Peter was due on August 25th, the same due date as Teddy! I'd been in a lot of pain from my hip/leg ligament issue and I couldn't walk or do too much. I was not a happy camper at the end of this pregnancy. As the end of August approached I was so desperate to have an August baby! If nothing else to give Peter his own month! However, little Pete had different plans in mind.
It all started around 4 PM on September 1st. I got my first "real" contraction and I immediately knew. This is it. With Teddy, I called Nick right away and my doctor and my doula. This time around I knew it could be a long time so I did a Kourtney Kardashian and got in the shower! Not to help the pain, but to get cleaned up! I got out of the shower and put on make-up in between contractions. I wanted to look decent for the pictures! **I was determined to get more pictures this time. I have Teddy's birth on video, but very few pictures of me laboring. I considered blowing out my hair, but decided on just putting it back off my face and letting it air dry.
Around 4:30 Nick came upstairs and I told him I was in labor. We started timing contractions, but they weren't consistent yet so we weren't worried. We let Sue and Ed Robbe know that we "might" be in active labor, but we'd let them know. They were heading to a wedding in Hyde Park so we needed to give them a heads up in case they had to come get Teddy.
As labor progressed I had a hard time focusing and relaxing. I could not for the life of me get out of my head and relax my body. I tried listening to my headphones, but nothing was working. I didn't want to move, so getting in the shower or bath was not an option. Around 6:00 we decided it was time for Teddy to go to Nonna and Grandpa's. As we waited for them to leave the ceremony and come home, Nick prepared some food for me and Teddy. Around 7:00, Nick filmed this of me in labor. At this point I was trying to relax by listening to my Hynobirthing CD and deep breathing. Teddy was in bed with me, watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.
I tried and tried to relax. I. Could. Not. Focus! It was maddening. Shortly after the previous video was filmed, I made a decision. I did not WANT to do this anymore. I knew I COULD. I didn't WANT to. AT. ALL. I was going to the hospital and getting an epidural. Period. I called my doula and told her. Then she decided it was time she came to me. She said she was getting in her car and driving to our house. I talked to my sister and she calmed me down a bit.
At 8:30 something changed. I don't know what it was, but I KNEW. I looked at Nick and said, "Hospital. Now." I just knew it was time to go to the hospital. Nick started gathering everything up and loading the car. Then we heard the door open. Sue had come back to get diapers for Teddy. They had fallen out of the bag when they picked up Teddy. She came upstairs to check on me. She rubbed my back through the contractions and told me how proud she was of me. It was so comforting to have her there. She helped us get into the car and we were off!
I didn't do so well in the car. I was moaning through the contractions and I kept repeating "Go deep". For some reason I latched onto that phrase when I heard "go deep into a relaxed state" on my hypnobirthing track. I was so desperate to relax! I also made a decision. IF I was 6 cm or less, I was 100% getting the epidural. If I was in transition, I knew it wouldn't be too much longer.
Our doula met us at the hospital and she wheeled me through the hospital. Of course, we arrived after hours and had to go in through the ER doors. It was the longest wheelchair ride ever dot com! I couldn't sit, so I perched myself on sideways and held onto the arm rails for life.
I got checked in and went to triage. The nurse asked me if I could change into a gown. I said NO! I couldn't lay or sit so I kneeled on the bed and hugged the back of the upright bed. It was not fun at all! When she checked me she said I was 6 cm. I immediately said I wanted the epidural. She said he was right there and she felt I could do it naturally again. Nope. Epidural. NOW. My doula tried to talk me out of it. I was adament. I don't WANT to do this! I know I CAN. I don't WANT TO!!!!
The nurse came back in and said they had my room ready, called my doctor and ordered the epidural, could I walk to my room? NO! Could I get in a wheelchair? NO! Could Nick carry me? Ummm...NO! So she offered to wheel the bed to the room. That's more like it! At some point during this conversation, my water broke. I announced that very matter of factly by saying, "Water broke".
As they were wheeling me to my room, I started pushing. I literally felt like I was clawing the ceiling. I was screaming "help me" and at one point I yelled, "I think I'm pooping my pants!" This was only important because I was still in my own clothes! EEWWW!! **I was not pooping, just in the late stage of labor! I laugh at this time of the labor because I just know I was affirming every laboring mother's decision to get the epidural! I felt some pretty strong pushes in the hall. My doula helped me through one and I finally felt my hips relax. It felt GOOD!
The nurse got me into the room and onto the bed. They had barely wheeled the triage bed out of the room when I felt it. My hips blasted open, the most intense pressure of all! He was coming! When I announced this to the nurse, she said, "Ok, let me check you...OH! He's crowning! I'll just get some gloves." Sorry lady, when I said he was coming, I freaking meant He. Was. Coming. NOW! I pushed again and popped his head out. The nurse threw on gloves, and told Nick and my doula to hit the call button. Neither one of the could find it. Not that it mattered, everything was happening so fast! She unwrapped the cord from his neck and told me to give another push. He apparently came out with his hand on his face. With the first half of the push she got his arm straight and the second half of the push, he flew out arm outstretched Superman style! Peter Harrison Robbe was welcomed into this world on Saturday, September 1, 2012. He weighed a whopping 8 pounds 4 ounces and was 21.5 inches!
This birth was so quick and fast and so unlike Teddy's. Even though I wanted the epidural, I'm so glad Petey had other plans. I don't know if I would have regretted it, or wished I'd toughed it out. The following video was taken right after he was born. You can see I'm still in my clothes, no IV, no gown. What strikes me the most is the look of shock on my face. I was shocked for days at how fast things transpired. But I was so glad it was over!
Here are a few pics from the days in the hospital.
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