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September 2013 Moms
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Introducing Clara Megan!

foxyroxyfoxyroxy member
edited August 2013 in September 2013 Moms
Miss Clara Megan made her grand entrance Tuesday night at 8:17pm. 6lbs, 60z. 19 inches. 38w 2d. No pants.

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(ETA: I know the photo isn't working. I am trying to fix it...)


For those interested, her birth story:

I woke up Tuesday at 5am with moderate contractions about 8.5 minute apart. I tried to walk around and stay hydrated as the day went on and they got stronger and closer together. At 12:30, they were about 5.5 min apart, so I called my doctor and she said to come into the office. When I got there and was hooked up to the fetal monitor, I was shocked to learn that my contractions were barely registering. In fact, at my appointment the previous week (Thursday), I had been experiencing stronger contractions- but I couldn't feel those ones at all! A cervical check revealed that I was barely 1cm dilated. The doctor said it could be hours, but it very likely could be days before it was go time. She sent me home.

I was incredibly disheartened- not because I needed to have the baby right then and there, but because the visit really made me question my instincts. I had been so sure this was it. We were back home by 1:30. I felt as though the pain was getting worse, but I doubted myself now and thought it was probably just in my head. Even though I was spotting the next time I went to the bathroom, I didn't believe anything was happening. After another instance of spotting, DH convinced me to call the doctor again, who told me to come back to the office. Just 1.5 hours after I left the first time, I was there and this time the contractions were really registering and I was almost 4in dilated. I was so relieved. If nothing had changed, I would have been crushed. Off to the hospital!

I was checked into the hospital by 4pm. The contractions were getting stronger and right on top of each other. I started projectile vomiting LInda Blair-style with each one (during my brief return home between doctor visits, I had the bright idea to eat some Indian curry. Never again). By 6:30, the pain was getting to be unbearable. I could no longer keep my eyes open between contractions. The doctor checked me and I was only dilated 5cm at this point and she guessed that, at the current rate, I would keep dilating at the rate of 1 cm/hour. 

At this point, I knew I had to ask for the epidural. I hadn't planned on getting one, but I had allowed myself the choice if I felt it was necessary. It felt necessary. At 7pm I got the epi and it was the best decision I could possibly have made. It made me feel like myself again, like an active participant in my birth process, not just some hysterical woman trying to prove she was tough enough to get through the pain. I could still move my legs and feel contractions, which was wonderful. It just took the edge off and allowed me to be more present. DH led me though a relaxation exercise, and then at 7:30 I was checked again: 8 cm! By 8pm I was fully dilated and ready to push. Clara was out by 8:17pm! I truly believe that if I didn't have the epi, her birthday would have been 8/28.

This last part I mention because I am sure others will experience something similar: Immediately after Clara was born, I started shaking uncontrollably (apparently from the hormone crash). Plus, an episiotomy had been necessary,so I was being stitched up. DH stepped in for skin-to-skin and then to closely monitor the medical stuff (vitamin k shot, cleaning, cord clamping, etc). I had been hoping for that post-birth oxytocin high of bonding with my LO, but instead I was just shaking violently while getting vag stitches and feeling extremely overwhelmed. It was actually probably the lowest part of the whole experience for me. Thankfully, after I was sewn up and rested, things started improving immensely and I was soon feeling like myself again. Still, it was a bit unnerving there for a while.

Clara is now a healthy 3 day old baby with an excellent latch and full head of hair. Thank you to everyone who sent well wishes our way! 
"She's the tied for the third-funniest person on this board!" -S13 Bumpies

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