Lonnie's Birth

For the last month of my Pregnancy I was getting those Braxton Hicks contraction like crazy. A few times they were so bad that we almost went to the hospital, but they eventually went away. So the evening of Wednesday, March 28^th at 11 pm when the contractions started I didn’t think much of it and I went to bed.

At 1:30am on Thursday, March 29^th, I woke up and realized that something was not right. I got up and went to the bathroom trying not to wake Brad because he had to go to work in a few hours and I didn’t want to bother him to a false alarm, but I did wake him up.  When I got back in bed, Brad asked me if I was in labor. I told him “maybe” and let’s just rest for a moment and see what happens with these contractions. Last thing we need is to go to the hospital in the middle of the night and have to turn right around.

After 20 mins, these contractions were just getting stronger and I knew I was in Labor. So we hopped out of bed and starting getting our stuff ready. Luckily, we were living with my parents at the time and we didn’t have to wake the kids up. I knocked on my parents’ door alerting them to the situation and that we were leaving for the hospital.

It was about 2:20am when we finally got into the truck to leave. As we were driving up our incredible long, bumpy driveway…I knew that these contractions were getting stronger too fast and that we needed to hurry so I can get my epidural.

For the next 10-15 mins of driving I am yelling at Brad to “Go Faster!!”, “Just run the light!!”, “I am a modern woman and I need modern medicine!!”

We get to the hospital around 2:35ish am, check in with the ER. (they took forever!) Got upstairs, into the hospital bed, and hooked up to the monitors at 2:50am.

20 mins later…Lonnie Kay Griggs was born at 3:10am on Thursday, March 29^th, 2012. Let me tell you something about having a baby in about 20mins time. It was horrible!!

So lets review that last 20mins shall we. However, I only remember certain pieces because I was kind of in a state of shock with all the PAIN and all.

We got upstairs to the maternity floor. I entered the labor room and I said to the nurse that I want an epidural and to alert the anesthesiologist. I changed into my hospital gown with Brad’s help because I could barely stand. They wanted me to pee in a cup but that wasn’t going to happen. I got into the bed. By this time the contraction were so strong that I was screaming. They checked me and I was 6cm and I knew if I didn’t get my epidural soon then it would be too late. I kept asking for it, but they said First we have to get you into the computer, get your IV in, and some other things.

I hate to be one of those cliché screaming women in labor in the movies, but I was Screaming!  Like I said before…I don’t remember everything, but I do remember feeling the worst pain I have ever felt. I remember crumpling up into a ball holding on to the side rail of the bed. I remember the nurse checking me and saying I was 10 cm and me crying knowing there was no epidural or pain medicine coming, I still didn’t have a IV or anything. I remember me saying over and over “I can’t do this!” and the nurses saying “yes you can, you are doing great” with me replying “ I can’t do this..I suck”. I remember Brad not being next to me but pacing in the background. I remember cussing once and it was the F Bomb.  I remember the nurses saying I can push and me pushing like crazy to try to stop the pain. I pushed once and Lonnie’s head popped out (4^th kid so I was stretched out). Then the nurse’s told me to stop pushing because the Doctor wasn’t ready, she was still trying to put on her apron coat thing.

I definitely remember the feeling of relief when Lonnie came out.  All the pain stopped at once and I felt like I had run miles and miles. Pure exhaustion. Then the doctor had to sew up where I tore with a little local pain med. It hurt a little but nothing compared to what I just went through.

There you have it. I had natural child birth and it was awful.  A few good things….I am glad we left when we did for the hospital because I am so thankful I didn’t give birth in the truck with Brad playing doctor. Even though it was painful, the recovery was much better (although I would take the meds any day). I am grateful it went quick, I cannot imagine going through that for hours. Also, the most important thing…Lonnie was healthy and perfect in every way.

This was my last birthing experience. Little Lonnie the Last One.