Friday morning I woke up having contractions. I thought maybe something was just reacting to having an exam at my appointment the day before so I just went on with my day. While I taught all day Friday I began to keep track and realized that they were happening every 15 minutes. I was thinking it probably was just braxton hicks. They were uncomfortable but not unbearable. After school I decided to come home and put my feet up and get rehydrated because I figured they would go away. Andy and I went to Best Buy to look at camcorders and Verizon to look at phones and they were still coming. By the end of the night I was having a contraction about every 7 minutes. Each one woke me up so I didn't sleep at all. I went downstairs, I walked, pretty much tried everything to be sure they were the real thing. After hours of this I finally called the doctor at 7 AM Saturday. She told me to get in the tub and relax and she would call back in an hour to see how I was doing. I followed instructions and when she called back at 8 AM they were 4-5 minutes apart and getting stronger so she told me to come to the hospital to get checked out. When I got there they started checking my contractions and Madelyn's heartbeat. She was doing good and I was definitely having contractions. However, I was still only 1 centimeter dilated. They had me walk around for an hour to see if that would change anything. When it had no effect they told me I was okay to go home. I didn't know what to think because I was in a lot of pain and did not want to just ignore it. Andy asked them when to come back and they told me if the contractions got even more painful (I wasn't sure that was possible) or I was still having them later that night to call again. They gave me a prescription for Ambien so I could sleep through the pain and hopeful make the contractions stop. Andy stopped at Walmart to pick up my prescription on the way home. I decided to stay in the car because I was in too much pain to walk around Walmart. While Andy was inside picking it up, my water broke in the car! I immediately freaked out and called him and told him to HURRY and get back to me. We left there and went right back to the hospital. By this point the contractions were so strong and I had no down time between them. I don't even remember the ride to the hospital I was in so much pain. When we got there I had to wait for a room...all I could do was sit there and not cry in pain while I waited. I was breathing through each one and doing the best I could. As soon as I was admitted and taken to one of the labor and delivery suites they started my IV so I could get an epidural. Before they gave me the epidural they checked me and I was at 6 centimeters already! We knew Madelyn was on her way and she wasn't wasting any time. By the time they gave me an epidural and it kicked in I had about 10 minutes of contractions and then the doctor told me it was time to roll over. I wasn't sure why I was rolling over and then she was like "Okay, push!" I have to admit, I didn't know that's what was happening and it threw me off. I pushed for about 20 minutes and then Madelyn Christine Lohaus entered this world. She is so beautiful and I cried as they handed her to me. I couldn't believe it and I still can't. I feel so much love for this little girl I can't even describe it. I didn't want to send her to the nursery at all, but Andy knew when it was best for me to get some rest so I could be a good mommy. Thank goodness he had his head on straight ;)
My mom, Andy's mom, Kailyn, Amy, and Heather all came the the hospital to see our beautiful new addition. We came home yesterday and are all doing great. Last night was our first night at home and it was difficult, but not as difficult as I thought it would be. She woke me up about every 2 and half hours to nurse and she is doing such a great job at it, especially for a baby that was 4 weeks early. Today she had her newborn weight check and first pediatrician visit and it all went well. She is getting stronger every day! Andy and I both feel so blessed and happy that our wonderful little girl is here!!! I am sure there will be many more updates because as a mom I am excited about EVERY little thing she does :)
So excited to read your birth story. Congrats again on Madelyn being born healthy and happy :)
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