This feels so surreal to write.
On January 27th at 11:06AM we welcomed our son Jude Harrison Rosenberg into the world! Originally due February 15th, I had a hunch that I’d deliver before my due date but I never expected him to be so early. After sharing our miscarriage story, announcing our pregnancy, and sharing updates along the way (check my favorite pregnancy products, my 20 week update, and holiday traditions we’re planning to start with baby), I can’t believe I’m actually sharing his story!
Forewarning, it is a birth story so it is a little TMI. I went into things with no expectations and no birth plan, which I’m so happy I did because it would have all went out the window with the way things happened.
On Saturday January 26th my husband and I took a baby CPR class in the afternoon. I had been in contact with my doctor that day because I had been experiencing some light bleeding (TMI, I told you) which she assured me was normal and didn’t mean that labor was imminent. I had been experiencing Braxton Hicks for the past week and that day, but something just felt different that Saturday. After the class, we had a late lunch and headed back to Heidy’s house where we were staying while our condo sold (which I’ll share where we’re heading in another post!) At around 6PM that night I started feeling pretty sick and throwing up, then around 11PM my bleeding got worse, I felt dizzy, and was losing part of my eyesight – which really freaked me out (this I learned was probably due to dehydration). My husband and I headed to the emergency room where they checked me out and sent me to triage. At triage I was only .5CM dilated but was experiencing what I felt were contractions, and I couldn’t keep water down. My pain intensified and my symptoms continued to get worse, but the doctor was adamant that I wasn’t going into labor and chalked it up to a stomach bug. They sent me home and as I was walking out of the hospital the security at the front desk saw how much pain I was in and told me that if I didn’t feel right, I should turn around and go back in because I knew my body better than anyone else. She was 100% right, so I walked right back in and spoke with the nurse.
They admitted me again and at this point I was only 1.5CM dilated, but my contractions were getting pretty painful. Still, the doctor argued with me that I wasn’t going into labor and was just experiencing stomach cramps from being “sick.” They gave me a pain killer which barely helped and lasted about 30 minutes, gave me some fluids through an IV, and said that if I wanted to stay they would admit me, but they advised against it. In the back of my mind, I knew I should stay and foolishly was waiting for one of the nurses to tell me to stay, but since the doctor urged me to go home and rest it off, I went against my better judgement and headed home. Although anything could happen, she let me know she was pretty confident I wasn’t anywhere near giving birth. Overall looking back it was a very frustrating experience because I knew they thought I was exaggerating my pain.
I headed home and tried to rest but a few hours later, I woke up to even more bleeding and the most intense pain I’ve ever felt. I called my doctor and could barely get out a full sentence, and she told me to head back to triage. In what was the worst car ride of my life, we headed to the hospital where I was already 6CM dilated (hey, remember when the doctor said I wasn’t going into labor?) and was told I’d be having the baby very soon. I was so dehydrated from vomiting that they couldn’t get an IV in me and after numerous attempts, they sent me upstairs to L&D for the anesthesiologist to hopefully have better luck. While all this was going on, my husband was calling my parents (who were coming into town in a few days in hopes to be there for Jude’s birth) to let them know they need to schedule a new flight ASAP. Finally, the anesthesiologist was successful in getting an IV and I got the sweet, sweet relief of an epidural, at which point I was already 9.5CM dilated. My plans were NOT to labor 90% of the way without any drugs (I would have an epidural my entire pregnancy if it was allowed) but it was the way things worked out, and there was never anyone as happy as I was to have a huge needle stuck in their back.
After that, the mood completely shifted and the room was very calm. Heidy arrived right away, I got to FaceTime with my parents, and we listened to the playlist that we created for Heidy’s son’s birth (along with a few additions). They came in to break my water and my doctor had arrived – the same doctor who also delivered Heidy’s son! I was thrilled to know it was her since I was there in the room for Oliver’s birth and knew her personality. Gary and Heidy had me laughing and kept my mind at ease, and although I was so upset that my mom wasn’t there, I was lucky to have two very supportive people in the room.
Within an hour it was time to push and after 30 minutes, while listening to The Beatles (yes, Hey Jude actually came on shuffle in the middle of it all), I got to meet our son to “Here Comes the Sun.” Nothing in life can prepare you for that moment and I couldn’t believe that after all these months of worrying, wondering, and anticipating his arrival I finally got to hold him in my arms. After getting the epidural, things went so smoothly and I am so grateful for my amazing doctor at The Women’s Group of Northwestern and for the incredible nurses in L&D at Northwestern. The funny-but-not-funny part about all of this was that Gary actually ended up catching a stomach bug and was pretty sick. At one point during labor, I saw the team of nurses rush to him and force him to sit down because he looked like he was about to faint from being sick. We can look back now and laugh that he tried stealing my thunder. 😉 My parents were able to get a flight out the next morning (their flight that day got cancelled because of the snow) and my mom got to stay with me in the hospital on the second night!
I am beyond words thankful for a healthy baby and that after two days in the hospital, we were able to go home with him. We’ve been soaking in all the newborn snuggles and even though it’s just been two weeks, I swear he’s growing so fast. Overall I had a very easy delivery and wasn’t going to let my bad experience earlier in triage ruin the rest of my birth story. My actual delivery was better than I could have asked for!
Motherhood has so far been exhausting but amazing – they are not kidding when they say to sleep when the baby sleeps. I can’t wait to share more of our journey with Jude and to watch him grow into his own. I’m both equally anxious to see what he brings to the world and yet could cry thinking of him not being this tiny (the hormone rollercoaster is real).
Here’s to our biggest, sweetest, and best adventure…
x Jill
