I thought that I would share the story of the couple of days before Kyle came to our family. I'll try to keep it brief, so if you want more details just ask.
On Tuesday I was at work and having small contractions every 5-10 mins for about 4 hours before I decided to go to labor and delivery (L&D). I waited so long cause the contractions weren't strong and I wanted to save PTO so I can get paid for my maternity leave. Jeremy met me up at the U of U hospital. they checked me and told me that I was 2-3 cm dilated and 50% effaced (thinned out). They told me to go on a 2 hour walk to see if that would help things move along. After going to all of the eating establishments between the U, Huntsman, and Primary Children's, visiting my sister who was working at the U, and a few trips out to the car, they told me that nothing had changed and sent me home.
After a few more days of spicy foods, having my membranes stripped for the second time, balsamic vinaigrette, among other things... I started having stronger contractions on Friday of the same week. It started in the morning and they were about 10-15 mins apart. I kept on waiting for the contractions to get even stronger and closer, but by the end of the work day, no luck. I went to my parents house for dinner and to play on their Wii Fit to see if I could get things moving. After 6mins straight of hula hoop among other games, my sister recommended that we head up to L&D since my contractions were fairly strong every 5 mins for about 2 hours. This was about 10:00pm when we head up there.
This time they decided to keep me as I was at 3-4cm and 80%. They hooked me up to machines and started to monitor me. I did what I could to decrease the pain (trying to be tough and do it without pain meds) and keep things moving along. I ended up asking for pain meds to help me. Around 5am they check me again and say that I'm not progressing enough and that I should just go home and labor there. They gave me a shot of morphine and sent me packing.
We got home around 6-6:30am and decided to go to sleep. We did a few errands as we were still planning on having a baby shower with our friends that evening. I was still having contractions and they felt about the same strength and frequency as before I got the morphine. Finally I had enough and called L&D and told them what was going on and they said to come back in. This was about noon.
I was hoping that the 3rd time was the charm. they checked me again and I was 4cm and 95-100%. They "still didn't know if I was in labor." They called a provider that wasn't mine and she was saying that she didn't know if they wanted to keep me. at this time I had enough pain ans was asking for an epidural. She didn't want me to have one since I was 37 weeks along and if they do an epidural I have to deliver soon after, and again she said "I don't know if you're in labor." I broke down and bawled now because I was in so much pain and they didn't know if I was in labor. If I wasn't in labor I was pretty sure that when I did go into labor I would die. They sent me on another hour walk or so. If there was even the slightest change they would keep me.
I was lucky and did have some changes. At that time they were still debating about giving me the epidural. Both Jeremy's mom and my mom came up to help support us. It was at least an hour later when the nurse came in and told me that they still haven't been able to contact my doctor to get the ok to do the epidural. I was so angry then so I called Dr. Backman on his cell and told him what was going on. He told me that he was never paged or notified that I was even back at L&D. (Yeah even more pissed off now since they said they had paged him). He said he would get the story and get things taken care of.
About an hour later I get the epidural. (they were shocked that I said it didn't hurt. Frankly I don't even remember feeling it because of the bad labor pains.) I felt so much better then and was actually able to take a couple of short naps. I did still feel the occasional pressure from a contraction. My other doc, Dr. Gibson, came and visited me around 8pm or so (I have little concept of time after I was told they didn't know if I was in labor.) She says that I am completely effaced and there was just a little bit left of my cervix that needed to move. So I napped for a little longer,but then woke to the worst pains in my hips; like they were being pulled apart. My mom was watching the monitor and noticed that I was feeling these pains with every contraction - which was about 1 minute and a half to 2 mins apart.
I was finally ready to push. Dr. Gibson was there, but Dr. Backman wasn't there. They said that he would be there in about 15 mins. So with Dr. Gibson in the QB position I started pushing. A few minutes later Dr. Backman got there and got ready to help. 10 minutes after starting to push,Kyle was born. They put him on my chest right after and the first thing he did was to put his hand right up to my face. I had a couple nice streaks on my face.
SO he was born at 11:35p,weighing in at 6lbs 8oz and 20 in long. For those that are counting that was about 28 hours of labor. We are so glad that he's joined our family. He and I got the clean bill of health and were able to come home on Monday. It's now Wednesday (I think) and we're both doing well.
So I'm posting this from my phone and we are at the hospital waiting to meet Kyle Trenton Reitz. I'm nervous excited and anxious. I pray everything goes well with my beautiful wife and my son. here is a pitcture of amanda all hooked up in her bed. Kyle is 6lbs 8oz and 20in.
