Conner's Labor and Birth

So I started timing contractions around 11am on Friday the 27th. They were definitely consistent and not going anywhere at that point. Andrew had to make a quick stop at work so my mom came over to help me make cookies. I wanted something to focus on so I wouldn't think too much about my possible impending labor and if this was really time or not. We were able to put the cookies together pretty quickly and put the dough in the fridge until they were ready to bake. While we waited my mom and I took Dizzo on a walk. I wanted to make sure that everything kept going, and thought the walk may speed things up as movement is supposed to help the baby move down and into the right position. We ended up walking about 2 miles to my mom's friend's house and then got a ride back as I didn't think I could make it back on my own. The contractions were getting closer together at this point. Walking sped up the contractions but they didn't seem to be as strong. As soon as we got back home and we weren't walking anymore the contractions were a little farther apart but definitely stronger. They were painful at this point, but I was able to deal with them by sitting and laying on the birth ball (exercise ball) that I had. I definitely was not able to sit or lay down while having contractions as they seemed a lot more painful in those positions. I don't know how people just sit in bed while in labor as being able to move around was my saving grace.

Andrew got home around 3pm, but I wanted to make sure that he had enough rest before going to the hospital. I also let him know that he probably needed to let his work know that he wouldn't be in that night. At this point I was almost positive that we would be having a baby in the next 24 hours or so (I was hoping sooner than that, but I didn't want to get my hopes up too much). Andrew went to lay down for a bit and my mom and I put the cookies in the oven and started to watch a movie. I was not able to concentrate much on anything, but the time still seemed to pass pretty quickly. I was able to concentrate on timing the contractions (I had downloaded a very useful application to my iPhone that would time them and graph the intervals and length of each contraction) and that seemed to be what I needed to keep focused. By 5pm I knew that we needed to head to the hospital soon. I wanted to wait as long as possible at home, but the contractions were about 4 minutes apart lasting about 1 minute at this point and I wasn't sure if I could wait too much longer. We loaded up the car with everything that we needed and were off to the hospital around 6pm

When we arrived, I didn't want to be dropped off up front, but wanted to walk from the parking lot with Andrew and my mom. In my mind walking would help me progress as far as possible and I was afraid that I would be sent home because I was not far enough along. I wanted to make sure that I was as far as I could be. It took me a few extra minutes to make it from the parking garage to the admin desk at labor and delivery as I had 2 contractions on the way and I was not able to continue walking through the pain at that point. When we got to the desk I let them know who I was (I was already preregistered) and they brought a nurse up to take me back to the triage area.

To be continued - baby calls!