Wednesday, August 11

birth story: continued

wednesday
and so we got ready, collected our bags and headed out to have a baby! i was surprised at how active the baby seemed. i figured she was just excited. as for me, i think i felt kind of calm. except maybe on the train my temper flared.

4:50am we took the blue line downtown and hopped a cab to prentice women's hospital. (sidenote: patrick says it only took a few seconds, but i swear no one offered me a seat at first. love that i was on my way to hospital to HAVE the baby, and everyone on the train played 'maybe someone else will offer their seat.")

5:25am we arrived at the hospital, where brian of valet helped me out of the car and serenaded my belly with 'happy birthday to you."

5:30am we were admitted and headed upstairs to our labor+delivery room.

sunrise from our room

6:00am i was hooked up to the external monitors.  the nurse said, 'oh, did you know you're having contractions?  do you feel that?' 

ha!  i thought that was just the baby moving and putting some extra pressure on me!!  i didn't know those cramps were actually contractions! they weren't close enough together though... so pitocin, here we go!

6:30am i was hooked up to the pitocin and contractions continued. the nurse said that someone from anesthesiology would be in to talk to me.

7:00am i was briefed on the epidural procedure and asked if i wanted it yet. even though i was advised by some to take it as soon as the option presented itself - because there is no telling the next time the anesthesiologist would be available - i wasn't ready.  i wanted to feel what these contractions were like. at least a little.


... to be continued ... 

9 comments:

Sarah said...

i love that you had a valet at the hospital and that he serenaded your belly!

Melizjo said...

Seriously? That view is amazing! My birthing suite was half that size and had a view of a brick wall. That's small town living for ya.

Unknown said...

i love that you were serenaded with happy bday too! way too cute :)

Holly said...

I can't believe all the seats on the train were taken at 4:50am! Chicago is full of over-achievers =)
Love hearing your story!

Leslie said...

hard wood floors? gorgeous views? did you want to move in there? :)

i can't believe nobody immediately jumped out of their seat for you. you totally could've pulled the "I'M IN LABOR!!!" like in the movies.

Stephanie N. said...

Best valet ever!

Jo said...

brian. i love you.

The Mitchells said...

what a gorgeous place to be born in!

debi g said...

i cannot wait to hear the rest! i cannot believe that you didn't pull the "i'm in labor, move out of your seat"!!! when will you get to do that again?!... unless it happens that way for #2. ha ha.

your room is HUGE! lovely view.