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Patrick Quinn Roach's Birth

Born: 10/1/97
8 lbs. 10 oz., 20 inches

I had a relatively easy pregnancy and was due on 9/28/97. I went to the doctor on 9/27 and was dilated to 1cm. She scheduled an induction for 10/1, unless I delivered before then. The next few days, I felt a little crampy, but nothing happened.

On 10/1, my husband & I arrived at the hospital around 6am. The nurse checked me and I was dilated to 3 cm. She said I probably would have delivered that day anyway. Around 7:30 am, the doctor came by and broke my water and I was given the epidural. I lay back in bed and relaxed and tried to watch a little TV. My husband curled up on the chair and took a nap. The nurse came back to check around 10:45 and I was at 6 cm. I couldn't feel any pain and was really happy about it. She estimated that I would deliver later that afternoon. Around 11:15, she checked me and I was at 8cm. She said she was going to set up the room, but not too get too excited, she just liked to be ready. It was weird watching them setup everything. Up until that point, I really didn't think it was going to happen. At 11:45, she checked me again, I was at 10 cm & she turned down my epidural, so I could get some feeling in order to push.

At first, I wasn't pushing properly, but soon got over that. She told me to lay on my side & push because that might help things along. I was pushing for an hour & was wondering when the doctor was going to show up. At 1:00, she called the doctor in because they needed to use the forceps to deliver. They were reassuring me that everything was okay, but at that point, I just wanted it to be over. The doctor had to do an episiotomy I was pushing, the doctor was pulling, I was blocking out the pain, but remember hearing "the head's out", to which I replied, "what is it?" They reminded me they couldn't tell from the head. The next thing I heard was "it's a boy!!" My husband & I were so happy, we were crying. They took Patrick's apgars (9's) and cleaned him up, while the doctor stitched me up (it seemed like forever!!)

Overall, it was not a bad experience. It was definitely worth it & my son has changed my life. Good Luck!