Baby Zeus' Birth Story

On Saturday morning June 26, 2010 I was awaken by contractions around 5:00 am. I knew this was it because they felt different from the usual Braxton hicks. I decided to get up and walk around. After walking for about 10 minutes I realized I was still very sleepy so I decided to jump back into bed. Every few minutes the contractions would wake me up but I was determined to get some sleep. Finally around 9:00am I made it out of bed and into a shower. Today was going to be a busy day and I wanted to get started. After wanting to go swimming for so long I finally made a date with my mother-in-law to go swimming at her place. We decided to turn it into a pool party. The whole family was to meet at her house for food and swimming at 3:00pm. But since it was still early and we still had one last shopping trip to make I convinced David to take me to IKEA, I really wanted to have Zeus' dresser before he arrived. We left the house at 10:00am and headed to Frisco from Arlington. Before leaving I threw my hospital bag in the car, "Just in case!" We made it to IKEA and my contractions were getting stronger. I was beginning to walk a lot slower and was having trouble keeping up with David. We were only there for about 30 minutes but seemed like forever to me. We were now on our way home, my contractions again were continuing to get stronger and I was having trouble getting comfortable. We arrived home around 1:00pm and I decided to lie on the couch and take a little nap. The pain was getting stronger and it made it really hard so I watched the World Cup Soccer game, USA was playing. Before half time ended I decided to get in the tub to help ease the pain. I sat in there for about 45 min. When I got out it was close to 3:00pm - Pool Party Time - NOT!! I had David call his mom and tell her we would not make it. Needless to say we began getting calls at least every hour after that. By 5:00pm the pain was stronger and it was round 2 in the tub. My mother-in-law convinced David that I should head towards the hospital but I just didn't feel ready yet. We decided to get something to eat before we left so David went to Boston Market and picked me up some Chicken, Mashed Potatoes and Green Beans Yum! By the time we re-packed the car and left the house it was 6:15pm. As we drove to the hospital David’s phone continued to ring. We decided not to answer just in case we were sent back home. We finally made it to the hospital and I was admitted by 7:00pm. I was dilated to a 3 and Zeus was still at a 0. Now it was just a waiting game with lots of pain. As they take me to my room, David goes to the car to bring in our bags. When he returns he informs me that his mother has already arrived to the hospital and is waiting to come in and see me. She drove to our house and did not find us there so she figured we were at the hospital. Because I want to be able to move around I am not hooked up to any machines but do need to the observed every hour just to make sure Zeus is doing well. By 8:00pm I am informed that I am now at an 8. I get so excited thinking that any minute Zeus will be ready and I will begin pushing. NOT! :( I was able to sit in the tub 3 more times between 8:00pm Saturday night and 8:00am Sunday morning; while remaining at an 8 the entire time. The pain of the contractions did not remain at a level 8 they continued to get stronger and stronger. During the night I tried everything I learned in my Bradley Method course and nothing helped. David and I walked all around the hospital, I rocked on an exercise ball, I got on all fours, took long baths in the tub and yet Zeus refused to budge anymore. I remember that in between my walks I would look out the window hoping the full moon or eclipse which occurred that night would help. At 8:00am when the doctor came in to check on me, he decided to break my water hoping this would speed the process. He said he would come back in an hour and assured me I would have my baby before noon. All I could think about was that noon was soooo far away, 4 more hours I was beginning to think I could not do this. The pain was so bad I began to cry I was beginning to have trouble breathing and did not think I could do this anymore. At 9:30am when the doctor came back he said I was finally at a 9 yay! I thought that my baby would definitely be born by 10:30am. Well, when the doctor came back it must have been close to noon. And guess what still no baby! He checked and realized that I was retracting I was at a 7 now. I could not believe it. He talked to David and told him we were going to have to do a Cesarean the one thing I did not want. But, by this point I was so exhausted I did not argue. More nurses came in they gave David a blue suit and put me in a robe. It was time. They rolled me off into another room; David was there by my side as they gave me a spinal block and proceeded. At 12:52pm on Sunday June 27, 2010 I heard our little boys’ first cry. I could not believe he was finally here after nine months and 32 1/2 hours of labor our baby had arrived. I wanted to cry so badly but was afraid my stomach would shake and the doctors would mess up. At 1:02pm, David brought him to me and I was able to finally see that precious little boy. I can't explain how I felt, but it was a feeling I know only a mother can understand. I loved him so much before while he was growing in me. But Now I love him so much more. Our baby weighed 7 pounds 9 ounces and was 19 1/4 inches long. He was PERFECT and still is!!!! I was sent to a recovery room for what seemed to be a short amount of time but in reality 2 hours had passed by. Baby Zeus and David were allowed to stay with me and the nurse let me hold my baby for the first time. We both cried as our bodies touched. He was so tiny and so adorable. I was able to nurse him for the very first time and see how alert he was for only being in this world for less than an hour. The nurse sent for another nurse to come in and do all of Zeus' initial screening there in the same room as me. 2 hours later when it was time for them to take me to the recovery room where I would stay for 4 days. :( As they wheeled me away they took Zeus and gave him his first bath. I sent Daddy with him. On my way to my room we ran into David’s mom, dad, and sister, they were all staring at my beautiful baby through the window. Once we arrived into my recovery room I asked David to go get out son. I still remember him rolling him down the hall way and me already recognizing his beautiful cry. Finally the three of us were together again. Zeus remained in the room with us every night. I could not take my eyes off of him and even though I had not slept in over 40 hours I stayed up just staring at him in disbelief. It was an amazing day, a day I will remember forever!!!