Baby E's birth story- long, w/ PIPs!

On Thursday, May 5, I woke up just before 6am with sudden, painful contractions. I woke up my fiance and we got out my Contraction-Timer App (there?s an App for everything!), and found that they were just over a minute long each, and almost exactly 5 minutes apart. We continued to time them all morning, and DF called into work to let them know he wouldn?t be in; the baby was coming! My best friend rushed over at around noon, and took over the timing...they were still painful and regular. At about 4:30 PM, we decided that we?d labored at home long enough, and went across the street to the hospital. Once in L&D, the nurse set us up in the exam room with the belly monitors- obvious waves of contractions appeared on the screen, and baby girl?s heart rate was perfect. However, when she reached inside for the internal, she found that I was only 1 cm dilated! After consulting my obstetrician, she gave us two options- go home and continue to labor naturally, and only to come back when the contractions were absolutely intolerable; or to be admitted, and they?d try giving me some Pitocin to help move things along.
    Wanting a natural birth, we decided to return home and wait for labor to progress on its own. The contractions remained steady; just over 1 minute long each, and 4-6 minutes apart, like clockwork. At midnight, they were still this way, so we decided to get some sleep. They were still there the next morning...and Friday passed without them becoming closer together, or more intense. Then Saturday...and Sunday...STILL no noticeable progress! I was getting very frustrated, on top of being miserable from 4 days of painful contractions!
    Monday was my regular OB appointment. Excitedly, I put my legs up in the stirrups, my doctor reached inside AAAAAND...
    STILL. NO. PROGRESS. I was not even to 2 centimeters! After 4 DAYS of confirmed contractions...I was devastated! My body didn?t seem to be doing what it was supposed to. I had had my heart set on a natural labor and delivery...but when my doctor suggested that we schedule an induction for Wednesday, I didn?t hesitate to agree- I was so exhausted from this prolonged labor, and sick of being pregnant!
    At 5am, Wednesday morning, May 11, my fiance, best friend and I arrived back at L&D. They set us up comfortably; monitors still showing contractions 5 minutes apart, a minute long; and at 6 my OB came in and broke my water, hoping to encourage the labor somewhat naturally. However, by 10:30am, I was still below 3cm, so we decided the introduction of Pitocin was the best course of action. However, I refused the epidural, still hoping to experience as much of a natural labor as I could.
    For a few hours, I still didn't feel any change...Pitocin was dripping at "16," but the nurses were amazed when they walked in and we were all still laughing and talking; my best friend even did my makeup; I was in high spirits and low pain levels; they kept asking me, "Are you SURE you're in labor?!" but the monitors proved it...They upped the Pitocin to almost the maximum dosage. At that point, the contractions certainly became stronger; by 3pm, they were one on top of another; I wasn?t getting any break in between! I figured with the immense pain I was feeling, surely delivery must be close! But when my OB performed an internal again at 4:30, there was still no progress; my cervix was below 3cm, and baby girl was still very high up in my abdomen.
    She brought up the possibility of a Caesarean section. My entire pregnancy, I?d wanted to avoid a surgical delivery at all costs- but obviously, after over a week of labor, an entire day of Pitocin, and having my waters broken; with no progress, I reluctantly agreed. The anesthesiologist was called in to insert the epidural, which almost immediately relieved the pain of the contractions.
    I broke down when the nurse brought in the scrubs for my fiance. I was so disappointed in myself; I felt like there was something terribly wrong with my body that labor was unable to progress, I was devastated that I wouldn?t be able to hold and breastfeed my baby right away, and I was terrified of the idea of such major surgery in general. After watching such films as ?The Business of Being Born,? I?d been convinced that only a natural delivery would release the ?correct? ?love hormones,? and would guarantee a strong bond with baby. I hysterically phoned my Mom to let her know that I was going in for the section; she helped me to calm down, and after I got off the phone with her, I came to a realization; I was adopted as an infant, and yet my mother and I have one of the most loving bonds...method of delivery wasn?t a ?make or break? deal as far as a mother-daughter bond was concerned...My baby just needed to be delivered safely, and we?d have the entire rest of our lives to bond and build our love.
    They wheeled me into the delivery room, where I began to shake uncontrollably- a mixture of the spinal medication, the cold temperature of the sterile operating room, and my nerves! I reminded my doctor one final time to ?PLEASE make sure the incision isn?t crooked!? The screen went up, the tears began to flow once again, and my fiance kissed my cheek and held my hand the entire time. As soon as she was lifted out of me and began to cry, my tears changed to tears of joy! I begged Eric to go over to her, where he was able to cut the cord while they stitched up my belly.
    When they brought my beautiful baby girl over to me, I pulled my hand out of the straps and stroked her cheek, kissing her, telling her how much I loved her, fawning over her big blue eyes and curly dark hair...happy tears still flowing freely! It was the happiest moment of my life!
    Back in recovery, I began to get anxious again...My fiance and best friend came back and forth with pictures and updates for me- score of 9 on the Apgar...7lbs, 2.5oz...18 inches long. I cried some more and begged every nurse who passed to bring me my baby; IT FELT LIKE A LIFETIME, but apparently, less than 45 minutes actually passed, and then...they brought me my beautiful little girl!!! I immediately threw off my gown as best I could, and she latched on PERFECTLY right away! I was a little bit loopy from all the emotions and the pain medication, but never had there existed a happier woman inside of me than in that moment when I fed my daughter for the first time.
    The rest of the hospital stay is a bit of a blur: but even though that day went further off the original planned course of action than I could ever have imagined, I believe it went perfectly according to God?s plan, and I don?t regret a single bit of it!

I am so in love with her! Congratulations to all you other new Mamas out there; and good luck to those of you preparing to deliver!!