The day before I gave birth, I spent the day with my friend Kim at her house. That was where I felt my first contraction. I was on the phone with Brian, he had called to check up on me. While I was talking with him, I suddenly became slightly dizzy and felt very hot. I stopped talking mid sentience. Kim came over and sat next to me on the couch when she saw the expression on my face change. She reminded me to breath. My tummy felt like a deflating balloon. The feeling lasted a good 5 min.
For dinner, Brian and I went over to his parents. We had Pizza and Hot wings. Brian pointed out that I was eating a lot of hot wings. After dinner Brian and I had to go to WalMart. While there I was having a hard time breathing, and I might have had another contraction, but I couldn't tell from being on my feet.
A little after 1am on April 16, I calmly but alertly awoke to a contraction. My belly felt like a deflating balloon again. I laid there till It was over, then got up to go to the bathroom. When I stood up my water broke. I gasped and ran to the bathroom; that woke Brian up. He knew what had happened and followed me. I called my doctor and she told me to go to the hospital.
Just to let you know, Hollywood lies. All that running around and panicking and screaming as you grab your bags and head to the hospital at 100 mph did not happen. Brian and I got dressed and took our time putting the last remaining things into our suitcase. I packed up my camera and Brian put it all in the car and then we left. It wasn't till I was all set and sitting in my hospital bed that the REAL contractions started.
The link below is my Birth story, I was very blessed to have my friend Meghan, a very talented photographer capture Brian and I becoming parents for the first time.
http://mrosephoto.blogspot.com/2013/04/jonathan-birth-story.html
Being the "tough it out" kind of girl, I wanted to go natural. Not to prove anything but to see where my limits lie. I wanted to experience as much as I could without the help of meds. But after 12 hours of contractions I reached my limit and got the Epidural. I was scared to get it but the pain I was feeling started to erase that fear. Once the meds hit my system, boy! did I feel better! but I did not enjoy the numbness that filled my legs.
Finally at 8:45 pm I held my 7lbs 5oz son for the first time. I'm glad I have pictures to look back on. Jonathan's birth is somewhat of a blur but the first kiss I placed on his wet head will always remain.
