Hunter William Browning

I am in love yet again. I am so happy to finally be able to write this post...almost like I have been waiting all these months just to do so. So here is goes...the Hunter William Browning birth story.

 August 28th 2012:
 I had my 39 week doctor appointment. I was dilated to 2-3 cm and had not been having any contractions. I was miserable. I was in pain. My legs were throbbing at night. My pelvis felt like...well I'll just say pain!! I knew he was getting big and I was fearing pushing out this nine pound baby! I begged my doctor to induce me...he had been so hesitant before. Finally he agreed and told me he would schedule an out patient induction on August 30th. I had no idea it would entail but I was so relieved I did not care!

 August 29th 2012:
Still no signs of labor which was fine at this point because I was anxiously awaiting the late night arrival of my mom (no way I wanted to have a baby without her there).

 August 30th 2012:
I sent Trevor to school in the morning because I wanted very little to interrupt his new schedule. Matt went to work in the morning and my mom and I cleaned the house. Around 2:30 pm Matt and I went to Chandler Regional Hospital. When we arrived we were taken to triage to begin the process. I was told that I was already 4 cm dialated but I still was not having contractions (that I could really feel). The nurse told me that I was a good candidate for this form of induction and I would most likely come back the next day to actually be induced with pitocin. Apparently, out patient induction is more just like prep work for a later induction. So the nurse gave me the first cervical gel to help ripen the cervix. I remained on the monitors for an hour and then I was allowed to get up and walk around. I had a few contractions while I was walking so Matt and I went back to triage to be put back on the monitor. Once the monitors were back on the contractions were coming strong, fast, and close together. I told the nurse I do not think I could go home in this condition. She then informed me that I was at five cm and the computer had me listed in active labor (All of this was only about 20 minutes). I was getting admitted :) The contractions were getting crazy strong and I told the nurse they better hurry and get me into a room because I wanted that epidural (Yes...I use the drugs and I love them). Shortly after, my l&d nurse told me I was already at 7 cm (still not in a room). The next hour was a blur because I was intense pain. During that time, I managed to make it to the room, my mom arrived, and I was able to get an epidural. I was in heaven once the epidural kicked in (especially because I almost couldn't get it). The next time the nurse checked me I was at 10 cm but Hunter had not really dropped. She asked me if I was comfortable staying at 10 without pushing for a couple hours since he was tolerating the labor well...this way he could drop and I wouldn't have to push for hours on end. My water had not broken yet and would not break until 1130 pm when the doctor came in. He broke my water, got dressed for the delivery, and told me a few pushes and he would be out. I was in shock but ready to go :) Three contractions and a few pushes later Hunter William Browning made his appearance into the world. He was 8lbs 14 oz, 21 inches long and born just before midnight at 11:54 pm.

After a longer stay in the hospital than I wanted, we were released on my 30th birthday (sept. 1st). Could you ask for a better birthday present?! We went home, had a mini birthday party and began to settle in as a family of four.