Nolan James Cowen was due Nov. 22, 2017, but he had other
ideas of when he wanted to enter this world. On the evening
of Monday, Nov 6th, I was at a work function and began
experiencing regular contractions. When I got home I told
Joel and we monitored them for awhile. They were regular,
but not very strong. After an hour or two we called the doctor.
Based on my history of precipitous labors she suggested we
go into the hospital. It would be better to be there in case things
sped up quickly. We pulled into the north side of hospital where
my doctor had told us to go only to find out that after 9 pm you
can’t enter that way. We jumped back in the car and drove to
the other side. We checked in at the ER triage counter where
they slowly took their time taking my blood pressure and asking
me questions. I was instructed to sit in the waiting area until a
doctor came down to give approval for me to go to L&D.
Once we got to the Labor and Delivery floor, we had another
check point where we sat down and spent 20 minutes
answering questions and getting checked in. All of this was
such a slow process! Finally they escorted us to a “holding”
room where women are monitored before being given a room
of their own. Well, after 7 hours of monitoring they decided my
labor was not progressing and sent me home at 5 cm! WHAT?!?!
ideas of when he wanted to enter this world. On the evening
of Monday, Nov 6th, I was at a work function and began
experiencing regular contractions. When I got home I told
Joel and we monitored them for awhile. They were regular,
but not very strong. After an hour or two we called the doctor.
Based on my history of precipitous labors she suggested we
go into the hospital. It would be better to be there in case things
sped up quickly. We pulled into the north side of hospital where
my doctor had told us to go only to find out that after 9 pm you
can’t enter that way. We jumped back in the car and drove to
the other side. We checked in at the ER triage counter where
they slowly took their time taking my blood pressure and asking
me questions. I was instructed to sit in the waiting area until a
doctor came down to give approval for me to go to L&D.
Once we got to the Labor and Delivery floor, we had another
check point where we sat down and spent 20 minutes
answering questions and getting checked in. All of this was
such a slow process! Finally they escorted us to a “holding”
room where women are monitored before being given a room
of their own. Well, after 7 hours of monitoring they decided my
labor was not progressing and sent me home at 5 cm! WHAT?!?!
Three days later, on Thursday morning at 4:13 am I was woke
up to an intense contraction. At that moment I knew I was in
labor so I rushed upstairs to tell Joel. We called his mom to
come over and stay with the boys. While we waited for her to
show up I called the doctor and she immediately said to come
in, even though I had only had about 3 contractions by this
point. Once Judy arrived, we headed for the hospital. We
hit every green light...praise the LORD! Joel dropped me
off at the correct entrance at 5:00 am(thanks to our false
call on Monday we knew where to go). I walked in and
knew that the ER triage would take time so through a
contraction I moaned, “I have fast labors.” I’m not sure it
was the way I said it or if they could tell by looking at me
but they moved a lot quicker than they had 3 days before.
We quickly got up to L&D where they did not have
us stop at the check-in desk. I felt pressure very low and
was trying to hum through each contraction that were now
right on top of each other. At one point, I recall snapping
at Joel and another nurse to “stop talking!” Joel knew at
that point that I was pretty far along in this labor. The nurses
were trying to find a room for me, but every room they
suggested had something wrong with it. This one hasn’t
been cleaned. That one has no supplies. They finally
found a room that was ready. I got to the end of the bed
when the nurse told me we needed to get my robe on. “I
can’t,” I said. She said, “Ok, just take your pants off.”
Somehow I managed to slip my shoes and pants off and
climb in the bed. I rolled over and Joel said he saw Nolan’s
head. The nurses started to scramble as they were not
prepared for that. I began instinctively pushing as they
tried to page the doctor. My water broke all over the nurse
and I don’t think she even had time to get gloves on before
Nolan was born. They placed him on my chest as we all
laughed and tried to wrap our heads around what had
happened. The nurses told me that we had walked in
the room at 5:17 am and Nolan was born at 5:19 am!
TWO MINUTES!!!
If any part of our journey had been delayed by two minutes
(or more!) I would have had this baby in the hallway, the
elevator or car. We barely made it. So first contraction
4:13 am. A breathing baby at 5:19 am. One hour and 6
minutes!! This was by far my fastest labor. Let’s just hope if
we have another it doesn’t get any faster.
up to an intense contraction. At that moment I knew I was in
labor so I rushed upstairs to tell Joel. We called his mom to
come over and stay with the boys. While we waited for her to
show up I called the doctor and she immediately said to come
in, even though I had only had about 3 contractions by this
point. Once Judy arrived, we headed for the hospital. We
hit every green light...praise the LORD! Joel dropped me
off at the correct entrance at 5:00 am(thanks to our false
call on Monday we knew where to go). I walked in and
knew that the ER triage would take time so through a
contraction I moaned, “I have fast labors.” I’m not sure it
was the way I said it or if they could tell by looking at me
but they moved a lot quicker than they had 3 days before.
We quickly got up to L&D where they did not have
us stop at the check-in desk. I felt pressure very low and
was trying to hum through each contraction that were now
right on top of each other. At one point, I recall snapping
at Joel and another nurse to “stop talking!” Joel knew at
that point that I was pretty far along in this labor. The nurses
were trying to find a room for me, but every room they
suggested had something wrong with it. This one hasn’t
been cleaned. That one has no supplies. They finally
found a room that was ready. I got to the end of the bed
when the nurse told me we needed to get my robe on. “I
can’t,” I said. She said, “Ok, just take your pants off.”
Somehow I managed to slip my shoes and pants off and
climb in the bed. I rolled over and Joel said he saw Nolan’s
head. The nurses started to scramble as they were not
prepared for that. I began instinctively pushing as they
tried to page the doctor. My water broke all over the nurse
and I don’t think she even had time to get gloves on before
Nolan was born. They placed him on my chest as we all
laughed and tried to wrap our heads around what had
happened. The nurses told me that we had walked in
the room at 5:17 am and Nolan was born at 5:19 am!
TWO MINUTES!!!
If any part of our journey had been delayed by two minutes
(or more!) I would have had this baby in the hallway, the
elevator or car. We barely made it. So first contraction
4:13 am. A breathing baby at 5:19 am. One hour and 6
minutes!! This was by far my fastest labor. Let’s just hope if
we have another it doesn’t get any faster.
Moments after labor (still kind of in shock)
Sleeping baby
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