Audrey Elise is here!

I went in for my AFI/NST scan on Wednesday, 8/4. I was already overdue (due 8/3), my fluid level was 29cm, and LO was measuring 9.3#s, so the Dr. said I needed to induce immediately rather than this week (should have been yesterday - ah!) So, DH, my mom, and I ran home (I had DH and my mom with me for the non stress test - I thought DH went into shock for a second and my poor mom started flipping out - I guess as they were waiting in the waiting room she kept saying something must be wrong b/c it was taking so long). I packed my bags b/c I hadn't done that yet (by the way, you really don't need much - some toiletries, a change of comfy clothes, and some baby stuff - especially newborn diapers b/c the hospital was using size 1 and they were way to big for her) and went back to the hospital.

Have i ever mentioned on here that I hate needles?? The nurse that admitted me took 3 tries to get my IV in - although she felt so bad she authorized free tv rental for me (good thing too since I was in labor for 36 hrs!). Then they let me have dinner since you can't eat during the induction (again, 36 freaking hours - I was starving by the end of it!) and they started cytotec at 8pm (the stuff to soften the cervix). I had to have 3 doses before I was fully effaced and at 8 am the dr came in to talk epidurals. I had wanted to go natural, however she said that when they broke my water I had a high chance of the cord prolapsing (coming down the birth canal before the head, cuting off oxygen) If that happened I would need an emergency c-section - if the epi was in place they would simply have to top off the dosage, but if I refused the epi they would have to knock me out, meaning both me and DH would have missed the birth - so after getting rally upset at the two choices I had, I ok'd the epi. The Dr came down and set up my back - and let his intern put it in! I was sooo pissed when I found out they had switched on me. And then to make it worse she didn't get it in right so he had to take it out and redo it - only to mess up again - so he had to try a 3rd time - everything looked ok so they started the pitocin drip.

I got really sick during the labor ( I think I filled up 4 bags), and I swear having your water broke is the wierdest feeling ever! They set up a suction cup since I had so much water and I ended up getting 1300cc's of fluid, not to mention the amount that spilled on the table and gushed everytime I moved It took until about 9pm for me to be fully effaced and started to push. I pushed for 2 hrs (which hurt like hell) and her head got stuck behind my pelvic bone, so they said to take a break, let my body work on the baby itself, and we could try again in a little bit. One nurse thought I would be more comfy sitting up and as soon as she moved my bed I had the most excruciating pain shoot through my left side. Turns out the 3rd epi was no good - only took on my right side - which is why the pushing hurt so bad. So after cussing and crying and getting reallyyyyy pissed off at the new anesthitist, I ok'd a 4th epi. It still did nothing (yeah, 4 epi's are no joke - my back is still bruised up and hurts from them), however I was able to get a small nap and started pushing again at 2am. At 3am they called in a specialist because although my pushing should have been effective, her head was lodged in a way that made it incredibly hard to move her, and they needed to get her out or go with a c-section - another 1/2 hr and she finally came out at 3:31 am (the most relief you will ever feel is when your baby finally comes out - not a fun experience!)

She was soooo stinkin' cute immediately (DH wouldn't cut the cord - said he wouldn't be the one to sever the mother/daughter bond - morbid, huh?) and they took her to get her vitamin K shots and her vitals. I had a brief moment of hope that at least I hadn't torn, but no such luck. I tore in 3 places and the lidocaine shots didn't take either - I felt every single stitch going in. They lost count on how many there were My poor mom got so sick she almost passed out in the room. I couldn't believe it - I thought for sure DH would be the one to get sick! But he was awesome - never left my side except to run home and take care of our puppy. Recovery has been a *** - I still can't walk right because of the vag pain and back pain. After everything, I ended up staying in the hospital 4 days, and she was finally born on 8/6. DD is doing great (we had her 1st dr's appt today). She is down to 7#s 12oz (from actually being 8.2 at birth, not 9.3) , and she is learning how to breastfeed really well. I'm incredibly tired but I love her so much it doesn't matter I hope everyone else's labors have gone/will go much, much smoother and faster than mine did! If you made it through the whole post, thanks for reading!