The Brown Family Blog: Oh what a night!

Tuesday night was just another ordinary night, I had settled in to the idea of being induced and was excited about a potential 11-11-11 birthday. Stuart and I were up later than usual and got ready for bed. We were settling in and laid down to go sleep when my water broke. I called the doctor's office and Stuart started getting ready just in case. The doctor called back and asked me a bunch of questions. I told her I was having no contractions but she said to head on over to the hospital just in case and that she would most likely see me in the morning when they would go ahead and induce labor then. I took a shower and my sweet time getting ready. Then my first contraction hit, not too bad I thought but I picked up the pace and we left home. What a strange feeling to know we were going to come back with a new baby and a new beginning. On the way to the hospital my contractions gained strength and became quite painful.

We got to the hospital and Stuart checked us in at the front desk. We went up the elevator and I was amazed at the pain I felt. We had to wait in a waiting room for expectant mothers and their support person. Luckily, the room was empty because I was not in the mood for chit chatting with other people. The man at the front desk had told Stuart someone from labor and delivery would meet us, but nobody showed up. Thirty minutes later my anxiety had gotten the best of me and I wondered if we would be left in this room all night. I was not happy and neither was Stuart. He finally went after a staff member already having mentioned how long we had waited to the only employee we ever saw. An employee then brought us back and apologized for the wait. But it was too late, my pain was too intense and anxiety was too strong. We went straight to our room where we met my nurse Mary.
Here is the quick version of the night:

11:00pm Water breaks

12:30am We get to our room

1:00am Given medicine to "help" me relax.

2:00am Medicine wears off, next dose....next dose doesn't help. I officially turn into evil beast. Mary calls in my doctor from home because she has to be on site so they can give me an epidural. I was still only 2 centimeters at this point. Holy cow, feeling like I was going to never make it. Super sweet Mary gets firm and lectures me again, this time telling me I have to get control and not move when getting the epidural or the anethesiologist will NOT give it to me.

3:00 am Epidural in place, doc says she is leaving and will be back when I am ready to push, most likely hours and hours away because I am still only 2 centimeters. She says we should get rest and relax. I get it people, I need to relax.

4:00am Mary checks on me and we are 4 centimeters.

5:15am I tell Mary I am pretty sure this baby is coming out, she checks and yep 10 centimeters! I wake up Stuart and tell him it is time! We push with Mary, she calls doc in.

5:44am Sweet baby Leighton enters the world! WOO HOO, pushing was cake...and I had a smile on my face, was relaxed and in control. I was quite proud of myself when they weighed her and told us she was 9.9 pounds! Doctor couldn't believe how fast my labor was, and me too. So thankful.

Stuart and I of course immediately fell in love with Leighton. Having her has also made me fall in love with Stuart all over again and our relationship is a million times stronger because this amazing bundle of joy. So there you go, the best night of our lives!