This is a bit of a photo bomb post, but hopefully you will all understand why i'm not taking the time to write a long post. i will post more about her birth story another day. we promised to share more pictures with parents and this is the easiest way possible.
UPDATE: i'm too lazy to post pictures again, so i'm adding the birth story on this post.
I am now finding some time to write the birth story of our little girl. i'm pretty sure most people were aware of how impatient we have been the last several weeks to have our little girl. at our 39 week appointment Thursday the 18th, we were happy to hear there was more progress; i was practically at a 3, 80% effaced, with baby's head very low. we had 4 more days until our due date. we had originally wanted to wait it out as long as it would take (until 41 weeks, that was my cut off) and go into labor on my own, but after weighing our pro's and con's, we decided to induce. our doctor said my cervix was very favorable, and she thought i would go fast, so she had no worries about possibly a failed induction.
we scheduled our induction for the next possible time for my doctor to do the induction: Monday the 22nd, our due date. that morning we said goodbye to my mom, and gave our sleeping little boy kisses, and headed on our way. We checked in at the hospital at 7 am, and got settled into our room to wait for instructions from the doctor. I hadn't made much change since our last appointment, so i was curious to find out what the doctor would want to do. it was after 8 am when she came into the room and said that she wanted to break my water and see if i would progress on my own from there. she felt that my body was ready to go, just needed a little push in the right direction. it was after 8:30 when she broke my water. the plan was to check in an hour and see if there was any change, or if we would start pitocin. we spent about 1/2 an hour walking and i began to feel contractions a little bit. when i was checked again a little before 10 but there was no change. we were going to start pitocin, but the nurse didn't come back right away and while we waited i got a lot more crampy and started feeling strong contractions in my back. the nurse had only been gone 10 minutes, but finally came back to say that since things were picking up now we would wait on the pitocin and see if i could do it myself.
in the next hour i progressed to a 4 and started feeling pretty miserable and wanted to walk some more. on a side note, let me just say, Caleb was amazing and patient with everything and it was so wonderful having him there this time around! we walked about 20 minutes before i was having a hard time walking through contractions, and decided to sit in a rocking chair instead. i was checked around 12:15 pm and there had been no more change. i was quite disappointed, as i had been hoping to do it all myself without dreaded pitocin. the nurse said at this point, it was up to me if i wanted to just continue on my own, or if i wanted to start pitocin and speed things up. in order for my doctor to deliver we would need to be ready by 5 pm. i knew i wanted her to deliver me, so i chose to start pitocin, even though i was dreading it. i knew things would go fast from that point on, so i told Caleb if he wanted lunch he better go now, and hurry back, which he did. as soon as he got back i said i was ready for my epidural. i had been curious to see how far i could make it this time before caving in and getting it, but sadly i didn't even make it as far as i had the first time.
the epidural was in about 1:15pm, and i was shaking and freezing cold. when i was checked about 1:30 i was only a 5, 90% effaced, but her head was very, very low. i felt like a whimp, but i had had enough and was shaking so bad my teeth were chattering. the nurse piled warm blankets on me and i finally started to relax a bit and exhaustion set in. i was planning to take a nap, but i started to feel really sick from hunger and i felt a lot of pressure. when the nurse came in at 2:30ish to check me we were excited to see if i was close to done, but i was only at a 7. the nurse brought me some jello to eat, and said she thought we should try something called a peanut ball, that sometimes speeds this part in the progression up by a lot. i was in a lot of pain at this point on my right side, but handling it ok by breathing through it. it didn't occur to me that my epidural might wear off like last time, so i didn't mention it to the nurse.
i was eating my jello and talking to Caleb, when i started feeling an increase of pressure. i mentioned it to Caleb, and then told him i thought i might want some more jello. the nurse came in and i asked for more jello, so she went to get it. Suddenly, i felt intense pain that i decided i could NOT handle, and told Caleb "you get the nurse, and get her NOW!!!!" the poor guy jumped up in a panic to call for her, but she walked in the door right then, and i told her "ok, something is happening, and it hurts!" i think i recall her laughing at me a bit, but i was in no mood for jokes. she said then that she was sure i must be complete, and was going to check me. sure enough, i had reached a 10, with just a little bit of one side left. she called for the doctor and started setting up and i had Caleb's hand in a death grip. i don't think he could have made me let go if he had tried. let me just say right now, that when i had Connor, after my epidural quit working on the one side, they came in and did something and it then worked so amazing that i literally couldn't feel a thing. pushing was hard because of it, but i had no crying and no pain. for some reason, that is what i was expecting again this time. i was NOT prepared mentally for intense pain, so i will just say right upfront, i did not handle it well.
By the time the doctor was there i was ready to push, and completely hysterical from the pain. Caleb handled it so well though. i kept begging for him to make it stop, but he would just calmly tell me he wished he could, but couldn't, i had to push and it would stop. the nurse said at one point "i know, the pressure can be intense" and if i could have, i probably would have kicked her in the face. intense was not the word on my mind, searing pain was a better choice. but, although i was sobbing, hysterical, and hyperventilating, i managed to get the job done. Caleb heard alot of "i can't do this" and "it hurts, it hurts, it hurts." as i look back, i think, well DUH, it's childbirth! it's not supposed to be fun or easy! but, i was past the point of being consoled or thinking rationally. i can say i will never NEVER be one of those woman who want a natural birth. NEVER. i used to wonder what it would be like, but now i can say i do not want a repeat of that experience. thank goodness i was born in this modern world with all the blessings of medicines and things!
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| Mommy and Evelynn |
so, after about 15 minutes, and 5ish contractions, our daughter entered the world. i was immediately in love with her headful of hair. she promptly pooped all over when the nurse was wiping her down to hand to me. She is the sweetest little thing. she was born at 3:12 pm arizona time, weighing 7 lbs 12 ozs, and measuring 19 3/4 inches long. Daddy got to cut the umbilical cord. we just adore her. i was quite greedy about the time i had with just Caleb, Evelynn, and i. my mom was eagerly awaiting news, and i waited quite a while to even tell her. i had to get stitches from tearing, but it was no where near as bad as the 3rd degree tears i had with Connor. I was very worn out from the intense labor, and neglected sharing the news with most people, and opted for a big facebook announcement that i hoped would be sufficient for anyone waiting to hear.
my mom brought Connor to meet his sister while i was recovering. he wasnt sure what to think of her at first , but now adores her and wants to help with everything she needs. she is healthy and very sweet-natured. she is an excellent eater, and nurses like a champ! she already sleeps well too. she is a very content baby and only cries when she needs something. she isn't colicky or jaundiced, but she does love to be snuggled! she has her daddy wrapped around her finger, and her big brother too! we all just love her and are so glad she is here!!!
We brought her home on the 23rd. We wanted only a minimal stay at the hospital, so we were discharged promptly after 24 hrs. We were so glad to have my mom be able to stay at home at watch our Connor for us!
