He's Perfect To Us!: Welcome To the World Baby Boy!

Let's just say my pregnancy was no where normal. I almost lost Toby at 6 weeks, ended up in the ER at 20 weeks with another UTI, had the biggest scare of my life when I started bleeding bright red in the middle of Wal-Mart due to another UTI and got to spend a night in labor and delivery at 24 weeks, and found out I had gestational diabetes at 28 weeks.

I started living at the doctors office, as my nurses joked,a t 33 weeks when I started weekly non-stress tests and ultrasounds at the hospital. It was during a fluid check at 34 weeks, when the tech decided to do a growth ultrasound, that we found out that Toby was only measuring 32 weeks, 2 weeks behind. Also, during my NST's, I was having contractions, some pretty big ones I wasn't even feeling.

When I hit 35 weeks, Zach had to go to Groton for 3 weeks. The night he left for Groton, after some lovin, I started spotting. I was also having horrible back pain. I called my doctor who told me drink water and time my contractions and she would call back. After an hour, she still hadn't called back and they weren't getting better, so I called her back. She sounded irriated and said she would meet me at the hospital, so she could check me and said, and I quote, "I want to check you so you won't call me again at 2 am. If you're not in labor, I'm sending you home." Zach was already gone, so I called a friend to drive me to the hospital. I was nervous the whole drive up, but we finally got there. I was changed into a gown and was put on the monitor and the first thing the nurse noticed was all the contractions I was having. She hooked me up to an IV and then I was wheeled down to ultrasound. They checked baby boy, which again, they noticed he was till measuring 2 weeks behind and checked my cervical length. Once I got back to my room, my doctor was there. She checked me for dilation and said that I was 2 cm dilated and noticed all the contractions I was having popping up on the screen. She decided to keep me overnight to make sure the contractions didn't make dilate even more and told me they were going to give me a shot of terbutaline to stop the contractions. She said she would be back in the morning to check me. I remember getting the shot of terbutaline and feeling very loopy. The nurses told me to try to sleep, but I stayed on the phone with Zach, talking about wanting cookies, haha, until I couldn't stay awake anymore. I was in pain all night, but apparently the contractions had stopped enough and I was sent home.

I started bi-weekly NST's and ultrasounds after that. Toby was still measuring 2 weeks behind. I asked Dr. Shick what was going to happen. She explained that they usually let Mom hit 37 weeks and then intervene. My ultrasounds consisted of cord dopplering and bio-physical profiles. I was always told to wait in the waiting room so the tech could talk to my doctor. Jamie and I kept joking that they were going to send me to L&D and Toby was going to make his appearance. Finally, after my 36 week NST and ultrasound, I got the call from my doctors office saying I was going to be induced the next wee once I hit 37 weeks. I was in a state of shock and excitment. My due date was still a good almost 4 weeks away and I was on the verge of being a mommy the next week!

I woke up the morning of December 10th after maybe 4 hours of sleep, at 4 am. I was so nervous and excited I couldn't sleep. Jamie and Jenn told me they would both stay with me in the hospital until Zach got there. My doctor wanted to start the induction at 7, but I explained to Dr. Allison that Zach wasn't going to be able to leave Groton until 2 and I wanted to stall. She told me to come in later than 7. About 8, Jenn showed up and we waited for Jamie. We loaded up Jamie's jeep with my pillow, bag,and Toby's diaper bag and headed for the hospital. In an attempt to kill time, we stopped at Price Chopper to get snacks. We finally arrived at the hospital and I registered and was sent to Labor and delivery. I changed into my gown and got in bed. The nurse hooked me up to the fetal monitors and put in my IV's. A guy came in to take some blood. Finally, Dr. Shick came in and explained the induction process. The nurse started the pitocin about 9, maybe a little after. I was 2 cm dilated, 90% effaced, and -2 station. I remember just laying in bed, talking to Jamie and Jenn, watching TV. The nurse came and asked how I was feeling. I told her, like I was on my period, but not too bad. She said she was going to turn down the pitocin because my contractions were coming to close together. About noon, Dr. Shick came back and checked me and said there was no change. I remember saying, "Good" and she looked at me and kinda laughed. She decided to break my water. I remember feeling like I had peed myself. haha. She said she was concerned because my water was blood tinged and she would keep an eye on it. NO meconium though, thank goodness! After my water bag was broke, the contractions started coming stronger. They started to feel more painful. I remember they'd hit and I couldn't do anything through them. The nurse was there telling me to hang in there and rubbing my back through them. I remember Jenn asking me after a contraction if there was anything they could do, but I said no. I tried to hold off as long as I could, but by like 1 I asked for the epidural. The anestesiologist came in and we explained that I had scolosis. She said that there was a chance that the epidural might not take and she would try her hardest to place it. She had to do an ultrasound on my back because I still have a curve in my back. I remember my nurse and Dr. Shick being in the room as she was trying to place it. Honestly, the neeedle didn't hurt. I was having some pretty bad contractions and they were worse. The thing that hurt was her moving the needle in my back. Finally, it was in and I instantly felt better. I lay back down and Zach called and said he was on his way. I decided to try to take a nap. I remember having a horrible sensation, I remember telling Jamie, "I think I have to poop. I might poop!" haha! She just calmly said with a straight face, "Hey, if you do, it happens." HAHA! That's a good friend right there. About 3, a new nurse came in and she was the sweetest. She kept calling me sweetie or love. She checked me and said I was now 8 cm! I had progressed 6 cm in 3 hours! She told me if I started to feel like I had to poop, to let her know. She then told me that Dr. SHick would be on her way after the office closed. I started feeling that unbearable pressure and I did feel like I had to poop. Dr. Shick showed up about 4:30 and checked me and said I was 10 cm and ready to push. She told me I could try to wait for Zach to get there. I decided to try and wait. I tried my hardest, but the pressure was so unbearable, I couldn't take it anymore. I told her I had to push. She told me since this was my first baby, there was a good chance I could be pushing for an hour of more. She told me to push and see if the baby moved any. At 4:45 I grabbed my legs, gave it everything I could, and started pushing. The nurse and Dr. Shick told me I was a natural. I pushed with everything I had, especially when he started crowning. It burnt so bad! I just wanted his head out! HAHA! I remember Dr. Shick telling me he had a full head of black hair. At 5:01 pm, Zachery Tobias was born! As I was giving my last push, Dr. Shick told me to look down and I did. He was so tiny and had the tiniest little cry, but he was beautiful! As soon as I heard his little cry, I started crying. I saw his left hand and I was shocked. It was not there. We were told he had a left hand and fingers, but there were no fingers. It took me by surprise to see it! However, he was doing great! He was pink and crying, and despite being so tiny, he was perfect. He even scored an 8-9 on his APGAR. He was 5 lbs 4.2 oz and 19 inches long! I was in shock and awe. I couldn't believe I had actually done it, I had just given birth! I was shaking from my epidural. I couldn't wait to hold my baby. Finally after what seemed like an eternity, the nurse handed me my beautiful baby boy all swaddled in his blanket! He was so tiny and perfect. I instantly fell in love!

Holding my baby boy for the first time!