The Super Bowl was on and during half time my water broke while I was in the Bathroom, (luckily). I never had my water break before so I was quite surprised. I stood over the toilet trying to figure out what to do! I grab a towel and stuck it inside my pants and calmly told my 7 year old to get Daddy. He came up and I told him my water broke and to get the kids ready and drop them off at his Mom's. I packed my stuff and went down stairs. (I didn't have any labor pains, so I knew I had some time). When I went down stairs to call my IP's my husband was still watching the Super Bowl! I said, "I thought you were dropping off the kids!" he replied, "Oh, you meant right now?" I was like, "Yes! NOW!" so I called the IP's, who were at a friends house and told them I was ready, but not to speed because I still had some time. I then called the hospital to let them know I was on the way and that I was a G.S.  I got in my husbands car with the towel wedged like a diaper and my husband kept worrying about his truck seat! We got to the hospital and the IP's were there all excited waiting. I went in and settled into my room and started having pains almost immediately, almost like he knew it was time :)

  My IM was wonderful! I was expecting her to not really help me, and just to care about when the baby came, but she went above and beyond! She told the IF and my husband went off to watch the game and sleep .. yes..sleep.. while my IM took charge. She sat with me the entire time. My IM kept telling me to stop being polite and that I could scream :) But it's weird, because when I am in labor and pain, I am quiet, polite and I joke around :) I kept telling her I was sorry every time I got a cramp and she told me to stop apologizing :) after about an hour my husband came in and  I got and epidural , which I never did before, and it was a pretty horrific experience. While my husband and IM stayed outside the anesthesiologist poked me over 14 times! Yes! I am not kidding.. I kept telling him to forget about it,nicely,  but he ignored me... After the 14th time I bluntly told him , "If you F'ing poke me again I am calling the head of your dept." So he left in the needle, which didn't take. So labor was somewhat hard for me, because I'm used to walking around and really curling my legs up over my head to push, which I couldn't do with the needle. 

  The funniest thing was when I was ready to push and I looked at the docter and nurse , they had these huge , plastic  face shields on and I remarked, "I feel like I am at a Gallager show!" Because during his shows the whole crowd has on the same type of rain gear and that's all I could think of :) The nurse started laughing and the DR didn't know who Gallager was, so I spent the better part of pushing having the nurse explain it to her, which kept my mind of my back :) My IM stayed with me the entire time, encouring me and putting cool clothes on my head, she was great! When the baby was born, the IF cut the cord and my IM hugged me and said, "I can't believe this really worked" At that moment , I was so touched. They were both crying and I felt like the best person in the world. The feeling is indescribable, and so over powering, to know how much I helped them.

  They were having a hard try getting the placenta out, but I didn't realize it because I was watching my IP's. Then my mom called during it! So as they're trying to get it out, my mom is asking how I'm doing and giving me advice, (she's a nurse)! I was like, "hey mom, thanks for the ideas, I'm sure the Dr will try them but, I'm kind of busy.. can I call you back?" :) The DR. told me if it didn't come out they would have to give me a spinal and do a D&C. Part of the problem was that my stomach muscles were really strong so they couldn't really massage it to detach the placenta.  I said,"can I get a different anesthesiologist?" "She said No, that scared me, IF the guy couldn't give me an epidural, he wouldn't be able to give me a spinal! I curled up and pushed and pushed , while the DR and Nurse pushed on my stomach and thank goodness it came out!

   I had no regrets, when he came out, it was weird looking at him, because he didn't look anything like me! In that I mean, that when you give birth, even though you know it's not yours and not your egg, human  primal instinct  is expecting to have that baby that is coming out of you , look like you. It was just really weird looking at him as I was giving birth.

  One down note was when My IP went to get something to eat they left the baby with me and one of the nurses came in worried, like I was going to try and steal him :) They had only had 2 Surro births there before and they actually had a team to deal with our situation :) So I think the nurse just had fears based on movies and popular media.

  Around 11 am,  I was dressed and ready to go! I hate the hospital and never stayed a full day with my children and I couldn't wait to get out of there! My IM was so worried that I might not be ok , and she told me if I ever had any problems after, she would bring the baby to see me whenever I needed and we would work through it. She was absolutely wonderful, better then I ever imagined! It takes a secure person to reach out like that. But oddly enough, I didn't have any separation issues, I told myself if I did it would be ok, but I never really did. I think because the entire process, I knew it wasn't mine. I tell people who ask, that you have to make a conscious decision to do this. You have to give your self shots, take the medicine, do the transfers and go to all the screening. That is why I don't think it bothered me. I could have said no at any time, I could just no have taken the shots.

  My IP's have been great! We email about once a month and she send's me pictures. Now I'm searching for new IP's for my next and last surro experience.