Nolan's Birth- The un-cut version...

It is truly amazing how fast your life can change! I know we had about 9 months to prepare for the birth of our first baby but it seems like everything changed in a matter of hours, not months! After our experience my midwife told me to share our story with as many people as possible, naturally I will start with telling you, my loyal followers!

Thanksgiving night we finished our run around visiting all our relatives and eating tons of food! We ate lunch at Eric's Grandmomma's, then mid-day dinner at my parents, then dinner, dinner at Nana's. I have joked the entire time that I was sure to be in labor on Thanksgiving because I love all the Thanksgiving foods so much, but nope, no contractions what-so-ever. We headed home about 7pm and I was eager to put up our Christmas decor that evening. My Daddy and Gail were coming to visit for the weekend so I wanted to have everything ready before they arrived. Eric and I worked pretty diligently until about 10:30 and we went to bed (well Eric finished watching a football game first and thus didn't sleep til 11:30, this is important later in the story...). 11:50 I woke up and HAD to pee, immediately- this was not new since Baby T had dropped into my pelvis the last few weeks, but as I got up I knew my water had broken. No, not all over the bed, but I defiantly had leaked in my PJ's. No worries, I thought, "Baby T will be born today! I love November 25th, that's a great birthday! I will simply labor here at home as long as possible and let Eric sleep as long as possible until I can handle the pain no longer". So I got in the tub, that's what they say to do ya know. Plus I continued to leak water so I didn't want to have clothes on anyway. Plus, I was having contractions, and they hurt. I didn't time them yet, I had plenty of time I knew because this was my first baby and everyone had told me that...well,  I was in the shower/tub about 20 minutes, those contractions were no joke! I got out and woke up Eric. told him what was up and that I needed him to time these things. We were timing them at 2 minutes apart and only lasting 30-45 seconds! That can't be right I told him, they should be lasting longer if they are that close together, and they can't be that close together because I had only been contracting like 30 minutes! Well with the horribleness of the contractions we decided to call the midwife anyway just to see what she thought (I was sure she would tell us to stay at home as long as possible, and sure I was being a baby with these contractions!). She told us we better come on in and get checked if we thought they were 2 minutes apart. So we finished packing up our stuff and headed out, we didn't call anyone at this point because I was certain we had plenty of time to be in labor and notify everyone during daylight hours...

We got to VUMC at about 2am. The ride to the hospital was horrible...I could not sit up straight, had to lay my seat all the way down and opened my window (about 40 degrees outside that night....). Contracting the entire way there. In the parking lot I told Eric there would be no natural birth, I obviously could not do it, my mind was mush, I could not focus on anything but the pain. Although we talked about him being strong when I was weak, he saw my pain and quickly agreed with whatever I wanted...so got to the ER and checked in (p.s. it is very difficult to remain calm during a contraction when they are asking for insurance cards and ID's). The L and D people came for me right away with a wheelchair, I again did not want to sit down but I really didn't want to walk either so I sat and the super sweet care partner stopped the chair during my 3 contractions on the ride to the floor. When we got up there they were planning to admit us in the triage room first but the Charge nurse said they had some open beds in Land D and she felt my belly during a contraction and said she was pretty sure they would keep me so we were admitted straight to L and D (the CN also said my contractions felt moderate I would like to show her moderate in hindsight...). Anyway we got to the room by 0230 and hooked up to the monitor and vital signs and all that business, then the midwife finally got there and checked me! She looked so shocked when she said "umm that baby's head is right there...you are completely dilated and +1 station. When you feel the urge to push go right ahead!" Eric and I were shocked! What about all that first baby business, it will take 12 to 24 hours, ect? Already we are a 10? No way!!! So Eric starts texting and calling family right away. The next contraction I thought "well, I could push" and so I started pushing, while everyone around us were so busy setting up the room and putting on sterile stuff. I told them too I would love something to help with pain, I knew most options were out at this point because we were so far along, but they did offer laughing gas, and I said please. So anesthesia was paged. I continued pushing for a long time...the anesthesia girl came after about an hour of pushing (grrr...), then had issues setting it up, so I am pretty sure I ended up with about 2 puffs of that stuff through the whole thing, which by the way did nothing for my pain but the mask was a good distraction because I thought maybe this will help. This is about the time, Eric starts to feel lightheaded, my husband has never had a weak stomach, but he said the smell of the laughing gas made him feel bad and he looked like a ghost! I ordered him to sit and drink water, which he did for one contraction and was back for the next!

All the while I am pushing I am acutely aware that the babies heartrate keeps dropping with every contraction/push. My ears are trained on that audible heartrate monitor (thanks to all the procedures we do in the unit) and I knew what was going on, the midwife was so calm and let me know everything that was happening, and what would happen if the HR didn't come up between contractions. At about 4 she said she was going to get help from the resident because they may have to use forceps if the baby didn't come out with the next contraction. That was all I needed to hear to put that pushing in overdrive! On the next contraction, at 0403,  Nolan Eric Tinch was born! I was so relieved and happy and still shocked all at the same time! They put him on my belly and we just looked at each other for a long time, he was so wide awake and alert! Eric cut the cord and he cried beautifully, there was no doubt be got a good squeeze on the way out and those lungs were fine! He also had a cone head (from being in that pelvis for weeks....) and his color was a little pale but he was beautiful and healthy per my assessment! They weighed him and checked him out then he spent some time bonding with his Daddy while they finished with me! The whole night was so surreal, and quick, yet intense! They all kept telling me how lucky I was and even though I didn't feel so lucky then, I know I am lucky and the end result was wonderful! A beautiful, healthy baby and a mommy that felt great pretty much right after. Sorry so long, but didn't want to leave anything out! I wish all my pregnant friends quick deliveries and just know not everyone fits in the "first-time mother" box!