Labor Day

I haven't been a very faithful blogger as of late.  My only excuse has been that I have been trying to get ready for our new arrival and resting.  But thankfully I did because we got everything ready just in time!

PSA: If you don't want to hear a birth story stop reading now, but I won't get graphic, I promise.

I had an my 39 week appointment Wednesday in Birmingham, but Tuesday I went to bed with some contractions.  They got closer together and stronger through the night.  I had been having some Braxton Hicks, but I knew these were different.  I went to bed with them about 10 minutes apart and just feeling like strong cramps.  By about 4 o'clock they were still about 10 minutes apart but they were strong enough that I couldn't sleep.  So I got up and straitened up the living room, got a snack, and started reading about telling the difference between false labor and the real thing.

I decided that Alex should take me to the appointment just in case.  Then I got a bath.  By the time I was ready the contractions were 5 minutes apart, but still not too terribly strong.  I called my mom to come keep Sterling (I called to warn her the night before, just in case, so she had her stuff ready and was there in an hour.  We left in time to be a little early for the appointment.  I called my doctor's office to explain the situation and they said to come to the appointment first and go from there.  Of course we were stuck behind a wreck on the interstate but thankfully it didn't hold us up too much!  By the time we got out of traffic the contractions were getting stronger and closer together, so Alex got to turn on his flashers for the rest of the drive to the hospital.

By the time we were at the doctor they were about 3 minutes apart but apparently not doing much because I had no progress from the week before.  I was still about a fingertip dilated but I was about 70% effaced, which was an improvement.  I saw the doctor on call because I was having contractions (just in case) instead of my doctor.  He said the best scenario for me having a successful VBAC was to go home and let the contractions get more regular and come back.  I didn't think that he was understanding that the contractions were strong and regular and there was no way for me to know when I was dilating.

So, I asked if I could go downstairs to be monitored and the doctor agreed to that but said that to have the baby that day I would probably need to have my water broken and some pitocin.  I knew that that would not give me the best chances to not have another c-section. So we went down, got hooked up to the monitor and they started an IV to see if rehydration would take the contractions away.  When the doctor came he was going to check me and I thought we would then discuss whether we wanted him to break my water or go home.  When he checked me he said that I was about 1-2 cm and then just broke my water.  I turned to Alex and said I guess we are having a baby today!

I have to admit I was a bit nervous after not getting past 3cm all day with Sterling on pitocin.  I knew that it was all in God's hands now (as if it weren't before) there's no turning back once they break your water and we had lots of people praying.  So then we wait.  Of course contractions really start to kick in now.  The doctor didn't want me getting an epidural until at least 5cm so as not to slow down labor.  My goal was to get to 5cm for the same reason, so I was glad we were on the same page.

At some point the nurse noticed that I was getting very uncomfortable.  She said I could have some pain killers.  She said I could have three and that I could have them up to an hour together.  And I totally expected to need all three of them before being able to get the epidural.  She had to check me before she gave me the medicine, and I was at about 3-4cm.  Progress yay!

An hour later the medicine was wearing off so the nurse checked me again before giving me my next dose.  I was now 4-5 cm.  I thought wow we are so close to the epidural (I was REALLY ready for it now).  She said let me call the doctor and see if you can get your epidural.  I'm thinking the doctor is going to have to come check me and that could take 30 minutes at least.  NOPE, nurse comes back with the cart for the anesthesiologist!  She came in and said the anesthesiologist is on his way.  About ten minutes later I was enjoying a nice numb feeling.

At this point the nurse said now that I was numb she was going to move me around to try to get her to come.  So she sat my bed strait up and down to try to get her to move down.  She said after an hour I would lay down on one side, then after another hour lay on the other.  After thirty minutes on one side (so an hour and a half after getting the epidural) the doctor comes in to check me.  I was hoping that I would be at least 7cm.  After checking me the doctor says, "Well you ladies did your job"  I'm thinking ooh, maybe I am 7cm.  "Go get the table ready she is ready to start pushing."  Wow!

So after getting the room ready I start pushing, which is nothing when you can't feel it at all (my epidural took VERY well).  After pushing for maybe 15-20 minutes the nurse tells me to stop so she can go get the doctor.  The doctor came in and I pushed another 2 or 3 times and she was here!  It was so quick!!

The first thing I thought was wow she is so small.  I know Sterling was much bigger than that.  I was right she came in weighing 6lbs 12oz. and was 19inches.  (Sterling was 8lbs 11oz)  She is just so tiny and so sweet.

She hasn't been much of a crier so far.  She has just been very content.

 Alex's first time holding his little girl.

She LOVES her Daddy.  It is so sweet how she responds to his voice.  I think we have a Daddy's girl on our hands!