The Story of Asa

So many of you want to know the story of Asa's birth... so here goes. On Wednesday, 10/22, I left work a bit early not feeling to hot. The whole ride home was pretty miserable, but I chocked it up to the tight maternity clothes (everything is tight at 39 weeks pregnant) and my seat belt around my waist. But I did call Andrew and warned him that I thought something wasn't quite so right. He had a bit more work to do for the day, but said he'd be home in a couple hours. I got home, ate lunch, and relaxed by the TV, and all was well. In fact, I was feeling so good, we went out to eat with Zsolt for a burrito at Coyote's! They teased me and said that the next day (Thursday) was an extremely busy day for F2D, so to hold off in delivering the baby until Friday, at the earliest!

God decided otherwise! At around 1am, Thursday, 10/23, I began to feel yucky again. Around 4am (only about an hour and half after Drew came to bed), I woke him up and said that I thought we should time what I could only assume were contractions. I wasn't sure if they were contractions, but I was sure I was in pain every few minutes or so. Drew found a stop watch and we began - sure enough, I was feeling this back pain every 2-3 minutes and they lasted around 30 to 45 seconds each. But since it was back pain and not belly pain, we still weren't convinced I was in labor. I tried to lay down again, but at 5am I went to the bathroom. (Warning: graphic stuff next...) As I sat on the toilet, a huge gush of blood and water flew out of me. Immediately, I said, "uh, this is definitely it." In the moment, as panicked as I was, I was still very excited that my water broke while I was on the toilet - no clean up for later!!! Yippee! :-)

Drew got up and out of bed and started running circles around me. He is very good under pressure and he wasn't running out of stress (although, I'm sure he was) - he was running because we finally knew these were true contractions I was feeling and we both knew that they were VERY close together - much closer than we were expecting this early in labor. He spent quite a bit of time gathering all our stuff, putting it in the car, and leaving the house in order for the pet sitter and cleaning lady that was due to come that morning all while I just breathed through each contraction that came and went. We were in the car for the hospital by 5:40am-ish.

I didn't want Drew to speed - for some reason that wasn't going to help me get through each contraction. I wanted him to go slow, actually. That kind drove him nuts, but he got on the phone to call my Mom to let her know that we were in route and she might want to come sooner than later. We arrived at the hospital around 6am and the check-in was pretty quick because we were pre-registered. They took me to a triage room - they wanted to be sure that this first time Mom was really experiencing labor and not Braxton Hicks. The nurse that worked with us in triage hooked me up to a monitor that showed my contractions immediately - how strong they were and how close together they were. Then, she examined me and said, "Well, I don't think you're going to be pregnant for too much longer - you're 4 cm dilated." Both Drew and I were pretty shocked, but I didn't have time to worry about the number - I was well into breathing through my next contraction.

Now, for those of you who have never had a contraction before - it is true that you have to experience it yourself in order to know if your own pain tolerance can handle it. However, I wouldn't necessarily use the word "painful" to describe them - although, they were very painful. I would more likely use words like "intense," "serious," and "deep." It is true, however, that the ONLY thing you can do to get through them is breathe - and breathe hard! The nurse immediately asked Drew if I was going to want an epidural. I couldn't respond (again, in the middle of a contraction). Drew said, "Well, we had been on the fence about it before, but I'd say now she definitely wants the epidural." I didn't have the energy to dispute that answer. My mind really wanted to go on without the drugs, but my body was calling for that epidural STAT!

They hooked me up to an IV, which is necessary before you get the epidural. Then, I was transferred to my labor/delivery room. When I say transferred, I mean, I walked around the hallway to my room. I was offered a wheelchair (just like when I arrived at the hospital for check-in), but both times I knew walking was easier for me. Sitting through those contractions sucked. I got to the labor/delivery room and my Mom was able to come see me then. Andrew went to get her and told her the rules - no talking and no touching during contractions! Just like her, Mom walked in and immediately came directly to my bed, grabbed my hand, and started talking to me. She learned how to read the contraction monitor and started to even talk through those. I did have to tell her that I didn't need to know when one was coming on - I was feeling them!

I'm not sure how long it took before I got the epidural - seemed like not too long, but Mom says it was well into the morning (like 10am-ish maybe). I'm not sure. The administration of the epidural was by far worse than my contractions - and not because it was a problem feeling the needle stick me in the back, but because I had to endure the administration DURING my contractions. Since my contractions were still a couple minutes apart and the epidural took about 15 minutes or so to administer, I had to withstand at least 6-8 contractions all while hunched over my pregnant belly as much as I possibly could AND being completely still - not an easy feat during active labor!

Finally, drugs went into effect instantaneously. I was pain free - and very tired - so I took a nap! Yeah, a nap during labor! I woke up to visitors and enjoyed spending time with them for a good part of the day. The contractions monitor showed I was still contracting every couple minutes, but the intensity of each contraction was going down over time. So, in the afternoon, the doctor decided to give me pitocin to increase the "quality" of my contractions - the quantity remained the same throughout. He gave me the lowest dose possible of pitocin and things started to progress again. The doc wanted to have the baby by the 6 o'clock news.

Around 4pm, I was 9 1/2 cm dilated. I needed to get to 10 cm and even then, I needed to get to a point where I felt the pressure of the baby before I could start pushing. So, I took one last hour long nap and at 5pm-ish, the doc and the nurse agreed, I was ready. Drew was, of course, with me, and ready to get the show on the road. However, the nurse went out in the waiting room and asked my Mom if she'd like to join us. She came in and had no idea what we had in store for her... she and Drew became the "human stirrups." Each grabbed a dead leg (still numb from the epidural) and WE ALL began the workout of a lifetime. I had the task of pushing during each contraction and they had the task of holding my legs while I pushed against them. And this lasted an hour and a half!!!

After an hour of pushing, I was convinced I wasn't getting anywhere, but the nurse assured me I was doing a good job. She had to keep telling me how to push because I couldn't really feel much of what I was doing. Then, Drew took over the coaching. And listening to him was the best thing for me. About 20 minutes later, I heard my Mom let out this "Yesssss... hoohoohoo," and I knew something was happening - FINALLY. She saw the baby's head crown. The doctor was in the room by this time (yes, he only entered at the last minute). He told me I missed the 6 o'clock traffic, but I was definitely going to deliver next (he had 4 of us in labor at the same stage of pushing around the same time). I knew I needed to work hard because I didn't want another patient to call him out of my room before my baby came!

At 6:34pm, Asa James Zbeeb was born. I was an emotional wreck - I had just worked so hard and the baby was finally here! Drew left my side and went over the baby. His cord was wrapped around his neck, so the doctor had to cut it. And the baby was then put in the warmer for all his newborn quick tests. In the meantime, Mom was still on my right and the doc was under me, trying hard to deliver the placenta. (Again, this story isn't for the weak-stomached). He was pressing on my belly (that sucked!) and I could tell the placenta was giving him trouble. I asked if I needed to push and he said, "Yeah, that might help." I guess it was only minutes later, but it seemed too take a good bit of time, I delivered the placenta. Then, he needed to work on my tear... yes, my 8 lb. 14.2 oz. baby ripped me open. I believe he started to sew me up, but my Mom could tell he had a worried look on his face. This being my first baby, I assumed all was normal, but it had been quite a bit of time and no one was bring the baby to me - I didn't really like that. But I kept hearing Drew just love all over him and I was reassured by that. Still, I was a bit out of it. But I knew the doc had asked for a couple shots to be given to me. And then I heard, "Okay, we've got to get her to the O.R."

I was like "WHAT??? I just pushed this baby out of my hoo-ha and NOW you want to cut me open???" Almost within seconds, all these nurses rushed in my room and took over. My eyes were closed, but I was somewhat coherent. I heard Drew ask if he could come with me and the doc say no. I could sense he was concerned. Then, I felt myself get wheeled away. I didn't know where I was going, but I knew I had arrived when they transferred my body to another table. I could hear the anesthesiologist tell me that he was going to use the epidural to administer medication for the surgery. And I could also hear all the nurses being somewhat frantic. Then I heard music to my ears - the doctor said, "Okay, she's looking better." And then, I was out.

Must have been a couple hours later when I came to. I asked Drew what happened. He said thankfully, no surgery was needed. Whatever medicine the doctor gave me while still in the delivery room finally kicked in while I was in the operating room. Drew said the doctor told him I was losing blood "like a faucet." In the end, I lost 3 pints or so. The doctor said my uterus wasn't contracting after the delivery, so it was difficult to deliver the placenta and also my uterus wouldn't close even after the placenta finally was delivered - hence, the loss of blood. Doc finished sewing me up in the O.R. and I was knocked out for the duration.

But all is well that ends well. I finally met Asa for the first time around 9pm. And, of course, he was gorgeous! We spent a couple nights in the hospital - went home on Saturday - and Asa's been a joy ever since. Unfortunately, I had to return to the hospital for a short stint on Tuesday, 10/28, for some fluids (I wasn't taking care of my breastfeeding body and was severely dehydrated and malnourished). But I came home late Tuesday night and am now, one week later, on the mend in large part thanks to my husband and mom. Both have been helping me take care of myself and the baby.

Almost two weeks in and I can say that I am so in love with my child - but more in love with Andrew than ever before. He is truly amazing and I am so happy with my FAMILY! So, there you have it, the story of Asa. To be continued... for many years to come.