I had an appointment on Thursday the 22nd, the day before my due date. I was still dialated to a 2 and 50% effaced(I was the same at the last appointment). Normally my doctor won't induce until 1-2 weeks after the due date but because Nate's law school finals were coming he said he would induce me on Tuesday the 23rd if I hadn't had her yet. I went on lots of walks that weekend and Sunday and Monday I had some pretty strong contractions. I thought I would go into labor but the contractions would not stay consistent.
Right before I was induced. Yes I know, I was huge.
So here came Tuesday and we checked in at 7:00 am. At 7:50, they gave me cytotec. It is a pill that softens the cervix. They wanted to try that and see if it would start my labor, and then if it didn't, they would do pitocin. At 9:15 am, Nate left to school. We figured I would be a while and he had a full day of classes so I told him to go. My mom flew in on Monday so I had her there which was great. I could not have made it so far into labor without my mom. She was my rock.
My mom and I went and got breakfast and then walked the hospital until 11:50. I got checked at 1 pm and I was at a 4 and 90% effaced. In my mind I had always wanted to make it to a 4 before I got my epidural but labor was pretty manageable so I decided to keep going. The hospital I delivered in was 2 years old so it was so nice. In my bathroom I had a giant jacuzzi tub so at 1:15 I moved to the tub. It was so amazing. After that experience I think I could do a water birth. Although the contractions were really starting to hurt at this point. Nate came back at 2:00. I had asked for an epidural but there was someone ahead of me. At 2:30 they gave me a drug to help me relax for the epidural. It basically just took the edge off of the contractions. I was also at a 6 at that point. At 4:00, they came in to give me my epidural. I was then at a 7. Got the epidural and it wasn't bad at all. My doctor doesn't like to give a strong dose of the epidural so I could still feel my contractions and was able to move my legs. At 5:10 my water broke on its own. That was a weird feeling. At 5:30 pm I was at an 8. I was ready to push at 7. Up until this point, I really didn't think labor was bad. In fact it was actually quite enjoyable. But that was all about to change.
I started pushing with Nate and the nurse helping me. The first hour is a blur. I couldn't feel much and so I don't think I was pushing very effectively. The nurse also told me that she was still quite high. At the 1 hr. mark they said that she was stuck against my pelvis and that I was going to have to push hard. I could feel when I would get a contraction and then I would push. I couldn't believe the intense pressure I felt while pushing. In my mind I thought, oh I'll get an epidural and not feel anything. Not the case for me. I had moments where I thought it would never end and I was quite discouraged. Pushing for 2 1/2 hours was by far the hardest thing I have ever done! Nate and my nurse saved me, they were both so encouraging and wonderful! At 9:34 pm, she was here! She was out to her chest and my doctor told me to reach down and pull her out. I was a little out of it and she was pretty nasty but I grabbed one side of her and the doctor had her other side and we pulled her out. It was such a neat experience to literally bring her into this world. They plopped her on my chest and Nate cut the cord. In my phone I added a note shortly after she was born. "Swallowed a little meconium but was just fine. Apgar score was 8. Did skin to skin shortly after birth for 2 hrs. So special. 12 am moved to room and was able to walk around. E went to nursery with daddy. They came back a little before 2. Babes is now sound asleep. Best day ever."
It truly was the best day ever. The love I have for this little girl is so special and something I've never felt before nor could I describe. Those that are parents I'm sure can relate. It is quite crazy to think we are parents but we are absolutely loving it!
My mom and I went and got breakfast and then walked the hospital until 11:50. I got checked at 1 pm and I was at a 4 and 90% effaced. In my mind I had always wanted to make it to a 4 before I got my epidural but labor was pretty manageable so I decided to keep going. The hospital I delivered in was 2 years old so it was so nice. In my bathroom I had a giant jacuzzi tub so at 1:15 I moved to the tub. It was so amazing. After that experience I think I could do a water birth. Although the contractions were really starting to hurt at this point. Nate came back at 2:00. I had asked for an epidural but there was someone ahead of me. At 2:30 they gave me a drug to help me relax for the epidural. It basically just took the edge off of the contractions. I was also at a 6 at that point. At 4:00, they came in to give me my epidural. I was then at a 7. Got the epidural and it wasn't bad at all. My doctor doesn't like to give a strong dose of the epidural so I could still feel my contractions and was able to move my legs. At 5:10 my water broke on its own. That was a weird feeling. At 5:30 pm I was at an 8. I was ready to push at 7. Up until this point, I really didn't think labor was bad. In fact it was actually quite enjoyable. But that was all about to change.
I started pushing with Nate and the nurse helping me. The first hour is a blur. I couldn't feel much and so I don't think I was pushing very effectively. The nurse also told me that she was still quite high. At the 1 hr. mark they said that she was stuck against my pelvis and that I was going to have to push hard. I could feel when I would get a contraction and then I would push. I couldn't believe the intense pressure I felt while pushing. In my mind I thought, oh I'll get an epidural and not feel anything. Not the case for me. I had moments where I thought it would never end and I was quite discouraged. Pushing for 2 1/2 hours was by far the hardest thing I have ever done! Nate and my nurse saved me, they were both so encouraging and wonderful! At 9:34 pm, she was here! She was out to her chest and my doctor told me to reach down and pull her out. I was a little out of it and she was pretty nasty but I grabbed one side of her and the doctor had her other side and we pulled her out. It was such a neat experience to literally bring her into this world. They plopped her on my chest and Nate cut the cord. In my phone I added a note shortly after she was born. "Swallowed a little meconium but was just fine. Apgar score was 8. Did skin to skin shortly after birth for 2 hrs. So special. 12 am moved to room and was able to walk around. E went to nursery with daddy. They came back a little before 2. Babes is now sound asleep. Best day ever."
Nate and E right after the birth.
E and I the next day.
The day we went home.
4 comments:
Congrats Jan, i'm glad she came & that everything is good!
So sweet! She is a beautiful babe. I'm sure she already looks so different...post more pics!
Hey! I had saved your blog on a bookmarked list and I just came across it! Yay! She is darling; so happy for you guys!
Oh, it's Lyndsey Fagerlund-not sure how big the pic comes up so you could tell it was me. :)
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