I'll go back to Tuesday, July 31st. We had a doctor's appointment and I was already 2-3 centimeters dilated and 90% effaced. Ben and I got so excited and thought for sure Ian was coming that day or within the next few days. We went to Costco to buy baby wipes (the last thing on our list) and bought a sweet little outfit to bring Ian home in. At the end of the day we looked at each other and were disappointed that I hadn't gone into labor yet. Little did we know it was right around the corner.
On Sunday, August 5th I began having contractions, but they weren't very intense (not painful at all) and they were 10 to 15 minutes apart. Monday they continued and Tuesday we had another doctor's appointment. I was dilated to 4 centimeters and still 90% effaced. I was amazed that I was progressing so much without feeling it. The doctor said he would be very surprised if I made it to my appointment for the following week. The contractions started to intensify just a bit and when I walked around they were getting closer, 5 minutes apart and then 3 minutes apart. I called the doctor and he said to go to the hospital. Uncle Steve and Aunt Mary took this picture for us as we left.
As Ben likes to say, "we got kicked out" of the hospital that night. As soon as they had me lay down, my contractions almost stopped. I was still dilated to 4 centimeters and was told, "you don't look like a woman in labor." So we went home at about 1am. That night I woke up with intense pain in my lower back that would come about every 10 minutes. At that point I thought, "Oh, this is what a contraction feels like." I didn't sleep that night.
Wednesday morning Ben and I decided that it was probably time to start moving our things to the townhouse (we were living for the summer with our Aunt and Uncle and were planning to move that Saturday). I packed things up in our room and Ben and our friend Jay transported them to our new home. My contractions kept coming about every 10 minutes. Later in the afternoon Ben and I went for a walk. I had to stop for the contractions and sweet Ben breathed with me so I could get through them. I thought I might be leaking amniotic fluid and was feeling a lot of pressure--so we decided to call the doctor around 5pm. The on-call doctor said it sounded like my body was ready to have the baby and that we should come in. I was nervous because my contractions were still so far apart and thought we were going to drive out there just to be sent home again. So we took our time preparing to go to the hospital.
On the way to the hospital Ben gave me some advice to "not be so chipper" this time when we got to the hospital. (Ben's note: Jackie is such a happy, kind person. When we checked in the night before the nurses asked, "Are you here for an induction?" Jackie responded with a big smile, "Nope! I'm in labor!" "Oh . . . this must be your first time, right?" I doubt there are many women in existence who can smile that big while in labor. This time, we didn't want to get kicked out again, so I thought we needed to be more convincing with the pain. Clearly it worked!) That was not a problem. I was having a contraction as we checked in. The contractions had been wearing on me all day and I was super emotional! Everything made me cry. They took us to a triage room but as I was changing the nurse spoke to the doctor and was told to take me directly to a labor and delivery room. My doctor came in and said that I was admitted. I was then checked and was already dilated to 7 centimeters and I had been leaking fluid. Everything sped up at this point. It was a surreal moment when we were told that our baby would be coming that night!
My contractions got closer together (every 1 to 2 minutes) and my nurse was flying around trying to get everything done so I could get the epidural. I was getting nervous that I wasn't going to get it in time. At about 10pm I finally got the epidural and felt SO much better. That stuff works like magic. Here is a picture after getting it:
Ben's note: See! All smiles!
We turned on the Olympics and rested for a bit. My Mom arrived at about midnight with Ben's Aunt Holly and his sister Abby, they picked her up at the airport. I had a hard time progressing from an 8 and so they gave me Pitocin to intensify my contractions. My blood pressure kept dropping, but I was feeling fine. Then I began to feel the contractions again on my left side. By this time I had a new nurse and she asked me if I had been pushing the button. I asked, "What button???" Apparently there is a button I could have been pushing to give myself more medication, but I was never told about it! So I was given a shot of it so that it would work quickly.
I could feel when I was fully dilated and felt ready to push. I pushed through about 5 contractions. Ben held my legs and counted for me. About halfway through the fifth contraction, all of a sudden I felt a small warm squirmy body on my chest. Ian cried right away for about a minute and then was calm and peaceful for the new 3 or 4 hours. I cried too. He was born Thursday, August 9th at 3:38 AM. He weighed 7 lbs and 1 oz and measured 20 inches.
Ben was such a great support throughout the entire process. He encouraged me, fed me ice chips, cheered me on, and loved me every step of the way. He is very grateful that he did not feel sick or squeamish at all. I am also grateful for that!
Ben and I still can't quite believe that Ian is really ours. He is practically perfect in every way and we love him so much! Here are a few pictures:
We are now home enjoying life with the little guy. My mom has been here helping and Ben's mom is here for a few days before she takes Abby to school at BYU. Ian is very loved! More pictures to come.
