We checked into the hospital at 3 PM on August 30. We started all the cervix softening drugs. The first drug took 4 hours and then the following drug had to be in for 12 hours. So, we were there for the LONG haul. Luckily, the staff at TMC is so incredible and were great.
At 8:00 on August 31 my doctor came by. I had made some progress, and we were going to start Pitocin an hour after he broke my water. At 9:30 we started the Pitocin. Like the medication is suppose to do, the contractions started coming. Around 11 I asked for the epidural. Unfortunately, it didn't take. So, I had to have TWO epidurals. By the time they came in to redo my epidural I was in SERIOUS pain. Once we got the epidural to work, I was good. We still had a ways to go. My nurse Alison was AMAZING! She kept coming in to help get Brayden to make his entrance. She kept moving me into different positions to help me dilate. Just like I did with Brantley I stalled out. This time I stalled at a 5. My doctor came in around 6, and he was concerned that the baby may be bigger than the ultrasounds had shown. He feared that this may be why I was not progressing. We reviewed my previous delivery, and he told me I could go have a csection now, or wait 2 hours. At the end of the 2 hours I had to have a csection if I didn't progress. I asked to discuss this with my nurse and husband. My nurse is a friend for many years, and of course my husband needed to have a say. I REALLY didn't want a csection. We all agreed that we should wait 2 hours, and see what happens. The doctor came in and we told him our choice, and he left around 6:30. At 6:45 Alison came in to introduce the nurse coming in because Alison's shift was ending. They decided to check me, and believe it or not I was a 10. I was completely ready to have the baby. They called the doctor, and he came back to the hospital. When he came in he said he had just sat down at home to review my ultrasound. Once we were all set up it kept taking FOREVER to have contractions to push. We were having full blown conversation waiting for my contractions. LOL! Once the contractions kicked back in; we only had to push about 5 to 6 times, and he was here. Brayden Lee Rice made his entrance on Monday, August 31st at 7:26 PM. He was 7 pounds 3 ounces and 21 inches long. A true bragging point is my baby was a PERFECT 10 on his Apgar test. We have it on video as proof. I had resident doctors they kept having to talk through everything. They explained how rare a 10 is. He was/is perfect.
This delivery went so much smoother after the baby was born than my first. Within two hours I was out of bed, showering and moving to a post pardon room. With my first delivery I had to stay in bed for 24 hours because I was on my magnesium drip. No drip this time. So smooth!
Brayden nursed like a champ, and had no blood sugar problems. Brantley didn't get to meet him until the next day because he was already getting ready for bed.
So, now the next day B got to meet Bray.
He was so excited to meet his brother!
Family of Four!
Everything kept going well, and we came home on Wednesday around noon. We are thrilled to have Brayden in our family, and are so lucky to be his parents.
Going home!
At home in my crib!
