Text Messages from Nana

November 28, 2009

4:06am Lizzie's on the way to the hospital with Jerm.

Lizzie had called yesterday evening around 7:30 to let me know she was pretty sure she was in very early labor, and Jeremiah called around 9:30 to let me know they were really sure and asked at what point I wanted him to call me, since we planned for me to be at Zeke’s birth as well. I suggested he call when they were leaving to go to the hospital, which he did at 3:25 am. I was actually awake between restless catnaps. Of course I was concerned about my Lizzie!

5:52am Lizzie's in triage not yet admitted. I'm hanging out in the lobby. Only one person allowed with her at this point.

I felt a bit guilty at how long it took me to get to the hospital (in Berkeley). I took a quick shower, packed a few last-minute things, and fed and watered the dog before I left town. I arrived at the hospital at about 5:30am.

7:14am I think they'll be sending her back home for a while. Jerm says she's only 2 cm. I'm still in the lobby.

I snagged a nutrigrain bar and some coffee from the vending machine to try to both stay awake and keep from starving. I read every magazine there: People, some local newspaper insert about things to do in the East Bay, and most of an issue of Golf Digest. And snoozed several times!


8:55am Now she's having an ultra sound to check her fluid to make sure it's safe to go home. I got to see her and Jerm for a minute in the lobby as they passed through. Her doc said probably another 12 hours.

Lizzie and Jerm thought the ultrasound would only take a few minutes, but knowing better, I went to the hospital cafeteria for a real breakfast.


9:49am They checked her in. Turns out her water did break.
One nurse had told Lizzie she’d know if her water had broken – she’d have had a big gush. Well, guess what. Sometimes the fluid seeps out slowly, and that’s what had been happening.


1:38pm I'm eating salty stew in the hospital cafeteria. At least it was cheap so I won't feel so bad about throwing most of it away! No news on Lizzie's progress yet. Hopefully she's getting somewhere. When they check her I'll give you an update. Her doc was talking pitocin earlier.
3:39pm Lizzie's getting an epidural soon. She's in a lot of pain.
4:32pm She just got an epidural and is already doing way better.
6:18pm Now at 3 cm. They're starting pitocin now.
8:44pm She's 5 cm now. Getting pitocin and an amnio infusion. 2 ml per hour of pitocin. Doc thinks she'll be pushing by 9:30 or 10:00
9:38pm 8 cm. They stopped the pitocin.
11:08pm She's at 10. They're setting up for delivery.
November 29, 2009

1:31am Zeke is here! 1 18 am 7 lb 14 oz 20.25 in