The Trey Hertel Family: March 2010

Well, I guess I just wasn't meant to have normal deliveries. Morgan Helen Hertel was born March 26, 2010 at 12:12 AM. She weighed 5 pounds 3.4 ounces and was 18 inches long. We chose the name Morgan because it was a name we both liked. Her middle name, Helen, is after Trey's Oma, Helen Bishop. We love, love, love her! I also found out today that my mom's favorite grandmother's first name was Helen as well. Wow! A two-fer!

Let me tell you a bit about how Morgan came into this world. . .

It was a great Thursday - I was enjoying my time with my students and we were starting a new unit. By the end of third period, the back pain I had been experiencing the past couple of days was joined by sharp, shooting pains. At the beginning of fourth period, one of my students (who is also a new dad) asked me what was wrong. I told him I was having some pain and he suggested I start keeping track of the times. I thought it was crazy, but I complied. He watched me like a hawk the entire class period. The pains were happening about every twenty to twenty-five minutes. At the end of class, I sent Trey a text telling him what was going on and that I was going to call the doctor at lunch. I called, but Thursday is his day off, so I had to wait for the nurse on call to call me back. I went to lunch, had a lunch meeting with my team and at their urging, called the front office to see if someone could cover my 5th period so I could lie down a bit, hoping this would ease the cramping. 5th period started and I reminded my students of the severe weather drill we would be having and went over procedures. In the middle of all of that, an AP came running into my room to see if I was ok and if I needed anything. My cell phone rang, it was the nurse on call. I took the call while the AP took my students to the weather safe room. The nurse originally thought I was simply having some braxton hicks contractions and should take some tylenol and put my feet up for the rest of the day. However, near the end of our conversation, I had a shooting pain and apparently made a noise that told her the pain had to be worse than I was letting on. She told me to come on in. Cue the water works. . .

I called Trey to let him know I needed to go to the doctor and was going to drive myself there. On my way to the doctor (a 30 minute drive) I called him back to ask him to pack a bag for me just in case. I hadn't even finished packing my bag, folks! That's how unprepared I was for all of this! So, Trey packed my bag as I drove to Austin. I got to the doctor and saw one of the partners. I explained to her the drama of Grace's birth and my fears of this delivery being similar. She checked me out and believe it or not, I was 3 cm! She said, "You're 3 cm. What I need you to do is drive directly to the hospital. Do not stop at the store, do not stop anywhere. Go directly to labor and delivery." Wow, this was really happening. Thanks to Oscar, who told me to start timing my pains! I called Trey and let him know. This sent him into panic mode. I could almost picture him running around the house trying to pack everything he might need. I drove the two blocks to the hospital, checked in and waited for Trey to arrive. The nurse checked me and I was 4 cm. Wow! I thought. This is going to move quickly. I hope Trey gets here in time. There was a traffic fatality on the major highway and it was shut down. He was actually stuck in traffic!

Trey arrived at the hospital and began plugging in the cameras, etc. We watched TV until they checked me again. No change. It seemed like it took forever for me to make it to 5 cm.
Once I did, I asked nicely for the epidural. I wanted to make sure I got one this time! The nurse asked the doctor, who I will now be referring to as Dr. Scrooge, and he said he wanted me to wait.

Here is Dr. Scrooge. As you can see, Morgan isn't too fond of him either!

He still wasn't sure I was in real labor. Ok, the pain wasn't too bad. I thought I could wait a little longer. An hour or so later, the contractions were getting stronger. When my nurse asked me to rate my pain, I told her it was a 7 and I wanted the epidural. She asked Dr. Scrooge and he said he still wanted to see that I was progressing a little more. I was still 5 cm. Dang! No drugs. A little later, Trey went looking for him. He could see I was in pain and said I was being too nice about all of this. Dr. Scrooge shot Trey an angry look and took his sweet time coming to my room. He checked me himself, but I was still 5 cm. Again, he wanted more progress. The nurse came in after he left and said I could have a sedative, but nothing more. "FINE! I'll take it!" I said. Let me just say, this did NOTHING for the pain, but it knocked me out so I could sleep between contractions.

I was so out of it I didn't even realize Trey was watching the basketball game.

A couple of pain- filled, bed- rail grabbing, contraction- riddled hours later, my wonderful nurse checked me and said I was at 7 cm. GREAT! Now get me my epidural, I thought. She said she had to ask Dr. Scrooge. He FINALLY gave the ok. Gee thanks, Dr. Scrooge!

Here's the kicker - the anesthesiologist was "tied up" with something and couldn't get away. They had to call another one in to take care of me and I had to wait for her to arrive to the hospital. OK. At this point, had I had sharp objects nearby, I would have been throwing them at anyone in eyesight. I was in A LOT of pain. By the time she arrived I was 9 cm and she had to rush to give me the epidural before it was too late. There, finally, I got my epidural. I laid back on the bed and closed my eyes. The next thing I know, the nurse is telling me to push and Dr. Scrooge is sitting on the end of my bed. I pushed two times and boom, there she was, Morgan Helen Hertel. I guess it happened faster than they anticipated because the NICU nurses hadn't arrived yet and my nurse had to call for extra help. I got a quick glance at my little girl and they rushed her off to the NICU. Dr. Scrooge congratulated us and left the room. My nurse apologized profusely for not getting me the epidural sooner. She said she kept asking for it, but he kept telling her no. I think she must have apologized at least six or seven times before I changed rooms.

Enjoy the pictures!