Hudson came two days after his due date: July 29th, 2013. Jordan and I were living in Oklahoma at the time so I chose to be induced so that my family could definitely be there. I checked into Mercy hospital on Sunday night and was all checked in and in their bed by 9 PM.
To dilate my cervix they gave me medicine that was a slow release gel. The plan was to have this gel in for 12 hours and then they would start me on pitocin to stimulate contractions and we'd wait for Hudson to arrive. The night nurse I had was sweet. As she was telling us what the plan was, she mentioned that this gel had only put one woman she'd helped into complete labor so we needed to just relax because i'd be a while until we met out little guy. My mom and sister were in the room with us until about midnight. By then I was tired and we were ready to sleep through the night and really start the labor process in the morning. Jordan and I were so excited. Soon our little guy was going to be in our arms.
At about 3 AM I woke with some pain. Contractions had started earlier, you could see them on the monitor, but I couldn't feel them. But, at 3 AM I definitely felt them. I tried really hard to sleep through them. IMPOSSIBLE. Thankfully I had Jordan there to hold me. I always thought I'd be the pregnant woman who doesn't want her husband touching her and helping her through contractions, but I wasn't. They'd come, I'd close my eyes through them, and just focus on holding Jordan's hand. Soon the contractions started really progressing. They became much more painful in a short amount of time. Jordan was able to get the nurse who then checked me to see how dilated I was. OUCH! That is not a fun experience. It brought me to tears. Being checked while having contractions really was awful and after the nurse left I just balled. But, there was Jordan, holding me while I cried into his shoulder. Looking back this was one of my very favorite moments we've ever shared. I'm not sure if I can explain this fully, but being in that moment--in so much pain, but having him there supporting me--was so tender and sweet. I loved that moment we shared together. And I often think about that moment. Thankfully it wasn't in vain and I was dilated to a 3. Which meant epidural time. Waiting for the anesthesiologist felt like a life time. When she finally arrived the nurse had me sit on the edge of the bed and thats when my water went eeeverywhere. I found out soon after that the reason being checked hurt so badly was because she broke my water during the process. I thought this would be the scariest part for me because their is a person trying to stick a needle in your spine and sometimes that process damages your back, but I wasn't scared at all. Honestly, I felt like I wasn't even there. The contractions were a big enough distraction that all I remember is the nurse holding me still, as I tried doing also, and then the pain was gone and I was thanking them.
Every woman is different, and both options are great, but I loved my epidural. Loved it! Once I got it, is was finally able to relax and focus on what was coming up. Before the epidural I don't remember a lot of things but after I got it I remember so much. And I loved that. I was able to be with Jordan and dream about what Hudson was going to look like. The epidural really helped me enjoy the rest of my labor.
Once the epidural was in and I was numb the nurse checked me again and I was at a 7. It was now around 6 AM and my mom and sister had arrived and were in the room with us and we were all visiting. I couldn't believe how fast this labor was progressing. And neither could the nurse, since she told us this medicine wouldn't actually put me into labor. Around 8:30 AM the nurse asked me how I was feeling and all I felt was the need to push. There was this pressure I could feel and my instinct was to push. So she checked me and found that I was at a 10! She had the other nurse call Dr. Schlinke. He was about 25 minutes away and he needed to hurry! While we waited for Dr. Schlinke she had me push twice--just to get Hudson closer to actual delivery and to speed up the process when Dr. Schlinke got there. On the second push she could feel his head and told us that he had hair. It was incredible. Dr. Schlinke finally arrived at 9 AM, ready to go. And so were we! Jordan was up by the right side of my head and shoulders. My legs were in the stirrups and it was pushing time. This part I was nervous about and had been for a while because I never went to a labor class because we were moving at the time so I worried I wouldn't be strong enough to get Hudson out. Dr. Schlinke had me push during 3 separate contractions with 3 pushes within those 3 contractions. By the third contraction I was tired and scared I wouldn't be able to get him out. I just kept praying that I'd be able to do this and for help and strength. And I did do it. And at 9:22 AM he was on my chest with his arms in the air. I was speechless, Jordan was speechless, we were in awe. He was so beautiful. And weighed 8 lbs 8 oz. It all feels like a dream. And in a way it was; a dream come true. Hudson is the best thing that has ever happened to us. My labor and delivery experience was amazing and I loved it. I'd do it over and over again. I finally see and understand the sacredness of motherhood. And the happiness a family brings to each others lives.
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Our little Hudson Jay Evans
