Shaun Anthony Martin's Here!!

Wow, what a trek we've been on these last 10 months or so.
Shaun, you finally arrived; albeit 8 days late but you're perfect and we couldn't be happier. I was supposed to be induced Sunday, August 28 but the hospital was too busy so we ended up being called in at midnight. Nothing was really happening though until Dr. Raby came in at around 8 AM. Originally I had hoped they would break my water when we arrived to try to avoid receiving the Pitocin but he was too high and there was a danger of a cord prolapse. So, finally, at 8 they broke my water. Up until then the nurse had been asking me how my pain was from 0 to 10. It was mostly 0 but closer to 8 AM it was around a 2 and I was still able to sleep through the contractions. Once my water broke though, holy cow! Did things ever get started! Within about 5 minutes I got out of bed and was rocking side to side and breathing heavily and deeply. I decided to try the birthing ball and spent at least a couple hours on there. I wanted to lean forward but it hurt so bad during the contractions so I tried leaning back, hanging onto the bed to hold myself up. But I got tired and would lean into Craig for support. His shirt smelled so good! I remember at one point he turned to walk away just as a contraction was coming and I pulled him back to my by his shirt. Eventually the Pitocin had to be decreased a bit because the contractions were coming too close together and I wasn't getting the chance to catch my breath in between.
It's strange, I remember all of this happening but my memory is sort of foggy; almost like a dream.
The nurse suggested a shot of Demerol at noon, right after I threw up all over Craig's shoes, to help take the edge off the contractions. I hadn't wanted any drugs originally but the contractions were becoming more than I could handle. Craig says once I got the shot and the doctor was leaving the room, only then did I say "ow". I guess I was in a lot of pain... When the Demerol came I was 5 cm and 10 minutes later when it had completely taken effect I was up to 9! But the Demerol had taken too long for me and I was begging for an epidural. Craig asked me so many times if I was sure that was what I wanted. It was great to have his support!
Once I was fully dilated, since I'd just received the epidural I was completely numb from my boobs down. It was a wierd feeling. By 4 PM I could feel enough to start pushing. It felt like I had to take a monster poop. I was allowed to push as I wanted and I counted in my head. It only took 45 minutes and felt like much less. When Shaun finally came out it was 4:55 PM and he was 10 pounds 4 ounces! Quite the porkchop!!

Shaun Anthony Martin
August 29, 2005
10 lbs, 4 oz