Contractions started the day before in the late afternoon. Because I had tested positive for group strep b I was nervous about "timing" it right in order to get the 3 doses of antibiotics into my system before she was born. With previous births I just went in when I knew there was no way it could be false labor, the baby was coming and coming soon. So all afternoon I was on edge "Do I go in now? Wait...maybe I'm not far enough along, the contractions could stop, but I don't need a Caleb or even a Kylie scenario where I get to the hospital and out pops the baby! I need enough time to get the antibiotics!" And I think you get the picture I didn't know what to do so I prayed and asked Heavenly Father to help me to know when it was time to head to the hospital.
Around 5 I was folding laundry and putting kid's clothes away when I felt a trickle I couldn't stop..."did my water just break?" I tell Eric who calls my visiting teacher, who had earlier offered to watch our kids for us, no answer I start to panic a little but try and keep busy. 20 minutes later my visiting teacher calls us and lets us know she's on her way over. Once she arrives Eric and I head out. I'm a little worried because my contractions haven't intensified and they normally do once my water breaks.
We arrive at the hospital around 6 and the they're all aware that I have quick births so they're trying to get my settled in fast and I'm worried because my contractions haven't stopped but they haven't gotten any worse...so maybe this is false labor :(
I'm tested to see if there is any amniotic fluid present, there is. I'm hooked up to an IV, which ends up not being so bad, hallelujah! So grateful it wasn't another horrid experience like Lily's was (5 attempts equals incredibly sore bruised hands). The first dose of antibiotics goes in around 6:30 and it burns, it actually hurts more then my contractions, which feeds the fear that I might have come in too early :(
Its 7:30 pm and my first dose of antibiotics is completed. The nurse lets me walk the very small hall in my lovely hospital gown for an hour cause I feel like my contractions are not as intense as they originally were. Around 9:30 pm we begin the second dose of antibiotics, thankfully it doesn't burn as much. By 10:30 pm the second dose is complete, both Eric and I are incredibly hungry cause we didn't eat dinner, we figured from past experience we didn't have time, apparently we did :( Eric goes and buys a few snacks from the vending machines. I'm frustrated that my contractions aren't doing anything and worried that maybe this was false labor. Upon arrival I truly believed I'd maybe get one dose of antibiotics in and she'd be out but that was definitely not the case. I was also embarrassed because here I had warned them that my births are quick and this one was dragging on forever. Little Audrey was making me out to be a liar!
Around 11 we discuss with the nurse the option of putting me on pattosin to help my contractions along. I'm started on a very low dose, which will be increased a little every hour so it won't force my body into a harder labor then I need or want :) Midnight comes and goes, so much for sharing a birthday with Uncle Arthur. Contractions still haven't changed, pattosin is increased. Mean while I'm super tiered but can't sleep, Eric falls asleep for a couple hours though, not gonna lie I was tad jealous. Around 2:30 I'm given the last dose of antibiotics and my patossin is increased. My contractions finally start to intensify. By 3:30 I've completed my last dose of antibiotics and my contractions are strong enough that they actually feel like they're finally doing something :)
At 4:20 a.m. my water really breaks, the nurse believes that I may have had a small leak to begin with and that's why the amniotic test came back positive. The Contractions intensify quickly, doctor is called in and three pushes later Audrey is born and boy was I glad to finally get to hold her!
Welcome to the family Audrey Hazel, we sure do love you!!
