We were down to the wire cleaning and prepping for our baby's arrival and I had been having some major labor pains for the past few days. I just had a feeling she would be coming early. That morning I had a doctor's appointment to check my progress, or lack of progress. Yup, still only 1-2 cm dilated. But, Dr. Mayfield stripped my membranes to see if that would help get things going. I went home and Greg and I literally were racing around the house cleaning and putting things away/in their places. I started having pretty bad cramping and contractions about an hour after my doctor's appointment but I wasn't letting them slow me down. I was on a mission. My mom called when she got out of work around 2:20 pm and asked how I was feeling. While racing around the home I spoke to her and told her that I was having pretty bad contractions. She asked me if I had timed them, to which I replied, I haven't had time to time them. :-) She was not impressed. She was 7.5-8 hours away and if she was going to make it for the birth, she figured she had better get on the road. So, I sat down. Yup, 1-2 minutes apart, but still a little irregular. I thought at that point that I should probably go, but I had more cleaning to do. Greg was just doing whatever I asked of him during all of this, while quietly asking every now and again if I was okay. I always replied, "yes," and kept on moving. I told my mom that I still wasn't quite sure if they were true labor pains or I was just having braxton hicks contractions from the appointment and didn't want her getting on the road for nothing. I then got a text from my sister about 2 hours later saying, "are you in labor?" It finally hit me. What if I am?! I slowed down and timed my contractions again. A regular 1-2 minutes apart this time. Yikes! I always heard that the next baby comes faster than the first so I put a plan in motion. Our babysitter was going to arrive by 5ish and thankfully Greg's parents would make it to our home by 6:30 pm to be with Adelaide. It must've been God that told them to get on the road that morning to come down to help because we would've been lost without them. So, off we went to Good Samaritan Hospital to meet our new baby girl!
Annnddd, so much for the next baby coming faster. I took forever to dilate, the anesthesiologist was in surgery and couldn't give me my epidural for hours, which meant my doctor couldn't break my water or give me pitocin for hours! I had the worst labor pains. They came ever 1-2 minutes on average, sometimes longer, but I just wasn't progressing. Ridiculous. The doctor and nurses thought as soon as I came in I would be having this baby because of the strength of my contractions but she didn't come until 1:29 am. I had told my mom and dad to wait to drive because I thought she'd come in no time. Turns out they had PLENTY of time. They gave me some drugs in my IV which made me feel drunk, quickly reminding me why I don't drink a lot anymore and that I don't want to even after I have Olivia. I was SO loopy and just giggled. I'm pretty sure Greg got a big kick out of it but I just felt out of control. Yuck. I'd rather have contractions than feel like that so once that wore off, I went back to feeling the pain.
My anesthesiologist finally showed up around 9:30 pm. He was a good one and didn't have to redo my epidural like my first birthing experience. My body, however, reacted the same as it had the first go around and it only numbed half of my body. It was truly fine with me. Although I could feel the pain on my right side, it allowed me to better feel my contractions and my pushing. When it came to pushing, Olivia came out fast like Addie. It took about 4 pushes and she was out. Unlike her sister who's screams were heard for miles, she was quiet. I asked the doctor, "is she okay? Why isn't she crying?" Turns out, the crying would come very soon. They placed her on my chest and I stared at my beautiful baby girl. She was perfect. Scored great on her tests, and was truly a little miracle. It was amazing how calm I felt this time around too. I just wanted to hold her close to my heart and feel her on me. It was incredible.
She nursed quite well and slept quite well right off the bat. Her demeanor was so calm and even the doctor was surprised when she would perform a test or do something to her and she wouldn't cry. She was so chill. It was amazing how I could see her personality from day one. Calm and happy.
Olivia Grace Walther
October 16th, 2013 at 1:20am
6lbs 3oz, 21 inches long
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