Wednesday, July 20th began at 2:30am when I woke up with contractions about 12-14 minutes apart. I laid there for about an hour to make sure this was really it, then I woke Shawn up. He knew it was coming that night, because he had stayed up later than usual and spent time getting his gym bag ready to get up early in the morning and workout. Figures, huh? So, we gave it a while and the contractions kept coming, but fairly far apart and not too painful. We went ahead and called our parents. Papa came over to stay with Thomas in the early morning hours. Meme was in Washington DC on business, so she hit the road to head home. Shawn's parents were headed to Myrtle Beach and eventually made it there, dropped off Joseph and turned right back around to head to Raleigh.
Papa got to our house, so as soon as my contractions started getting stronger and closer together we were ready to go! Then....they stopped. Not completely, but they were not consistent and not too painful. So, Thomas went home with Papa for the morning while Shawn and I walked MANY laps at Crabtree Valley Mall, ate a nice spicy, greasy meal at Bojangles, and took a nap. All the while having contractions very inconsistently. In the afternoon, contractions got more consistent and more painful. Thomas came home to nap and Meme made it to our house to stay with him. By late afternoon, my contractions were still 10-12 minutes apart but were getting VERY painful. At around 4 or so, I called my doctor and explained the situation. (The guideline is that you don't call the doc or head to the hospital until you've had contractions 5 minutes apart for 1-2 hours!) Dr. Gray told us to go ahead to the hospital to see what was going on. When I hung up the phone with Dr. Gray, Caroline decided she wasn't wasting anymore time and my contractions went straight to 5 minutes apart and then to 3 minutes apart in no time!
I had heard a description of what it feels like when you are fully dilated and ready to push (I had a very good epidural with Thomas, so I didn't know what that feeling was like myself). I found out what that felt like standing in our doorway, ready to get in the car and head to the hospital. I did my best not to birth that baby the entire way there. I had these milestones in my head the whole way... if we can just make it off the highway... if we can just make it to the fire station near the hospital... if we can just make it to the hospital driveway... if I can just make it to a room on the labor and delivery wing. Well, we made it, barely. They told us to wait in the waiting room and I refused (kindly, I'm sure) so I decided to pull myself, in the wheelchair, along the railing in the hallway to the nurses station to tell them that I needed a bed NOW! Shawn stopped me and told me (kindly, I'm sure) that "next time you have a contraction, the louder you are, the quicker they'll get you to a room." He was right. They led us around to a room that had just moments ago been cleaned. The floors were still wet from being mopped. In between contractions I got undressed and hopped up on the bed. Eight minutes and about two contractions later, our sweet Caroline was born.
We spent about 18 minutes at Rex before she arrived. Dr. Gray barely made it, but as luck would have it, she and Dr. Alvarez were switching shifts and both happened to be right there. We actually got checked in and admitted a while after Caroline was born. I hadn't planned on a natural birth, but that is what God had planned for us. I can say now that I wouldn't have it any other way, however, next time around, we'll be heading straight for the hospital at the first sign of true labor. We didn't get to spend much time with our L&D nurse, but she was great! As usual, the rest of the staff at Rex was just awesome and we had a great experience.
Caroline did great in the hospital and started nursing well. She had some of the clear gunk in her lungs that would make her gag and spit up a little. We had one little scare at night. I woke up to see her flailing her arms around in her bassinet and obviously having a lot of trouble breathing. I paged the nurse and calmly (too calmly) asked for help. They came in and turned that child upside down and beat that stuff right out of her. What didn't come out then got sucked out with a bulb syringe. That was a bit scary but she did great after that. Big Brother got to come and visit and even got a special "I'm The Big Brother" sticker to wear while he was there. He was and continues to be so gentle and sweet to his baby sister.
She's such a sweet baby and we look forward to watching her grow. We love you Caroline. Welcome to the family!
Caroline Scott Williams
July 20, 2011 5:03pm
7 lbs 10 ozs 20 in
