Hollywood Journey

BABY BOY

9 A.M

"Just wanted to check on you, any questions before we start?" Doctor Jones walks back in my room about an hour later after giving us some time to eat and tell our family the baby might come today "The nurse will be here in shortly to break your water, and I'll be starting your Pitocin as soon as these tests are done."

"I have one... if she were to get pregnant again,"

"Brad!" I quickly stop him, not even wanting to be thinking about that right now "There is much more important stuff going on."

"I just want to know. So if she were to get pregnant again, would she automatically develop preeclampsia? Just because we'll need to be more careful if that's the case."

"Not necessarily. You can have it once and never again, or every time after. It all just depends."

"Thank you." He looks over at me as to say he's sorry because he is about to open his mouth again "So will this take longer than usual?"

"There isn't really an usual, but it was about 14 hours with Nolan, right?"

"I was here 14, it was about 18 all together."

"Okay, so it all depends on how quickly your body reacts. I've seen some only last an hour or two and some last a day. We'll up the dose as needed obviously, but you're most likely looking at around 8 hours based on your last dilation check to see how ready your body is."

I tell her I'm ready, and she quickly checks me again before starting the drip. It's been an hour and a half and for now, I feel no change and I'm a little bored so I text my friends who are sending me love and prayers.

"I miss walking. I swear that's what finally helped move things along with Nolan."

"It did seem to help," Brad agrees, turning away from the TV he's been watching "Maybe once they break your water you can move around more. At least walk around the room before things get too bad."

"What if they're really bad? Like the contractions?" I remember them not being too bad with Nolan, but bad enough that I don't want them any worse "Everyone says when you're induced they're worse."

"Then you get the epidural if they're too bad. You don't have to suffer, this isn't the 1920's anymore."

I wait very impatiently for the nurse to finally come in and break my water, hoping that moves things along. Nothing much seems to be happening and I want to be holding my son.

12 P.M

The contractions start to come and I'm getting uncomfortable, the doctor walks in and checks me "Okay Jen you're dilated 3, so you're now officially in labor. Do you feel any contractions now?" "Yes, but it's not that bad for now"

Brad gets out to call Willow and see how they are doing "Would you like to get in the water? It will maybe make things go faster" I nod then the nurse helps me put on a swimsuit and I get the delivery tub.

" Oh, you're in the water baby?" Brad gets back in 30 minutes later then comes and kisses me "Yeah...it'll make it go faster they said...oh god" I grab Brad's shirt as he's standing in front of me and I'm having a contraction. "Okay, now it's getting serious" I laugh as it stops. "Do you want me to join you in there?" I nod then he asks the nurse if he can get in, she agrees and he gets in and seats behind me so I can lay on him.

I close my eyes and try to breathe through the contraction as Brad strokes my belly trying to make me relax. "oh god it's painful" I moan as I try to calm myself. "I know baby, you can ask the epidural if you want" "No, no I had Nols without any so I'll do the same with him" "Okay, but don't scream cause I'll really freak out" I laugh as I know he's trying to cheer me up "well I'll try my best, poor you, we don't want to make you freak out do we?" I gently slap his cheek