I finally started having small contractions when we were getting close to the hospital, but they weren't too bad. We got checked in at 3:30am and they put us in a labor and delivery room. I got into bed, and I pretty much didn't get out of it after that. I was still 1 cm dilated when they checked me in. The contractions started ramping up, and I truly thought there was absolutely no way I could do it. They were relentless. I had no problem asking for meds, but I couldn't believe how intense they got so quickly. I went from 1 cm to 3 or 4 cms in a couple of hours, and my contractions were every 2.5 minutes. I asked for the epidural and then we were good. I got the epidural around 8am, and I felt immediately better. It was a bummer that I couldn't eat or drink, but I truly didn't care. I was so happy to not have that pain anymore. By 9 am, I was 8 cm dilated, and I figured that I would have the baby around 11am since I was going about 1 cm/hour. But then it stalled out, and I didn't start pushing until 1:20. I didn't realize that the pushing process was hours long. On TV, it's like 4 pushes and they're done in 15 minutes. I pushed for 1.5 hours (although it really wasn't that bad). I will truly sing the praises of my epidural for the rest of my life. It saved my life. I was in excruciating pain, and they were so fast and furious I had no chance to recover. By the time I started pushing, I could feel things but I couldn't feel pain, just pressure. So I pushed for the hour and a half. Every contraction I had to do three long pushes, and he finally was born!
He was gray when he came out because the cord was wrapped around his neck. He came out with one hand on his penis I guess. Ha! So they took him immediately to the warmer in the room and started breathing for him. Eventually they had Shamus go over and see if the baby was a boy or girl. I knew it was a boy when Shamus raised a fist in the air. We finally got to see him, and he is just so cute. I was expecting a not so attractive baby, but he was pretty dang adorable if I do say so myself. He was super tiny weighing 5.5 pounds and super long at 19.5 inches. He is all limbs, fingers, and toes. So cute.
Sleeping at night is hard. I think he's so small that he has a hard time feeling comfortable/secure in the bassinet. So I've been sleeping in the recliner with him on my chest. It's not the best, and I really miss sleeping in bed with Shamus, but I know it's a temporary thing. Once he gets a little bigger, he can hang out in the bassinet at night.
He got circumcised on Tuesday at the doctor's office because my OB wasn't available over the weekend to do it at the hospital. He did just fine.
As for us, we are adjusting. It's hard. I'm not going to lie. It's the hardest thing ever, but it's the best reward too. He's an angel, and I'm excited to see him grow.