Memory Monday - Megan

Tomorrow is Megan's 3rd birthday. It hardly seems possible that it has been 3 years since she was born. Because I enjoy reading other's birth stories, I wanted to share Megan's.

Megan was our first child that we planned. Jordan was a surprise and the girls were an even bigger surprise. I spent the first year after the twins were born worrying that I would get pregnant again while on birth control. It was a real concern for me. Because I had gotten pregnant so easily and so unexpectedly before I figured the next pregancy would be that way too. It didn't come so easily this time. I think this speaks well for Megan's personality that she likes things her way or no way. Finally after about 9 months of trying, I found out I was pregnant. We were delighted!

I was blessed in my pregnancies in that I had fairly easy pregnancies. With the exception of being on bedrest for 11 weeks with the twins, their pregancy was pretty easy too, all things considered. Megan's pregnancy was no different. Fairly uneventful. The delivery was a different story. I had had an emergency c-section with Jordan and then a v-bac (vAginal birth after c-section) with the twins.

As the end was drawing near, Scott used to joke that it would be perfect if I went into labor on a friday afternoon aroud 4:00. Megan must have been listening. I began having very light contractions a few days before Megan was born. My doctor had advised me previously to come to the hospital when the contractions were about 5 minutes apart. I'll just say right now, if I had listened to him I would have had a home or car delivery. The day Megan was born the contractions were a little harder, but nothing regular or too painful. I talked to my friend Kendra on the phone that afternoon and had a few contractions, but they weren't that bad. Later that evening when Scott called to tell her Megan was born, she almost didn't believe him. I was just talking to her and she was fine. At around 4:00 that afternoon I had a REALLY hard contraction. It about knocked me to the floor. About 10 minutes later I had another one. My contractions had gone from a little uncomfortable to extremely painful. I called Scott at the shop to tell him that I thought it was time. He was already gone, but I didn't know if he was on his way home or running some errands. I was formulating a plan in my head of what I would do if I needed to call someone else. I don't recall what time he showed up, but luckily it was before I had to call anyone else. In my mind I kept telling myself it couldn't be happening this fast. I had never had a quick labor like this before, so I had plenty of time. I told Scott he had time to shower while I gathered up my stuff and stuff for the kids which was already packed and ready to go.

By the time we were on our way I knew that this baby was ready to come. We were supposed to take the kids to the shop where my husband works for his brother Roy. Roy was going to take the kids to his house and he and his wife would take care of them. About half way there I told Scott we've got to go to the hospital unless you and Roy want to deliver this baby for me. He immediatley turned in the direction of the hospital. When we got to the hospital I was beginning to feel what I thought was the urge to push. I had never felt this before as my other deliveries I had had an epidural. I explained to the nurses that I was ready. They all looked at me like I was crazy and sort of blew me off. It didn't take them long to figure out that I was serious though. Scott was in the hospital lobby downstairs waiting for Roy to pick up the kids and I'm in labor and delivery wishing they would all just hurry up and get their stuff together before this baby just falls out. I told one of the nurses that I wanted drugs. She said, sorry honey, but it is too late for that. That is when I first felt truly scared. I had never done it without drugs before. I didn't know what to do or what to expect.

Scott finally makes it in the room about the same time the doctor comes in for the first time to check me. Megan was born within a matter of minutes after that. I was at the hospital for maybe 30 minutes before she made her grand entrance into the world. I admit I screamed and I hollered and I cried. I think I was mostly just so scared because I didn't know what to expect. It hurt and I just wanted to get it over with. Luckily it was all over with very quickly and I felt amazingly well within minutes of the delivery. For the first time after giving birth I was able to get up and move right away. I had showered and was eating dinner all within an hour of giving birth. This was a new experience to me. I much preferred the no drug recovery and feeling after delivery, but wish that I had been better prepared to go at it without drugs. I am just grateful that my husband and his brother didn't have to do it. So were they!

There is more to Megan's story of her first few days of life, but I'll save some for tomorrow as well as some pictures. This is already long enough.