Caroline Marie is here! Birth Story (PIP link)

We decided with our doctor to induce at 39 weeks, we were scheduled to go in 1/19 at midnight and as a last minute decision decided to take maternity photos with my belly showing (I had been against but now glad I did) around 5 and last supper with my folks before resting for a quick nap before heading to the hospital.

We arrived at the hospital at 12:15 and were checked in, of the 17 rooms, we got room #16. Ironically it was the same TINY room from our last episode in December (been 3cm since mid-december and I got a bloody show which lead to a 1 night stay over at the hospital) so we were familiar with it although disappointed at the lack of space and poor DH had to sleep on the chair instead of the sofas in the other rooms.

After my last episode with IV?s I begged for a smaller needle and I was given one with a size 20 vs a 18 and it made a HUGE difference. Last time they took 4 times to get an IV in an I was in a lot of pain after it was placed and even after removal. This time with a smaller needle made all of the difference! Once the IV was in Pitocin was started at 4am, the contractions got stronger and I was given an epidural around 6am. The epidural was scary but I was grateful it was done early as they said they got very busy and I would of missed my chance if I didn?t take it at that very moment. 

After the epi, I was dilated to 5 cm and at 7:15 my doctor arrived to break my water. I rested for a while and kept feeling this large pressure on my pelvic area. The nurse suggested I raise one leg and it was propped up with a stirrup, sure enough I went from 5cm to 10 in a few hours. By 10:15 it was time to start pushing and get LO crowning so they could call my OB. I pushed and pushed, I was told I wasn?t pushing right and between the nurses and DH telling me what I was doing wrong I finally shouted at them ?I AM PUSHING!!!? We got LO very close to crowning but I couldn?t get her past that one last point. DH could see her hair and they were so excited I felt defeated that I couldn?t get her fully crowning. I was very frustrated. I started bleeding and I was later told I suffered 2^nd degree tears and minor internal bleeding. The nurses worked to stop the bleeding until my OB arrived. I kept trying to push and it turns out they also began prepping the OR for a c-section if I wasn?t able to get her out soon. Once my OB came they had stopped the bleeding but then told me I was about to feel so more pressure as they were performing an episiotomy to get LO completely out. Once they did this it took a few more pushes and me yelling at DH once more ?SHUT UP DH! I can?t focus on EVERYONE!!? with contractions and BAM? LO was born at 11:20am. 8lbs, 1 oz and 19 inches long with a FULL head of hair! The intense pressure was surreal and I didn?t feel the difference between her head and body coming out, only when she was fully out did I feel the ?release? others describe. They placed LO on my chest as DH cut her cord and I was able to finally lay back and rest for a moment.

I asked to see the placenta and man was that an ugly site. It was not easy to get it out in the first place, and took a while. The pressure they put to ?massage? it out was not good but nothing too crazy. Once it was out they kept stitching me up for what felt like an hour but once I heard LO?s cry and watched the nurses clean her up and do the review I couldn?t take my eyes off of her. I cried and cried, DH asked if it was tears of joy for LO or that delivery was over. I said both! I couldn?t believe it was over. I was no longer pregnant but a mom.

DH stayed and took a ton of photos then went out to see my mother and sister to tell them the good news. (They had stayed with us from 7 until it was pushing time then they RAN for the waiting area.) Shortly after DH?s phone went nutts and emails/texts were sent. I don?t remember much after the pains meds were given. Our families started arriving and I was in and out of the conversations, a few friends and my OB came by for a quick visit. She was telling me I could go home in 24 hours but I?m glad I didn?t. The stitches and swelling was pretty bad and the meds and being able to rest that extra day (we left Sunday) made a lot of difference. Don?t be afraid to take the full 3 days you get for vaginal delivery. I love being home but my first night back was rough since we were both exhausted from the weekend. 

I?d like to tell so much more about my experience but believe it or not this is the short version! For the moms to be I?d say don?t be so afraid. It will go a lot quicker than you think and although the staff/OB/nurses may irritate you or not have the greatest bedside for the most part they are very efficient and want LO to be healthy. Trust in them and be kind to DH. (I apologized for the yelling later that night.) So much will happen all you can do is go along for the ride to mommy-hood.  We are home now and I love being a mom. I have so many fears but watching DH with LO or holding LO in my arms calms them down. I never thought I?d be so lucky to have a daughter so now all I want to do is cherish this time. I couldn?t upload a photo but here is the link for LO:

https://ladybugnursery.shutterfly.com/hospitalphotos