Madison's birth story

Sunday I spent the entire day in bed. I was so terribly sick with a cold. I didn't even leave my room until 3 that afternoon. The family came over for dinner and I tried to hide in my room. Lindsay came upstairs to talk with me and helped me get a few things ready for you. I told her that I had a feeling you were coming early and I said that I didn't mind as long as it was not while I was this sick. Well... 12 hours later my water broke.

I woke up at 4am to use the restroom, per my usual routine, and went back to bed. I couldn't fall asleep and decided to just lay there for a bit. About an hour later, I heard a small "pop" and and thought that maybe the baby had kicked me very low which she has done before. Then I felt a small squish, which any woman in their third trimester will tell you that is totally normal. Then I tried to roll over to fall back asleep and the squish turned into an even bigger squish and I realized my water broke! I sat up quickly to run to the bathroom and not leak on the bed. This caused the "flood gates" to open and woosh. There it was. I came back with my hands between my legs and told Zach what happened. He popped out of bed and we started getting things together to go to the hospital. I threw a towel between my legs, grabbed the hospital bag, told Sophie we loved her and we headed down stairs. We caught Dad in the hallway leaving for work and told him my water broke. I asked for a blessing from him and dad that everything would go smoothly and to help calm my nerves. I called my family on the way to the hospital to let them know whats going on. We arrived at the hospital at 5:45am and I checked in while Zach parked the car. At this point I was not having contractions. The nurses took me back and it was just in time for shift change so I had to wait a bit to get my labor and delivery nurse. My nurse, Lori Sowards, came in and got me all set up for everything. I was dilated to 3 and 80% effaced. Then the contractions started. Nothing too bad for a bit but they slowly started getting more and more intense. Lori said I could have meds to take the edge off before the epidural could come. BUT knowing that medicine works a little too well on me, I declined because I wanted to be alert for delivery. My anesthesiologist was stuck in a c-section and was not able to come set me up with the good stuff until that was over. The contractions were extremely strong and I finally asked the nurse for medicine as he walked in the door. HALLELUJAH ! I have never wanted a needle so bad in my life! My dear sweet nurse helped me hold still and bend forward to prepare for the shot. She apologized for her freezing cold hands and I told her they were a welcome surprise because I was nervous and burning up. Zach held my hand the entire time. Lori kept laughing because I was being so sweet and nice, there was no way I was actually in labor. She said she was happy to have me start off her morning/week on such a happy note. Turns out, the hospital was very busy with deliveries that day. My anesthesiologist was named Dan and he knew a few of the people that Zach worked with and they chatted up as he finished hooking me up. Dan walked out of the room and about five minutes later walked in and said "DONT MOVE! I forgot to tape you up." Apparently him and Zach had been talking so much he forgot to tape everything down after sticking me.

From then on out, labor was wonderful. They checked me again and I was at a 4, then an hour later 6 and an hour after that I was at 10! Yikes. The nurses were impressed with how quickly I was progressing. I was ready to push by 11 am and they called the doctor. They prepared the room for delivery and got everything set up. Still no doctor. The nurses were telling me that "she had so much hair" I remember thinking, OH GOSH! You can see here hair and the doctor isn't here?!? AH! So finally a little after 1pm Dr Judd came into the room, threw on his gown and said "lets see what we've got". I started pushing and two contractions later he said "open your eyes!" I did and looked down to see your head. What?! Already!? I thought I would be pushing for hours!

You came out and he held you up and I started to cry. Dad left to go be by your side while they cleaned you up and he teared up a bit too. They wrapped you and placed you in my arms as the doctor finished stitching me up and everything. You were BEAUTIFUL. No conehead. No puffy face. Just beautiful. It was instant love. They unhooked the machines and started cleaning the room while Dad and I just stared at you and took turns holding you. The whole experience was a whirlwind. From start to finish it was 8 hours. Which the nurses told me was unheard of. The rest of the day was honesty a blur. I remember calling family and that night the Lyman clan came to see you. They were all instantly in love.


I was a little bummed that things didnt go how I thought they would. I thought my water would break and I would be calm and collected. I would shower, shave, brush my teeth and get ready for the day. I wanted to take one last picture pregnant to remember what my tummy looked like the day you arrived. Forgot that too. I got too excited and just threw on clothes and left. Looking back. Don't sweat the small stuff.