The whole story, L&D style.

I FINALLY have time, energy, and mental capacity to write this post! I want to share with you my labor experience and N's delivery! As I've written, I had planned for a natural and drug-free birth ... but, things didn't go exactly as planned. Surprisingly, I'm completely okay with it because I have the most precious little one in my arms now.

Here goes ...

N didn't come on her own, regardless of the mall walking and wishful thinking. I went to the hospital at midnight on March 2nd for my induction.

*Before leaving for the hospital - 40 weeks 3 days*

They didn't have an L&D room available so they put me in a high risk prenatal room with a woman who was trying NOT go into labor as she was 34 weeks and high risk. I didn't have the cervadil implanted until 2:30 am, and much to my chagrin, it was done by an attending who I'm pretty sure was 12 years old (think Doogie Howser MD). He even brought along an ultrasound machine to make sure N was head down. Seriously? I could've told you she was. Sheesh. I was still 1/2 cm ad 50% effaced so I had made no progress over the weekend. It was not a fun morning.

Contractions started at 4:30 am. Correction - PAINFUL back contractions started ... the kind that left me breathless. This is when I started asking about that L&D room they had promised and was told there was nothing open. I asked for a birthing ball and they told me they couldn't get me one. So, I was stuck in bed, trying to moan quietly, and feeling horrible for the woman in the room with me.

At 9:30 am, my OB came in, told me the contractions were 4-5 minutes apart, and I had dilated to 1 1/2 cm and was 80% effaced! The cervadil was working, praise Jesus. I was then moved to L&D and was in some SERIOUS pain as the pitocin was started. I decided to throw the drug-free birth plan out the window and asked if I could have something to help - my nurse (who was fabulous!) suggested stadol in my IV to take the "edge" off. Well, it made me high as a kite between contractions and did NOTHING for my pain. Seriously, I was trying to talk to the hubs about the Berenstein Bears, the Muppets, and a meadow. I must have been VERY entertaining.

I asked for an epidural after 30 minutes of the loopyness and not only did I have an awesome anesthesiologist but I got to be the case study for two med students on how epis are done. So, I got edumucated while trying not to sound like an idiot because I was still in la la land.

*Epi = fabulous*

Oh, blessed epi. I slept, the hubs slept, all was good. At 12:30 pm, my contractions were 3-4 minutes apart, I was 6 cm dilated, and my OB had a big grin on his face. Diagnosis? NO C-SECTION! This baby was coming naturally. I told him he scared me at my last appointment, talking about a c-section and he said he had to, "the whole full disclosure deal." He broke my water and there was a teensy bit of meconium in it but it was fresh so they weren't too concerned.

By 1:00 pm at my next check, my contractions were 1-2 minutes apart and I was 9 cm dilated. My OB wanted to wait just a little bit longer to get me to 10 cm and to make sure my cervix was completely out of the way. My OB said I'd have her by 6:00 pm and as soon as he left, my nurse said with a smile, "she'll be here in an hour or two" and started setting up the room for her arrival.

*The baby station*

At 3:10 pm, I started pushing. I couldn't feel pain but oh, the pressure. I was DETERMINED to get this little one out and even my OB commented on my pushing skills.

Let me digress and mention that a few doors down, my OB was attending to another woman who was at the point of pushing, too. So, he left a few times to be with her and I kept pushing with the hubs and the nurse helping me. I remember telling my OB "I'm going to win." Maybe the staydol hadn't completely worn off.

So, after an hour of pushing, our adorable little love bug arrived at 4:10 pm. My last push nearly sent her across the room! Like I said, determined and by the way, I did win!

She was sunny side up, thus the back contractions. The NICU nurse was there to make sure she was okay from the meconium (she was) and I spent an hour being "repaired." N weighed in at 7 lbs, 13 oz. and measured 20.5 inches long. She was PERFECT! Pink, healthy, cooing, and apgar was 9.

The nurse gave her a bath, wrapped her up, and I fed her for the first time at 5:30 pm. We moved to the maternity floor about two hours later, after eating dinner and visiting with my parents in L&D.

*Our first family photo*

I ended up staying just one full day after she was delivered - which was just fine. I was SO ready to come home after being woken up every few hours by the nurse, needing to do random things to both of us. It was Murphy's Law in room 4130 - as soon as I'd have N sleeping peacefully, a nurse would come in to do something to her. I know it's their job but it was always bad timing.

*Our little froggy*

We came home Thursday afternoon and it has been wonderful! Sure, we're sleep deprived, N takes awhile to latch, and she creates some seriously stinky diapers BUT we are a happy little family of three (four, counting our fur baby), getting used to each other. She is a cuddle bug but also sleeps soundly in her crib in the nursery. She already has some serious neck control and turns her head to look at who is talking in the room. She has a million facial expressions including a serious furrowed brow (from the hubs) and pouty lips (from me).

She had her first peds appointment today and has gained 5 oz. over her birth weight and she's almost an inch longer. The pedatrician said she looked great and obviously, nursing is going well since she's filling diapers and gaining weight - as the hubs says, she's an "optimum pooper." Forgot to mention that the pediatrician who saw her at the hospital said she's tongue tied. The little skin flap under her tongue is shorter than normal so we have to take her to have an outpatient procedure done to clip it. Sounds painful but I've been assured she will be fine and I can nurse right away. It might help with her latch, too!

*My cuddle bug*

I can't believe she'll be a week old tomorrow. The days are flying by and of course, we're loving every minute of it. I've officially joined the "mommy mush club," tearing up when she spits up because I know it's been bothering her and crying when she grins at me. We are so thankful for this little one!