Our precious little Hudson arrived in dramatic fashion on June 22nd 2014 at 5:12pm. He weighed 6lb 4oz and was 20 inches long.
I'll back up a bit..
I ran/walked/exercised the entire pregnancy and was only dilated 1cm up until the very end. I had Braxton Hicks but nothing consistent. I couldn't believe it and joked that I'd end up going the full 40 weeks. Crazy! I kept up with a MD friend of mine throughout the pregnancy and she told me that if the contractions became regular to head to the hospital because your body is much more efficient the 4th time around. I waited for consistency. And hoped she would be able to make it to my delivery. Middle of June... I became uncomfortable during the night on a few occasions but that was about it.
Sunday June 22nd. Woke up and went to church as a family. I had a painful contraction walking into church but that was it. Spoke with a neighbor nearby about the pregnancy and wondered if I'd be there the following week. Came home, got kids lunch and down for a nap, and headed out for a brisk walk in the neighborhood. Not super comfortable and had another painful contraction or two. Headed to the grocery store and had 2 more painful contractions. Still nothing regular. I came into the house and mentioned to Matt that I had had a couple painful ones while shopping. Nothing regular though. We then pack the kids in the car and head to the pool. Within minutes of getting into the water, I have a painful contraction and don't really want to play with the kiddos during it. Then another. There is no clock, so I ask the neighbors to time them for me. Still chatty but definitely more uncomfortable. And another. Every 7min or so. I get out of the pool and sit wondering if the bouncing of my uterus is irritating things. Then BAM BAM. Two more within minutes. Then, I have to go to the bathroom. And BAM another. I have a look of concern and tell Matt that we need to get home and maybe if I lie down things will settle down. He tells me to call my mom and put her on stand by. I walk to the car in a good bit of pain and call her at 3:46pm. She says, "We are headed right there." Get home and contractions are coming fast and furious. Have no bag packed. Find a pink sports bra, go into the laundry room and find some maternity clothes, pack a quick bag, pull my wet hair up and head back downstairs. By this point, I realize that we've got to leave for the hospital before my parents arrive. Matt calls a couple friends but no one answers. He runs outside, finds a neighbor and we leave. Northside Atl is 30 min away but my OB doesn't come to Forsyth. Because I was only 1cm all along and contractions literally just became regular I figure we'll make the drive no problem. I call the OB on call on the way down having to stop during our conversation and breath through a LONG contraction. They're coming every 3 min and lasting longer. Notify MD friend via text and she says she'll head there. Matt is flying down 400 as I'm gripping the car door in tremendous pain by this point. We arrive and head into L & D. I'm bent over the front desk doing my best to answer questions but seriously think I'm either going to black out or vomit everywhere or both. The pain was THAT bad. Probably a little dehydrated from the sun too which didn't help matters. Nurse FINALLY comes and wheels me off to a room. I curl in the bed in a fetal position. She checks me. 9cm with a bulging bag. I want epidural so they pop in a IV and run fluids fast. SOOO thankful the nurse didn't say no and allow me to lose hope. I held onto that tiny bit of hope. All I can say is, "someone please help me." My eyes stay closed, I'm curled on my left side and gripping the side rail with all my might. MD friend makes it and offers me support. Then pressure, and my body is forcing me to grunt and bear down with every contraction. Horrendous pain. 5:10pm I feel water leaking then hear a pop and my water explodes everywhere. Then, they ask if I want to push. Obviously no time for epidural. I ask if he will come fast like the others and they say, "yes". Ok. Burning burning and out he comes at 5:12pm. Dr managed to get gloves on but that was about it. Bed not down or anything. Then...instant pain relief! Instant! I kid you not! Gone. The dread of the next contraction is completely gone. Relief. Shock. What just happened? My hair is still wet from the pool! Nurse informs me that I was only hooked up to the monitor for 25min. Precipitous-check!
This pic says it all. Worst-pain-of-my-entire-life-x a billion finally gone! Relief. This was taken just moments after Hudson was born thanks to a very special MD friend who miraculously happened to make the delivery.
The following pic is so special to me. I sat alone in the hospital room the following morning, turned on music on my phone and "How Great Thou Art" begins to play as I snuggled my little miracle. The entire delivery experience happened SO fast that I just sat and took it all in. In awe and wonder of what I had just experienced and the tremendous blessing that I now held. I'll treasure this always.
The peace and quiet didn't last long :) Family of 6! We celebrated Allie's bday on the 23rd right there in the hospital room. I wouldn't have dreamed Hudson would have arrived before her bday.
I sort of figured that our 4th would be an induction like the previous two and wondered how I would be in the moment and really soak in our last labor and delivery experience. God obviously had other plans. To go out with a bang! Blessed beyond measure!
