Tate's Story - Part 1

So, here is the story, my friends...

After my Wed. doctor's appointment, I called my mother-in-law Kathy and told her the news. She decided to drive down to Georgia on Saturday and await Tate's arrival more locally as to not miss his big debut. I think Toby remembered her since she was down just a few weeks ago for his 2nd birthday. Andrew and I enjoyed watching him snuggle with his grandma and watching her take it all in. She brought her dog, Izzy, and Toby LOVED playing with such a small "toy." I think he didn't realize that dogs can be smaller than Bailey and Hayes, both over 100 pounds! As we waited for more contractions, Toby played with his Thomas the Trains, read books with Kathy, and made forts on the couch. It was all pretty uneventful. Saturday night, we all went to dinner, just waiting for some progression.

On Sunday, progression came! I started to contract every 20 minutes, then 10, then 7. I was SURE that Tate was coming that day but I wanted to wait until I was just a few minutes apart. But the contractions COMPLETELY stopped late at night.

I decided to call the doctor Monday morning because I was sure that the activity that I had experienced the previous day had made a big difference. I was told to come to the doctor's office and it was confirmed that I was now 4 1/2 cm dilated. I wasn't actively contracting at the time but was advised to go the hospital for observation. Big waste of time because the hospital sent me home and told me to wait it out. I had a scheduled induction planned for Wednesday after an ultrasound at the doctor's office so my patience could last a little longer.

THE BIG DAY!

Wednesday came and I was so excited. After a few more sporadic contractions the few previous days, I knew that this was it! I decided to go to one of my favorite restaurants, El Charro, with my neighbors Heather, Hunter and Brian. Heather was planning on watching Toby while Kathy took me to my doctor's appointment then to the hospital.

After a scrumptious taco salad, I tearfully said goodbye to my TK and went to the doctor's. There I was told that I was dilated to 5 cm but I should probably go home and wait some more. This wasn't going to fly with me. I prepared myself for THIS day and it WAS going to happen. I think Dr. Potter sensed my persistence and decided to strip my membranes. (On a side note, I have never really liked that term. It sounds so raw and medical. Does anyone know of a more subdued term besides mucous plug which I equally dislike?) She then told me to advance to the hospital and she would be there shortly to break my water.

When we arrived at Spalding County Regional Hospital Women's Center, we were asked to wait in the waiting room since all the rooms were full. We did so for 2 hours with no contractions but finally a room was cleaned and made available to us. I was alone in the room and after putting my gown on, I crawled into the bed. Immediately, I stared to contract every 3 minutes! I couldn't believe it! It was as if my body knew it was time. (Maybe the smell of the room triggered memories of Toby's delivery.) Whatever it was, I was thankful.

Dr. Potter arrived at 6:00pm and broke my water and I was started on a drip of Pitocin. Then the memories came flooding back and I thought I was insane for not opting for an epidural. It all happened so fast that there really wasn't time for one to be administered since the anesthesiologist was off site. I felt comforted, however, because I delivered Toby without one so how could this be much different? Boy, was it different. It felt like "Transition" lasted for hours when in fact it was only minutes. I knew I was dying and the contractions were right on top of each other so I couldn't even spit out my final words and tell Andrew that I loved him or any of my wishes for my funeral arrangements! Andrew is the best coach ever! I didn't want to know when the contractions were increasing...I had that part handled, for sure. But I did want him to watch the monitor and tell me over and over as fast as he could, when they were coming down. A nurse came in and checked me. I was at 9 cm and I could feel Tate making his way into the world. But she left the room and I instructed Andrew oh so politely :) to get someone/anyone in the room to "catch." As the nurses rushed in with Dr. Potter, they were all stating that the room wasn't ready but I assumed they all had formal medical training and they would figure it out. Andrew was standing next to me holding my left hand. I was begging someone to hold my right but no one would because they were all so preoccupied. Just when I thought I was going to go crazy, I felt a familiar hand and I knew everything was going to be ok. Andrew had reached around my head and grabbed my other hand. So, as they put my feet in the stirrups, I gave one long exhausting push and TATE STEVEN PIERACINI joined our family at 7:41pm to 2 very excited parents!

Spalding Hospital just completed $12 million worth of renovations and I was very pleased with my room but Andrew was more so. He had a pull out couch instead of a reclining chair that he used at our previous stay. They finally brought Tate back to our room 2 hours later and we basked in our happiness and gratefulness for our new addition.