Wednesday, July 28, 2010

E-P-I-D-U-R-A-L Spells RELIEF!!!!

Holy cow. What a difference an epidural can make. After waiting SO long for something to happen, it feels like there is so much to report since the last post. Mona, our amazing labor nurse, was able to cut teaching her classes short for today so that she could rush over here to the hospital and take over Jess's care. Since that time, she has cracked the whip and made things happen.

Jess FINALLY got her epidural and OMG!!!!! Talk about an IMMEDIATE difference. Almost instantaneously, Jessica began laughing and, dare I say, enjoying the labor process again for the first time since the insertion of the catheter this morning. According to Jess, it is extremely important for me to let everyone know that she has always been able to handle the discomfort of the contractions. In her eyes, the epidural was primarily needed to help lower blood pressure and ease the discomfort of the catheter!

No less than 10 minutes after the epidural was started, Dr. T made his afternoon arrival. Upon checking her, he noted that she is dilated to approximately 5 cm and therefore he was able to remove the balloons that were used to start the induction process. Unbeknownst to Jessica at the time, he also broke her water while he was "down there." Because of the epidural, she didn't feel a thing :-) According to Dr. T, we still have quite a ways to go before delivery. He is estimating a 9:00 pm delivery AT THE EARLIEST and more likely closer to midnight or even 2:00 AM.

At this time, Jessica is feeling better than she has ALL day. She is able to laugh and joke with everyone which has made such a HUGE difference for me and the grandparents who are all keeping close vigil over her.

Thanks again for everyone's care and concern. We are so blessed to have such great family and friends. More updates to come as things continue to progress!

11 comments:

  1. 9pm. Fine. 10pm. Fine. 11pm. Fine.

    Anything after 12am. NOT fine because then me and Bubs won't share a birthday which is UNACCEPTABLE!!

    I've got my hopes up at this point and will not settle for July 29th!!!

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  2. YAY for Epidurals!

    Let's start guessing when Bubs is coming. I'll start.

    12:07am July 29th.

    I guess I'll put on another pot of coffee so I can stay up!

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  3. Go Mona!!!

    Whew, I am SO relieved! Am I the only one who has been hitting F5 every few minutes? LOL Can't. Tear. Myself. Away!

    Actually, now that she has her epidural and her water has been broken, her labor will probably go faster. The epi allows her body to relax and do what it needs to do instead of tightening up in pain with each contraction. And her water being broken will strengthen the contractions, which luckily she won't have to feel anymore! YAY!

    I am guessing this will happen more around 7 or 8 pm. But I could be totally wrong, too. ;)

    GO, Jess, GO! Get some rest now while you can! Remember - pushing is the hardest/most labor intensive part. Sleep now so that you can push with all of your might later!

    SO exciting!!

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  4. I'm guessing earlier too! Once I had my epidural it was only a matter of a few hours! So, I'm with Amy and guess between 7 & 8!

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  5. And, because I am bored and SO excited...

    Here is a list of celebrities with the birthday of July 28th:

    Soulja Boy (20)
    Sally Struthers (62)
    Jim Davis (65)
    Rick Wright (65)
    Bill Bradley (67)
    Phil Proctor (70)
    Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis
    Rudy Vallee
    Joe E. Brown
    Beatrix Potter

    And of course, I have no clue who most of those people go. But there you have it. :)

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  6. I'm gonna guess around 5:40 actually.

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  7. I may explode myself! I'm so excited, I can hardly contain myself!

    I'm so proud of you, Jess! :)

    Jillski

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  8. Any updates??

    It's about 7 pm, guess I was wrong! Unless stuff is happening that we don't know about. :)

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  9. My doctor thought I was going to deliver after midnight too but Matthew snuck out around 9:30, so it could definitely still be today. I've been reliving my delivery all day as I read your updates. I think it feels longer when I'm not the one in labor! So excited to hear when Bubs is here!! You're almost there! Love you all

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  10. I'm going to the grocery store...so I had to stop in and check.

    Hope everything is going well.

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  11. Hmmmm....I need to take my lunesta pretty soon.

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