March 28th was a hard day for me. I was really tired, big, and just had a rough day. I asked Tino to pick up a movie (something funny) so I could just 'get away from it all.' We watched the movie in bed and finished it at about 11:30. We talked about if this baby was ever going to come, and I rolled over to my other side (which is a big feat when you are 3 days overdue,) I heard a *pop* inside my lower stomach... made some comment about being gassy and backed up to Tino to cuddle All of a sudden I was wet, a very strange feeling. If I moved, more came out. After a few seconds I realized my water had broken. This was a first for me. I was having no contractions and so decided to wait it out awhile and see. 1 hour later we called my doctor (who sounded very tired) and asked her if we could remain home and see how I progressed. She counseled us to not wait too long as I had never broken my water on my own and she was unsure what would happen. With her advice, Tino went and picked up Tema (the girls older cousin) to stay with the girls.
By 3am I was checked into the hospital with little to no contractions. I walked around for a bit, lay there, and finally fell asleep with Tino sleeping on the small couch beside me. Hours passed and nothing really happened and so the pitocin was administered. Still not much... so another couple pushes on the pitocin button. This happened a few times and pretty soon I was REALLY feeling the contractions. :) I had decided to go without pain meds for a few reasons... I wanted to know how bad the pain gets and if I could tolerate it, (I've become aware in my life that I am not as TOUGH as I thought I was), I wanted a more alert baby, I wondered about side effects for me and my baby, and although the epidural is SO NICE, I hate the process of getting it. I stayed sitting up, pictured the beach, bounced and rolled arond on a big ball and worked through the pain remembering it would all eventually stop.
Dr. Savage came in to check me and was excited to tell me I was at a five, and the baby was still pretty high. 5?! I normally came into the hospital at a 6 or 7, and I could not remember pain like this. She offered her advice... "It can be done but going natural while on pitocin is the hardest way to do it. However once it happens you'll go pretty fast." and headed off to her office 2 minutes up the road. After she left I had about 3 terribly strong and close together contractions... and feeling like a quiter, pushed the button to ask the nurse to call in the anesthesiologist. Within moments he was there, had me signing my life away, and intstructed me to lay on my left side to recieve the shot (with my other epidurals I was seated). As I rolled to me side I had a REALLY strong contraction, and the urge to push. I told them, they asked if I had been checked, I said strongly I NEED TO PUSH NOW! And commenced doing so :)
Code White calls rang out over the speakers as the nurse looked and saw the baby crowning. It was very painful, and over in seconds. Doctor Reece rushed in and kept my baby from falling on the floor, (as I was laying on my side near the end of the bed to recieve the shot). I felt almost desperate for it to be over, and then he was here! I never even saw him until he was wrapped up and in my arms which was also a new experience. I called out Nani being a girl, and watched my other 2 be born in the mirror... but this time I was laying flat, on my side, with my eyes squeezed shut. :) Dr. Savage showed up about 2 minutes after delivery, checked him out and congratulated me. His birth time was 9:09am, just 10 minutes after Dr. Savage had left. I was thrilled to have not gotten the epidural, and to have that sweet baby with his dark hair and puffy lips in my arms.
Last pregnant picture- Early Thursday, March 29th 2012
The 'calm' after the storm
Cannon Quicio Hopoate
Mach 29th 2012 - 9:09 am
Dr. Reece and Dr. Savage
9lbs. 5 oz.
21 inches
The girls came to meet him at lunch time and fell in love with him right away.
He was a SLEEPY thing that first day(remember my reasons for wanting to go without pain meds??) This was one of the few moments his eyes were open!
Our first family photo... That is a lot of kids!!!
He was lucky to have a lot of visitors, He is a very loved little boy.
Now comes the real work!
