My water broke Sunday evening while I was making dinner. Time to head to the hospital! Ironically enough, we still hit a little traffic with people heading home from the beaches area. Luckily it cleared up before we got to the city, and wasn't as bad as Monday rush hour traffic. I was not experiencing contractions at this point.
The doctor gave me 12 hours to go into labor without being induced. Robert and I both took naps. Word of advice: bring a blanket for dads/support people who are in the laboring room. Those rooms get cold!
No progress after 12 hours, so I got induced. Small contractions finally started happening. I eventually got the contractions but was not dilating. I was given medicine to help with dilation. It did not work. My ever clever doctor had some techniques up her sleeve. The baby was not in distress so my natural birth plan carried on.
Labor slowly progressed. My exercise ball and Robert were game changers. The initial birth plan was to go without an epidural. The words finally came from my doctor, "let's get you to the delivery room." Sweet Jesus, it's almost over with! By this point I was in a windowless room dealing with waves of contractions. I was ready to meet our baby.
People have asked how long I was pushing. They ask how long I was in labor. I do not know since I had no time reference. What I do know is that my doctor, the pediatrician, the laboring staff, and Robert were huge supports. They helped me do what I needed in order for us to become parents and without an epidural. I also know that Brooke immediately gave both of us an indescribable sense of joy and elation.
