as I prayed to God not to let me lose another baby. The nurse explained to Brett and I that the chances of a baby surviving at 34 weeks is GREAT and although he may need to spend some time in the NICU he should do wonderful.

Once I had embraced the fact that my son was coming whether I liked it or not I was able to calm down a bit and breath through the contractions until I received my epidural. My epidural was placed around 9:15am and I was in pure heaven at that point. I was checked again and was dilated to a 7. I was told that due to the fact that our little guy would need to go directly to the NICU I would be delivering in the operating room. I had always imagined both my mom and Brett being by my side during the delivery but was told that only one person can be in the operating room with me. We did however convince them to let my mom wait behind a window just outside of the operating room.

I honestly don't remember being nervous as the wheeled me to the OR. I had complete trust in Dr. and her staff. I did explain to Kathy though that I had no idea what to do or expect since I wasn't able to attend my class at 9, LOL. We did a couple quick practice pushes and then it was time for the real thing. I was so glad I had Brett at my side because for some reason or another he was the only voice I could hear. I was focused completely on Brett and was depending on him to get me through this. Kathy performed a small episiotomy to avoid applying too much pressure to Chazs head. Right as I was crowning I was told to push with everything I had and with that one big push out came my little boy. Chaz Christopher was born at 10:01 am on February 7, 2009 4lbs 9oz. His tiny little body was placed on my chest while Brett cut the cord and with that he was whisked away to the NICU. I was in such amazement and could not believe my son was here already. I squeezed Bretts hand as hard and I could as we both smiled from ear to ear crying tears of joy.

After I delivered the placenta and received my stitches I was wheeled back to the delivery room where ALL of my family waited. Of course everyone was in shock at how fast it had all happened, as were Brett and I. The room exploded in conversation but in the craziness of it all I tuned everyone out and longed to holding my little boy. I couldn't even remember what he looked like. It had all happened so fast. I wanted to see my baby dammit. I was told that as soon as I had the feeling back in my legs I would be able to go the NICU to see my little man.

I knew my little boy was a champ when the nurse told me that he was doing great and that he was needing no assistance in breathing or eating! :)

The time it took for my epidural to wear off seemed like a lifetime. I couldn't take it anymore and told the nurse that my legs were feeling fine (I lied) and I was ready to see my baby. Brett and I were taken to the NICU and I cannot even begin to explain what I felt when I laid my eyes on my little miracle. I have never felt so much joy or love in my whole life. I honestly fell in love with Brett all over again as I watched him carefully pick up his son as tears came to his eyes. That is when I knew that my life was complete.