Before arrival day.  My midwife and doctor had been monitoring things very closely during the entire pregnancy.  Especially during the last few weeks were I was having special ultrasounds, non stress tests and visits with the midwife every 3 days.  This was done for several reasons.  One being, the complicated pregnancy and delivery of my first son Jackson which ended in a placenta abruption that led to many problems for both of us.  Second, because of Jackson's genetic condition we where told that the new baby would have a 50% chance of having the same condition and there could be complications at birth if the baby had the same condition and knowing if he did before hand might help be more ready.  Third, problems that I was having during this pregnancy in which they weren't sure how baby was really doing in there and what was going on, I was having low fluid levels almost to a critical level, declining baby movements and bleeding.  Every 3 days for weeks I was told to bring my stuff to my appointment.  If at any point the fluid level was too low (below 5, mine was at 5 for awhile), or if baby didn't pass the NST they would induce me that day.  I wanted my baby to be healthy and stay in as long as possible if that’s what was best for him.  I also didn't want to be induced again.  Things where looking a little better at several of the appointments and ultrasounds.  Baby moving properly and passing the tests.  Then at 39 weeks he was not gaining weight like they thought he would and didn't really pass the NST.  Also placenta was not looking good on ultrasound and every day passed that point I was at an increase risk for abruption again.  So we decided it was best for baby to induced to make sure he was doing good and born safely at the hospital with the right medical attention.

The big day.  We arrived at the hospital at 730 am on Jan. 26, 2009.  Started paperwork and IV.  At 815 they started the pitocin.  Plan was to only do a low dose to get things started and hope my body would take over.  I had planned on a natural birth with no drugs at all and planned on using hynobirthing to have the baby.  So we wanted the least amount of pitocin and other interventions.  At 840 my midwife checked me.  I was 2cm dilated, 75% effaced, and -1 station.  So they went ahead and broke my water.  At that point I was already contracting on my own but nothing consistent.  The contractions where every 4-8 minutes and not all strong ones.  Since they where monitoring things really closely I had to stay on the monitors at all times except for the occasional trip to the bathroom.  I started out in the bed trying to stay relaxed and rest.  At 1030 contractions where about every 3-5 minutes apart and I was really wanting to change positions a lot.  I was only allowed to stay in one position for 30 minutes and every other 30 minutes had to be lying down in the bed to allow for better monitoring of the baby and my contractions.  Being in the bed was not comfortable at all and I was having a hard time staying relaxed. 

The next two hours the contractions where the same 3-5 minutes apart but getting more intense.  I changed positions as often as I could.  When standing next to the bed, which was the most comfortable, Michael would push on my lower back which really seemed to help.  I really wanted to get in the tub or shower to relax, I knew that would help.  At 1230 things where getting really strong.  I was still handling things but I new I wasn't relaxed enough to get through the stronger contractions.  I wasn't able to do the deeper hynobirthing stuff like I had hoped.  I asked to be checked because I knew I wasn't going to be able to last much longer.  I hadn't been checked since they broke my water 4 hours before and I had been having lots of strong contractions since then.  But I still felt like things where not getting any closer.  The nurse checked me and I was only at a 3 and slightly more effaced and baby had gone up a little.  Not the progress I was hoping for at all.  If I had been able to move like I wanted to and not restrained to the bed or if things had progressed more at that point I would've have gone ahead with things.  At that point though I had a feeling like things weren't going the way they should and I should go ahead and get an epidural.  I could have gone longer and hoped things would progress quickly but I just knew it was time anyways and I was praying that I wouldn't end up having a c-section. 

Getting the epidural was horrible.  I had such a horrible experience getting the first one with Jackson and then getting the spinal tap when I had meningitis so they had the chief anesthesiologist come in during it.  The first time they hit a blood vessel and had to take it out.  Then the chief tried and got it the second time.  It took almost an hour to put in and then 20 minutes to kick in.  During the hour my contractions where only 2 minutes apart.  I had barely any relief between contractions and bending over not being able to move for an hour was incredibly hard.  I had some reactions to the epidural and my blood pressure dropped way to low.  So they had to give me some medicine to keep it up.  Which we knew that would probably happen. 

An hour went by after I got the epidural and things where going pretty good I thought.  I was comfortable but could still feel the baby moving around.  I really liked that I could still feel him move.  With Jackson I was so numb I couldn’t feel anything from my neck down.  Then all of sudden alarms start going off and nurses start to fly into the room.  I couldn't move myself so they are flipping me over with sheets into all different positions.  The baby's heartbeat shot up to 180 then dropped to 40.  It took a long time to get the heartbeat up again.  I was so scared during the entire time.  Michael had no idea what was going on and didn't realize how serious it was.  He thought they where just checking me.  The baby continued to have some more decells in his heartbeat.  They had the midwife come in and put the internal monitors in on the baby and to monitor the contractions.  We're not sure what was going on but the baby wasn't looking good.  The internal monitor did slip out one time and pulled some of his hair with it.  We knew then he wasn't going to have red hair like his brother because there was dark hair on the monitor. When they placed the monitor I was only at a 4. Because of the baby's heartbeat dropping they had to turn the pitocin off and my IV fluids way up.  The contractions slowed down to 5-10 minutes apart.  After awhile the baby's heartbeat started stabilizing and they turned back on the pitocin but very slowly.  Soon after that the baby was looking better and better on the monitor and contractions where regular.  From 4-6 I was having very consistent contractions and getting stronger.  The epidural was only working a little and I was able to feel quite a bit but not anything I wasn't able to handle.  I felt like during that time I was able to do the hynobirthing and the baby was doing better and finally able to come down.  At 6 they checked me again and I was at an 8.  The nurse who had been there all day was disappointed because she thought I still had a while to go and then pushing and that she wouldn't be there when I had the baby because she got off at 7.  At 640 I asked them to come back in to check again.  I was finally fully dilated and ready to start pushing.  The nurse wanted me flat on my back and I said no I was going to sit up more.  When I sat up the baby's head slid out 2 inches.  The midwife said stop moving and gently breathe down.  I "breathed down"(hynobirthing technique instead of timed pushing) for one contraction and he was out.   Noah Asher Berteaux came into this world at 645pm weighing 7lbs5oz, 19 inches long, and head was 13in.

He was placed directly onto my chest.  No suctioning or rubbing or anything.  For the first 30 minutes I just starred at him and he starred at me.  It was perfect.  Exactly what I wanted after he was born.  After 30 minutes went by he latched on and nurse for 15 minutes.  It was so amazing!  He stayed right there on my chest for over 2 hours before anyone else ever touched him.  After that the nursery did come in to do the weight, measurements and to check his vitals.  After that Michael held him while I ate and got a little cleaned up.  We just held him for the 2 hours before they came into move us to the mother/baby floor.  It was such an amazing experience and I felt like I was in a different place.  The labor was incredibly difficult and scary but the last two hours and delivery where exactly how I had hoped.  There was such an immediate bond and love for my little baby.  I didn’t really experience that with Jackson.  Not that I didn't love him because I did.  But I didn't get to see him for hours while he was in the nursery being taken care of.  I felt empty while he was gone.  No baby in me but not getting to hold him either.  This time was so different.  It was just so amazing.  I'm so incredibly thankful for this little baby that’s apart of my life now.