I was eating lunch with some co-workers when I noticed that I was cramping. This wasn't anything totally new as I had been having menstrual type cramps since last week, but I did notice that they were a bit stronger than they had been the past week.
Plus I had just been to the doctor that morning and after checking me she said that she was almost positive I would deliver early and that Eli was "locked, loaded and ready to go." So it seemed kind of weird and appropriate that I would start cramping shortly after leaving her office that same day.
Oh before I go any further I have to talk about a fear of mine. I have always been afraid that I would go into labor and have no clue. It's just been a giant fear of mine for quite some time now. I've never had contractions so of course I had no clue what they felt like.
So when I started having cramps throughout the day I wasn't sure if my body was just cramping or if those were my contractions. I paid close attention to them and noticed that they were getting worse throughout the day. They would start in my back and would shoot through the front of my belly. They were painful but still not the screaming kind of pain that I imagined contractions felt like.
I had them all day and at home that night I started to get very flustered because I had no idea if these were contractions or if I just needed to use the restroom.
We were timing what was maybe contractions, or possibly just a stomach ache and they were somewhat consistent but ranged from every 3 minutes to every 7 minutes.
And now that we are talking about it, when was the last time that "bathroom pains" started in your back?? It's amazing the games your mind can play on you sometimes. Amazing and annoying.
Anyways, I eventually decided that I was in too much pain to ignore it and I was NOT going to have this baby in the bathroom floor. So around 12:30 pm we packed up all our hospital bags in the car and headed to the hospital.
I was hooked up to a monitor and checked out for about an hour. Eventually the nurse came and told me that I was indeed having contractions (ahh so this IS what they feel like) but I was not dilated enough to stay in the hospital.
She told me that I was definitely in the early stages of labor but it could go on for days or even a week or I could be back the next day to deliver. There was no way to tell.
Thanks friend, that's comforting.
So we went home and I barely slept a wink. The contractions were coming pretty consistently but not enough to do anything about.
On Tuesday morning I woke up later than usual (after sleeping for about 2 hours) and headed to work. I had no idea how long my contractions would go on so I saw no point in staying home from work.
Yes I was in a lot of pain. And yes I was uncomfortable, but what was the point of staying home and focusing on the pain when I could go to work and get stuff done?
So I worked all day and kept track of my contractions on a sheet of paper on my desk. Around 2ish my contractions became consistent but not very close together. Just about 8 minutes. But I could tell they were definitely intensifying as time went on.
Here is my contraction tracker at work:

At about 4:30 I decided I couldn't take it anymore and headed home to take a hot shower and track my contractions. It was starting to get awkward being in so much pain at work. I was able to play it off earlier in the day but the longer the day went on the harder it was getting.
On the way home I was praying that the contractions would either move close enough together to do something or just quit all together, because this pain was not fun.
I do have to say that on the way home even though I was in a lot of pain, I stopped at Little Cesear's pizza to pick up some crazy bread. I had a contraction while ordering my bread sticks and had to stop mid sentence and breathe my way though it. I never explained myself and I'm sure homeboy behind the cash register though I was crazy, but I needed some bread sticks!!
I headed home eating my bread sticks the whole way. (eating bread sticks, and praying all while having contractions, I am an excellent multitasker) When I got home I hopped in the shower hoping that the hot water would help relieve some pain. Shortly after I got out of the shower Luke got home and started keeping track of my contractions.
By this time they were strong enough to bring me to my knees each time and definitely enough to make me cry.
I am a person who cries watching Full House, or cries when I'm watching a sporting event and the camera man zooms in on the losing team and you see the heartbroken faces of the players, however I rarely cry from pain.
Until I had contractions. Holy mother of pearl those things hurt.
Around 8:00 they were anywhere from 3-5 minutes apart, but I still didn't want to go back to the hospital for fear of being sent home again. I was a bit prideful and couldn't handle the thought of being sent home two nights in a row. So I just put up with the contractions.
Plus my contractions weren't consistent, some were close together and then some were far apart (never going more than 8 minutes apart). But I definitely didn't want to be sent home again, so I would just grit down and bear the pain each time one came.
I had told Luke that we probably weren't going to the hospital that night. There was no point in going and being sent home again.
Such a naive girl I was.
Around 9:00 my phone rang and it was my mom wanting an update, while I was on the phone with her I had another contraction. Hearing the pain I was in, she asked to talk to Luke and then told him that I was being extremely stubborn and it didn't matter if I got sent home again - I needed to get to the hospital A.S.A.P.
Luke agreed and once again packed up all our hospital bags in the car and we headed to the hospital.
I was in MISERABLE pain the whole way there. It takes about 25 minutes to get to the hospital from our house, but when you are having contractions it feels like a million minutes.
OK this story is getting pretty long so I will stop there and continue with arriving at the hospital and the actual birth part.
And just for fun look at what has been in my lap this whole time. Cute little burrito baby.

Oh my gosh! He is so cute! I love reading birth stories! I'm going to share this with Ashely at Kiwis and Cocktails cause she has been having cramps and doesn't believe they are contractions!
ReplyDeleteI HATE getting sent home from the hospital! I got sent home with my first too . . . and come to think of it, my last also. I am so impatient. :)
ReplyDeleteHe is beautiful Megan!
He is precious, just precious!
ReplyDeleteThose babies love their swaddles, don't they?!
I'm so impressed you've already got part of your birth story up. You know we're all dying to hear the rest...you know, whenver you get a chance ;).
Megan! Congratulations!! He is so, so adorable. I'm sure all that pain, and times of being so uncomfortable was so worth it. :)
ReplyDeleteSo happy for you!
http://lizabethmthomas-elizabeth.blogspot.com
Ohhhh I love birth stories!! And I love that baby face!!! I wanna give him sugars!
ReplyDeletei love a good birth story, and not surprised a bit that yours is hilarious! can't wait to read what's next! :)
ReplyDeletesuch a perfect, perfect baby boy. of course, what else could i expect from the oh-so-cute tree couple. hope mommy, daddy, and baby are all doing fine -- from your picture, it looks like it couldn't be any better for each of you. xx {or is it oo? i can never remember which one is a hug}
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ReplyDeleteI was sent home from the hospital and told to go walk the mall...yeah right! We stopped at Panera and my water broke all over the place, movie style! Right back we went! I can't wait to read the rest!!
ReplyDeleteToo cute! And too funny about the breadsticks-I didn't eat breakfast the morning I ended up getting induced with my Eli and ended up having to have my husband sneak in a giant bag of Fritos. I was desperate! Looking forward to hearing the rest of your story.
ReplyDeleteI love that you stopped for food :)
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to hear part 2!
cant wait to read more! Eli is a cutie!
ReplyDeletewww.laurentrain.blogspot.com
I love that you stopped for breadsticks on your way home - - all the while breathing through your contractions! LOL That's awesome.
ReplyDeleteContractions hurt. Bad. I'm so thankful I get a scheduled c-sec next time because I do not want to experience labor ever again.
That boy is beyond cute.
Amazing and I can't wait to hear the rest of this story. I am a new follower and just love your blog. Now I love it even more!
ReplyDeleteAhhhh he is SO CUTE! Can't wait to read the rest of your story!
ReplyDeletemy goodness he is so precious! love your story telling, as always. the contraction chart and the crazy bread made me laugh...can't wait to hear the rest!
ReplyDeleteUGH, contractions sound terrible! I think it is hilarious that you got crazy bread on the way home while having contractions. I LOVE it! I can't wait to hear the rest of your story. And I LOVE the pic of little Eli. I can't wait to see more. He is the most precious thing ever.
ReplyDeleteCongrats!! How cute!
ReplyDeleteMeagan sent me over here to read this post :) I was due March 7th and have been having "cramps" on and off for a week, and I keep saying they are not contractions, but maybe they are...just not close enough together yet. Thanks for sharing your story!
Oh look at that adorable little face! He is so cute Megan! I love hearing birth stories. I was SO afraid the hospital would send us home, too. The nurses were definitely not as compassionate as I thought they should be :) They did make me walk around the hospital parking lot for an hour before they would admit me, and even then, they said they would put me in a room and "see what happens". I wanted to punch her. And I had a baby 6 hours later. Can't wait to hear the rest of your story!
ReplyDeleteI love hearing Eli's birth story!! He is the cutest burrito ever!! Congrats again!
ReplyDeleteEli is just soooo precious!!! Can’t wait for Part 2! :)
ReplyDeleteHe's beautiful! I can't wait to read the rest.
ReplyDeleteYou have no idea how glad I am that you ate on the way home. Caedmon came at 3 in the afternoon and all I'd had that day was a bowl of Special K. I think it turned me into a grouchy, hateful person to go through all that on a completely empty stomach, so it makes my heart happy that you at least got to eat something you wanted before you ended up at the hospital later!
ReplyDeleteAnd? He's a beautiful little boy. Congratulations and happy birthday!
He is soooo stinkin adorable! Loved reading this! Congratulations Meg!
ReplyDeleteSuch a cute little burrito baby!!
ReplyDeleteLove reading this! Can't wait to read Part 2 :)
And, I'm the same way about crying. When Jesse and Becky move and he has to say good-bye to Michelle, I still sob. When we won our State Championship in high school and I saw the other team, full of seniors that would never play in HS again, I cried.
When I broke my shoulder and it was almost protruding through my skin? I did cry, but not because I was in pain. Nope. I cried because I was afraid I'd have to miss my dance recital that was 5 days later.
I LOVE birth stories! Especially when they are for babies that I've followed the pregnancy! And that picture of Eli... OHMYGOODNESS, hold me back or I will be over there in no time hogging him!
ReplyDeleteAhhh he is so stinkin cute!!!
ReplyDeleteHe is just precious! I can't wait for part 2. It better have more pictures of that sweet face! :)
ReplyDeleteThat is SO going to be when I'm pregnant someday. Glad that everything worked out for the best!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on such a handsome baby boy! I love the name Eli also!!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoy reading your blog too!
Holy canoli girl, I applaud you for working a whole day with contractions! You rock and he's beautiful!! Can't wait to hear the rest!
ReplyDeleteSeriously, I'm just impressed with you - going to work and stopping for breadsticks while you were in labor - I'm such a weenie about pain, no way would I have been able to do that :-) well maybe the breadstick part but definitely not the working part. . .
ReplyDeleteaw!! he is so cute!!
ReplyDeletei am loving reading about the birth! can't wait to hear more!
and i just love that you had to go get breadsticks...now i'm totally craving them! yum!!
Yay! Birth stories!
ReplyDeleteHe is just precious!
Cxx
Aw! He is perfectly precious! major CONGRATS!!
ReplyDeleteHe is SO beautiful!!! Seriously, not all newborns are but your little man IS!!!! Congrats!
ReplyDeleteOh and Happy Bday! Saw on Twitter that it's your special day! Enjoy!
Awe, such a sweet little burrito boy!
ReplyDeleteOh Megan, he is a DOLL!
ReplyDeleteI think every woman on the planet must have the same fear of going in too early and being sent home - I know I sure did!
He is so adorable! I cannot wait to read the rest of the story!
ReplyDeleteSo adorable!!! I have this totally irrational fear that I will be like one of those women on I Didn't Know I Was Pregnant and have my baby at the mall bathroom or something insane. Ah.
ReplyDeleteCannot wait to hear the second part of the story!!
I can't wait to hear the rest!! Eli is such a cutie. I think he looks a lot like Luke!
ReplyDeleteCan't wait for part 2! In the meantime I'll just stare at that cute little burrito baby!! He is precious :)
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness, he's absolutely precious! I can't wait to hear the rest.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on sweet little Eli!
The stopping for bread sticks was the best part of this story by far!
ReplyDeleteI can't wait for the rest! I guess my mom before she had my brother took a hot shower before heading to the hospital. The nurses were mad because apparently that sped up the process!
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness, congratulations! He is so darling!
ReplyDeleteHe is SO precious! :-)
ReplyDeleteI'm loving the birth story. It's so exciting to hear how it happened! He was definitely worth it. :)
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to hear the next part! I love to read your blog, your story telling is so fun!!
ReplyDeleteCame back checking for Part two! What a cutie he is!
ReplyDeleteHe is beatiful! Congrats. Can't wait for the rest of the story :)
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