Lexi's birth story - long

AshleyDG83 · April 2012

L-o-n-g...I didn't get a lot of sleep last night because my right hip has been hurting, so I took PLENTY of time writing this, lol

DH and I arrived at the hospital a few minutes after 5 pm on Wednesday. I got registered and settled into my room about 6, ate and had the cervadil placed a little after 8. I was 1 cm and my cervix was still super thick. The night nurse (Britt, who I just loved!!) blew my vein 3 times trying to get an IV til she finally gave up and got a different nurse to do it...she got it on the first try I got an ambien around 11 and was able to sleep until about 4ish (too excited!!!). Britt came in around 6 and started the pitocin and my OB came in at 7:30 and broke my water. They told me I could get IV pain medicine and/or the epi whenever I wanted, which was comforting (when I was pg with both my boys, my dr in GA made me wait until I was 4 cm to get the epi.) I was determined to labor as long as possible before getting the epi since I know it can slow down labor. I asked for IV meds about 10 because my lower back and hips were hurting pretty bad. The pain meds (nubain) took the edge off the pain and I was able to relax a lot more. My contractions were somewhat regular, and I could definitely feel the pitocin working. They were strong, but I could breathe through them. My L&D nurse, Sarah, checked me at 10:30 and I was 1.5 cm and a little more thinned out. Things starting getting a little more intense about 12, so the nurse checked me and I was already at 4 cm and really thinned out! In both my previous pregnancies, it took me forever to get to 4 and I was absolutely miserable and begging for the epi. I decided to go ahead and ask for the epi because of how fast I was progressing. I got the epi a little before 1 and I was in heaven!!! I could still move my legs pretty well and still feel the pressure from my contractions, but no pain! Sarah guessed that I would probably have her early afternoon, but reminded me that it was only an estimate. She checked me again a little after 2 and I was only 5 cm. An hour later, only 5.5. Sarah came back in and told me she was going to help me into some positions that would help put pressure on my cervix to dilate more. She has me laying on my right side, wedged in between some rolled up blankets, and I could feel much more pressure with my next contractions. She checked me a little after 4 and I was almost an 8! I couldn't believe how well it worked! About an hour later, I started getting really nauseous and got the shakes, which I knew was pretty common during transitioning, and turns out I was right. She gave me some zofran in my IV and checked me again and I was basically at 10, with a little lip. BTW, DH was totally freaked out about the shaking. He was so worried....it was so sweet!! Anyway, she helped stretch my cervix and had me push a few times til I was complete. At about 5:50, she had me start pushing. She called my OB and told him to head towards the hospital. It was just her, Lexi's nurse, DH and me in the room until the dr got there. I pushed somewhere around 6 or 8 sets of pushes (3 in each set) and I could feel her head crowning. My OB came in about 6:10, I pushed twice and her head was out! I had to stop pushing because the cord was around her neck (which totally freaked me out!) so they got the cord off, and with the next push, she was out. They immediately laid her on my belly, and my first words were "She looks so much like Micah!" (our first born.) Her nurse took her over to the warmer and spent about 10 LONG minutes suctioning her out. She apparently had a lot of mucous in her nasal passage and throat. She had to use the wall suction to get it out completely, which made my poor baby SO upset!! She fussed the whole time they did that, but as soon as they put her in my arms, she got completely quiet and we had that "moment". She was ready to nurse about 15 minutes later, and she already knew exactly what to do. She has a perfect latch and I haven't felt one ounce of pain anytime she has nursed.

We were moved up to our PP room about an hour after delivery, and she has been fantastic! They had her for almost 2 hours getting her bathed (which DH got to do...he's a proud papa!!), doing her footprints, etc, and she's been in the room ever since. She was awake for a while, but the only time she has gotten even a little fussy is when she gets hungry. I've had to wake her to feed her the last two times because she had been sleeping THREE hours! She is so much different than the boys!

Looking back over all 3 deliveries, this one was by far the easiest. The contractions with my boys were so much more intense, and when I got the epi with them, I couldn't move my legs on my own and it took forever to wear off.. I had to be told when I was contracting and never felt any pressure. This time I felt I had more control and could feel exactly what my body was doing.

BTW, both big brothers are ecstatic. My oldest asked me if she was going to get to come home and live with us forever (aww!!). He held here for a while and is so amazed at how tiny she is. Our younger son, who's 5, still isn't quite sure about the whole thing. I think he's a little put off by the hospital setting, but positive he'll be totally different once we get home.

We're expected to be discharged on Saturday evening, which couldn't come soon enough for me. I love having meals delivered and being so well taken care of, but I miss my boys so much and am ready to be in the comfort of my own home.

Good luck to all the other mommies out there! She's finally starting to stir, so I'm going to feed and cuddle up with my snuggle bunny!