Cash Brown McPeak

I was 37 weeks when we realized Cash was pretty big and was set to be around 9lbs if I went to full term.  So Dr. Carroll, my OB with the Institute of Women's Health, advised that she could induce labor at 38 weeks.   That was when you could do that legally.  Now its only a week early unless medically necessary.  I was almost 100% effaced, had lost some of my mucus plug but was only dilated 1/2 a cm.  None the less the thought of being induced was music to my impatient ears.  I wasn't really miserable but more just so excited to meet this sweet boy that was literally taking over my body.

So my aunts Linda and Judy came in the day before my induction, my parents were in from Baton Rouge and we were preparing to head to the hospital.  It was November 2, 2006.  Ben and I left to grab a bite at Luby's before heading to North Central Baptist for an 8pm check in.  I don't even know what we talked about.  I know we did talk and if I had to guess the conversation went something like this...."can you believe what is about to happen?" and "can you believe this time tomorrow.....?"!

We checked in to the hospital and they hooked me up to all the stuff they hook you up to.  They started my pitocin and the nurse said, "its on a slow drip and you probably won't feel anything until around 5am".   WRONG!  My parents and aunts came up to my room after we were settled in and I had already started having contractions.  I was in pain but I can remember Linda's face as if I was looking at her right now...she told me to focus on one thing, which for me was a sprinkler head in the ceiling and she was just so calm.  To say she was an angel doesn't even begin to describe her.

Everyone left and we waited....not without pain I might add.  I had Ben tell the nurse I was in pain so she gave me nubane.   I didn't want an epideral yet and I don't even think it was time to give me one so bring on the nubane.  Mind you this is me...the person that kept saying I would love to give birth with no drugs at all.  NOT!  Bring on the drugs!  So she did and it got worst before it got better.  At some point in the early morning hours and I only know this because Ben and my mom told me as I had lost time somehow....I was on all fours, in pain, and Ben was in the bathroom throwing up.  He said he thought my head was going to start spinning around but he also said he was sick from something he ate.  Hmmmm....I am thinking it may have the fact he was scared to death and me on all fours about to turn exorcist on him wasn't helping.

He got my mom to come up to the hospital as he didn't know what to do and the next thing I really remember was getting my epidural and starting to push.  I pushed 4 hours!!!!!!!  YES!  FOUR HOURS!!!!!!  It was insane and if I had known better I wouldn't have ever let that happen.  Actually, now that I think of it, I don't know why Linda or my mom didn't speak up to get the show on the road a lot quicker.  While pushing I wanted to see what was going on which I never thought I would do.  The nurse got a mirror for me and I could see Cash's full head of brown almost black hair and it gave me the strength to bring him into this world even faster.

I did get scared as it had been 4 hours and they started talking c-section which I was terrified of.  Yes, for the entire reason of not wanting another scar on my body and my stomach not going back to the way it was pre-baby!  Linda told me everything was going to be fine and that "we are about to have a baby".  I knew we were and we did.  Dr. Carroll got the vacuum and gave me an episiotomy..she pulled and I pushed and our sweet Cash Brown McPeak came in to this crazy world.

Cash looked so much like Ben....just like Ben when he was born.....7lbs 12oz and 20.75in at 12:17pm!