It all began the morning of October 8th. After a very restful night, Andrew and I awoke around 7:30 and started discussing our plans for the day. I thought for sure that Charlotte would not make her arrival until the next week, so we were searching on ticketmaster.com to see if we could go to any shows with my parents that night. While in bed I started to feel some discomfort; as I had never had a real contraction before, I thought I was having some intestinal cramping. So, I got up, used the bathroom, and returned to bed. This happened a couple more times until I decided to finally just get in the shower and get ready for the day...about 8:30 am. On my way to the shower I felt wet...did my water just break or did I lose bladder control? Rather than invite Andrew in on my ponderings, I got into the shower. After some more cramping, I told Andrew what was happening. He pulled out his iPod Touch and we started tracking my contractions...3-3 1/2 minutes apart. I was in labor.
Andrew went and woke up my parents to let them know what was happening. My mom came into our bathroom to see me bent at the waist, holding the counter, and rocking back and forth. When my contraction stopped Andrew asked me if it was "mild," "moderate," or "firm," all options used to stop the contraction timer. I picked "mild" because I'd never been in labor before, so I figured these were just the warm-ups. My mom thought otherwise; by the time she looked like me, she was much farther along. I guess I should have listened to her.
Instead of listening to my mom, I figured I had some time. I wanted to finish putting on make-up and blow-drying my hair. Andrew needed to eat so I sent him to Sonic to get a hamburger. Finally, around 9:30 am we left for the hospital...but not until I updated my status on facebook. Priorities, right?
In the car ride, it became abundantly clear that I would not be sent home from the hospital. My water broke and my contractions came on faster and harder. Never has the 1 hour trip to Banner Thunderbird gone by so slowly, yet so quickly. I wanted to reach the hospital more than anything, but my contractions kept me so preoccupied, that by the time we reached the hospital, I was surprised we'd made it so quickly. Either way, I didn't care. I was just glad we made it.
As I got out of the car and wrapped a now soaked beach towel around my waste, I had another contraction. Andrew asked if I needed a wheel chair, but I refused. I made the quick walk to OB Triage before my next contraction started. From this point on, things begin to blur...it was now 10:30 am.
Andrew left to go park the car and I was whisked back to a small room. Through contractions, I answered all kinds of questions and was hooked up to heart monitors. I don't remember anything I said except, "Epidural. I want an epidural." Andrew returned to the room and they checked to see how far along I was: 7 cm and my water had completely broken. I was ready to go upstairs to labor and delivery. So they wheeled me through the halls and we waited in a lobby for the elevator to arrive. I remember lots of people around and Andrew said I said, "Hello everyone."
Once upstairs more nurses took over. At this point the contractions were coming right on top of one another. I reminded them that I wanted the epidural and they said it was on the way. A nursed checked me again...this time I was 10 cm and the baby was at +1 station; we were out of time. Charlotte was coming...no time for an epidural. At this news the room went into full production. Lights were turned on, beds were broken down, instruments were set out, but where was the doctor? My doctor was in South Carolina at a Medical Missions Conference, but I didn't care. I'd take anyone who'd get Charlotte out.
A couple minutes later a small man walked in and tried to shake Andrew's hand. Andrew, holding onto the fetal monitor so it wouldn't slide out of place, awkwardly met the man who'd be delivering our child: Dr. Gullinson. Because this man didn't know me, Andrew let him know that I'd prefer not to get an episiotomy if at all possible. For how fast Charlotte was coming, that was not possible. From here on out, all I remember is pain and then them telling me to push. I pushed through 2 contractions and then everything stopped. No more pain, no more urgency. I opened my eyes and saw the doctor holding my daughter. He put her on my chest and immediately everything I went through was justified. I now held the reward to my labor and I'd do it all again for this, my sweetest gift. It was 11:27 am.
So Vin Disel, you ain't got nothing on me. From start to finish, it took Charlotte 3.5 hours to make her arrival into this world.
Baby Statistics
Name: Charlotte Rose Kelly
Birthday: October 8, 2009
Time: 11:27 am
Weight: 6 lbs, 14 oz
Length: 21 inches
Apgar Score: 9.9
Cuteness Rating: 150%
