July 10, 2011: Baby Girl's Birthday

It's has been quite a while since I have blogged. It will take me several entries to catch up to the present.

Samantha Caelyn Cook entered the world on her daddy's birthday, July 10, 2011. If the way she entered this world says anything about her personality and will, I'm already proud of her and convinced that she will live up to her name.

The weekend of July 10, I started having contractions Friday night, the 8th. I wasn't in any pain, just a little uncomfortable and went about running errands and had dinner out with Hagie and Connor.

Saturday was much of the same scenario. Hagie, Connor and I did our usual Saturday stuff and eventually the contractions got a little closer and a little more uncomfortable. I made a call to the doctor on call, who happened to be my favorite in the practice, and he told me they weren't close enough (8 minutes a part) and to call back when they were five minutes a part. I didn't really like his answer but also knew that if the contractions weren't close enough together and if I had not progressed that I'd be sent home. So I read my book and went to bed.

Helllooo 3:30am! I woke up in severe pain, having to really concentrate during the contractions. I decided that it was a good idea to get in a hot bath and see if that helped with the pain and THEN call the doctor. I called the doctor about 4:45am and he said to "go ahead and come in, let us take a look." At this point, contractions were consistently coming every six minutes with very little time in between. Wowza!! I definitely should have called the doctor first. Lesson learned.

My sister arrived on the scene at 5:30am to keep Connor and off to DeKalb Medical we went. We arrived at the hospital at 5:45am. I didn't call my mom and dad yet because in my mind, I had plenty of time to call them once they admitted me. WRONG! Obviously the contractions were interfering with my decision making :). I hate it because I robbed my mom the experience of being in the room when Samantha was born.

It all went so quickly. I remember being balled over in the waiting area while they processed my paperwork. I sent Hagie to the reception window to tell them I couldn't sit there anymore and to please call me back. I WANTED DRUGS! After what seemed like hours, they finally came and put me in a triage room. In tears, barely able to talk, and begging for medication, the nurse wouldn't give me anything until they "checked" me and did blood work. I was about 7cm dilated when she checked me and thought I had plenty of time for an epidural. WRONG AGAIN!

The rest is a real blur but I do remember pushing in the triage room even when I was told not to which caused my water break. Sounded like a water balloon busted!! I recall begging the nurse for any drug she could give me. I specifically remember telling her she could put crack cocaine in my bag, I didn't care, just give me something!! I overheard them page my doctor for the second time as they rushed me to a labor and delivery room all while telling me not to push. I recall having to slide from one bed to the next, I recall practically climbing over the bed rail to try and control the pain and I absolutely did a lot of screaming and crying. During all of this, the nurses told somebody to get an OB in the room, that they didn't care if it was my doctor or not, but to get a doctor.

My doctor got to the room just in time. I screamed at him that I was going to push. Quite frankly, I didn't care at this point if they were ready or not, I was ready and apparently so was Samantha Caelyn. Two pushes later and a lot of screaming and our precious, healthy baby girl was here. ALL WITH NO DRUGS! Holy Cow! Time of birth 7:05am...less than two hours after leaving my house. Close call!!

Words cannot express the experience. It was surreal. It was painful. It was worth every tear I cried and every word I screamed! Did I choose a natural childbirth? Ummm, that would be a negative. Did I survive a natural childbirth? Absolutely and I feel stronger in so many ways because of it! I was also reminded that even in the most difficult and painful of times, I am not alone. One of my besties, Amy, came to see me that day at the hospital. She commented that I did not seem myself and seemed a bit out of it. After talking to her, I was able to recognize that what I had just gone through was absolutely an amazing experience, one that did not go as I had planned but one that I will never forget. The experience of natural childbirth left me in a daze as I ran over all the details in my mind.I hope I never forget!

Samantha Caelyn Cook entered this world determined and strong. I pray she keeps these attributes. Samantha Caelyn Cook weighed in at 6 pounds 6 ounces, 18.25 inches long and unaffected by the gestational diabetes. Thank God. She is truly a gift from God and I cannot get enough of her. I can't wait to share more about her in upcoming posts.