As sure as I am that my name is Jennie, is how sure I was that Tshabalalah was never going to be born! On Sunday, October 30th, we woke up and decided to go about our normal weekend business of a late breakfast and a Costco run. We got to Costco, and I started feeling very funny. I had a stomach ache and was having difficulty walking, though I really didn't think much of it, because I had convinced myself that I would be pregnant forever. When we got home from our adventure to Costco, Brad went to get some work done so that he could get ahead for the next day, and I relaxed at home...or so I thought.
Brad left, and I had contractions for the next several hours. They were about 15 minutes apart, and not exactly what you would call consistent. I called my doctor and he said to call him when they are 10 minutes apart for an hour. Around 5 pm, exactly when Brad got home, the contractions stopped. By this point, I figured that I was in false labor and would be going to work on Monday as planned.
I went to bed on Sunday night as usual, woke up twice in the middle of the night to go potty, and by the time I got back to my bed after my second trip to the bathroom, I had a contraction. Immediately I looked at the clock, seeing that it was 1:54 am. When the contraction stopped, I tried to go back to sleep....but was not successful. I had another contraction at exactly 2:00 am. My contractions were 5-6 minutes apart for the next 30 minutes, at which point I decided that since I did not want to have this baby in my bathtub, I called my doctor again. Keep in mind, this was the 3rd time we had spoken in 2 days, and all the while, he was on call. He told me to wait an hour or two and then come to the hospital if I was still contracting at the same rate.
As most of you know, I am not exactly the most patient person...so at 2:45 am, we left for the hospital.
Upon arriving at the hospital, we made our way to Labor and Delivery. We checked in, went into a room to change, and the doctor came in and said that I was 2 cm dilated. She then proceeded to tell me that I had a choice: I could be admitted or I could go back home, and 'labor at home for a few more hours.' Without missing a beat, I told the resident that I would be staying and to admit me, for there was no way I would be 'laboring at home.' My pain could be managed at the hospital, not at home.
By the time we decided that I was being admitted to Cedars Sinai, it was about 4:30 or 5:00 am. They started my IV, my contractions were getting closer together, and I was in pain. I dealt with the contractions for a little while, until the nurse was able to convince me that I could in fact get an epidural, and it would not slow down my labor, which I had heard and was nervous about. I do not do well with pain, and my biggest anxiety about the giving birth process was in fact, the epidural. We called the Anesthesiologist, and two came within 15 minutes. There was a resident and an attending who came. They were amazing! They calmed my fears and talked me through each step of what they were doing. Once I had that epidural, I was golden!
This is me, after I had an epidural and they broke my water
A few short hours later, the resident doctor came in to check my progress. I was 5 cm dilated and while she was there, she broke my water. I now realize why I was so big while I was pregnant, my stomach at least. It was filled with tons of fluid. When the doctor broke my water, there was fluid everywhere! As soon as all of that liquid came out, I was much more comfortable and I could breathe again. By this time, it was about 12:30 pm and I was moved to a Labor and Delivery room. Brad went to get some lunch and I stayed and hung out with my nurse, Miranda!
This is our room when we got to Labor and Delivery
This is the monitor of our baby's heart rate
Several hours went by and I made progress to 7 cm dilated. By this time, my mom and sister had arrived from Nashville! It was exciting to see them, but I have to tell you, at that point, I was so exhausted after being up all night, it was difficult to really have a conversation about much.
The next time they checked me, it was 11 pm on October 31st, 2011. I was so done with being pregnant, I wanted to get this kid out of me! By the time they checked me, I was 10 cm dilated and ready to push. I started pushing at about 11:15 pm. My epidural was starting to wear off and I was in so much pain feeling contractions. I freaked out, refused to push anymore, and made them come in and give me more medicine manually through the epidural. They came in and gave me 3 manual medicine shots through my IV. It helped a little, but by the time my doctor came in, he had to call the anesthesiologist again to give me more.
After an hour and a half of pushing, several more shots of medicine through my epidural, and some tears...
Evan Alexander Zagnoev was born at 1:43 am. He was born 9 pounds 2 ounces and measured 19 inches long.
Me and Evan, right after he was born
Evan on his first scale!
Evan right after he was cleaned off
Evan did not like his first bath in the hospital
Hanging out with Evan, the day he was born
Evan and his daddy
Tiffany came to play!
Grandma Goldie came to see Evan
Aunt Polly came to see Evan
Albert and Rachel
Our first family photo
grandma Noreen came to hold Evan
another family photo
Diane came to visit Evan in the hospital
Going home from the hospital
Look forward to more from Evan's first week at home!
