I thought since Sarah is over 3 weeks old, I had better write down her birth story before I forget it!
My favorite part of labor (besides meeting the baby at the end!) has always been taking a list of prayer intentions to the hospital and praying for friends and family during contractions. Because I had some big huge prayer intentions, and also because I just wanted to experience it once, I decided to try to do it without an epidural. I read some books and tried to prepare as much as possible. Also Jenny had George a few months prior without an epi, and she was my inspiration! So I went into it thinking I could do it.
On Wednesday afternoon (12/5) I had a few errands to run with the kids. One of them was the library which is right next to the Starbucks. I would usually go through the drive through but that day absolutely nothing sounded good. So that was very unusual. We got home around 4 and around 5 I started having some contractions. Also Ken texted me and said that he was going to be late that night. By 6 the contractions were pretty regular and by 6:30 I was about 75% sure we were going to the hospital that night. I fed the kids supper and figured that I should eat something too (since I knew they wouldn't let me eat at the hospital) but nothing sounded good. I texted Ken around 7 and told him to come home, and told my mom that she might want to pack a bag and get ready to come spend the night! I was excited! Ken got home and we put the kids to bed, and I put their shoes and treats out for St. Nicholas day. Even Sarah had a tiny pair of booties in the row. Contractions were getting stronger and closer together. I got in the tub for awhile but that was uncomfortable (small tub, giant mama.) I called my doctor around 9 and she said to go ahead and come in and she would be there in awhile.
Side note -I LOVE my doctor. She has delivered all of my kids. She gave me her cell phone and said she'd deliver her no matter what, and even though she wasn't working or on call that night, she came to the hospital and slept there so she'd be there to deliver her. She is awesome!
So mom came over and we got to the hospital around 9:30. I got checked in, contractions were around 3-4 minutes apart and I was dilated to 4 cm. I probably could have stayed home a lot longer than I did but I didn't want to have to call mom to come over in the middle of the night (even though she said she didn't mind!) We walked around the hallways for awhile, then got to our room and Dr. P broke my water around 11pm, and I was about 5cm. I got into the bed so they could put a hep lock in my hand - and they blew a vein. I started feeling really hot and like I was going to pass out. They put a cold cloth on my head and chest and I felt better in a few minutes. Another nurse came in and finally got it in my other hand. It was not pleasant! Ken said I was as white as a sheet. I got in the the tub for a few hours, and let Ken take a nap. The warm water and jets were very relaxing, but I continued to have regular contractions. I got out and they checked me again around 1am - still 5 cm. That was kind of frustrating. My doc wanted to go ahead and start pitocin so I consented to get hooked up to the iv. I was hoping I could still get into the tub, but the monitors weren't working from that far away, so I couldn't. I was pretty sad about that. There was no way I could lay down in the bed - too uncomfortable. They brought a birth ball in and I tried sitting on that. That wasn't comfortable either. Then they brought a rocking chair in and I sat and rocked in that until about 3am. They kept turning up the pit and I was getting increasingly uncomfortable. But I still felt like I could do it. At one point I told Ken to just keep telling me I could do it. I knew I could get the epi if I wanted, I didn't need him to tell me that, I just needed encouragement that I could do it. I had been texting a few friends for encouragment and that was very helpful! I prayed for everyone's intentions. At one point I was falling asleep in between contractions sitting up in the chair and Ken got a little worried. But I told him just to let me sleep when I could. I'm pretty sure the nurse came in and wanted to check me about 3am (but not exactly sure on the time.) I got into the bed on my side and she said I was at 8cm. Then the pain got super intense. I couldn't move off my side and during each contraction I was hanging onto the side of the bed and just trying to get through it. (the next day I noticed the palms of my hands were bruised!) It was probably the worst pain I had ever felt, and I might have SAID that I couldn't do this anymore, but really there was no point where I felt like I couldn't do it. Pretty soon I told the nurse I had to go to the bathroom. She checked me really quickly and said, "No you don't!" and sent another nurse to get the doctor. I was insisting that I had to go to the bathroom but she said that if she let me get up, we'd have a baby in the toilet. So Dr. P came in and I was in so much pain I couldn't even open my eyes. They told me to push and her head came out, then one more push and her body came out. They put her right on my chest and it was awesome to finally meet her. We immediately thought her facial expression looked just like Leo (now I think she looks like Madeleine.) I delivered the placenta, then Dr. P sewed up my little tear. I was honestly so uncomfortable. I felt every shot and every stitch. My legs were shaking and I felt pretty awful. But finally they finished and she latched right on and nursed like a pro from the beginning! (That was one of my big intentions I prayed for at the end.) I was so happy about that. I handed Sarah off and they said I had to go to the bathroom - that took awhile! But I did. I got back in bed and nursed her again, and was having horrible cramps. The nurse pressed on my belly and I passed several big clots - and continued to do that throughout my hospital stay. Not fun. Sorry for TMI :)
Right before we left for the hospital.
Shoes ready for St nicholas day!
Baby burrito
Ken changing her first diaper
Going home.... on Leo's birthday!
Sarah was a wonderful baby from the very beginning. Such a great nurser we really didn't even need any help. She ended up nursing for about 3 hours straight and my milk was in by the next afternoon. I loved my hospital stay vacation - especially the room service - even though I was up for about 48 hours straight. :)
So, in conclusion, I'm glad I did it, not sure I'll do it again :)
