Bryan and I got to the hospital on Sunday at about 5:45, after sleeping relatively little, for us anyway... (we went to bed at about 10:00, and I slept until about 4:30 and then I was so excited I couldn't sleep any more). This time we skipped triage altogether, which I was happy about - we've spent our fair share of hours there!! :) The nurse put in my IV, and started some fluids, hooked me up to some monitors, and got me all comfy (BTW I was having contractions like normal every 6-7 minutes), and started pitocin at about 6:45 or 7:00. Shift change led to a new nurse, but then the awesome nurse practitioner from our OB office came in (she works as a labor and delivery nurse on Sundays during the day) and stole us. So we moved rooms, and by then the pitocin was kicking in - I was having contractions every 2-3 minutes, and they were getting close to a minute long. But while they were a little uncomfortable, they certainly weren't painful; they were just closer together (but no stronger) than the ones I'd already been having for months.
The doctor came in to check me and I was 2-3 cm dilated (which I had been for a few days) - so he decided to break my water. Brandy hadn't arrived yet - she was waiting for Curtis (her husband) and the kids to head to church. The doc broke the water at about 8:30 I think, and there was meconium in the fluid - our baby's an overachiever and pooped early. :) So the doc started talking to me about C-section, saying that it's possible that we'd get one since she was so big and late. I heard most of what he said, but I was also having the first really painful contraction. It's amazing how breaking the water instantly made all of those contractions ridiculously painful. At that point Brandy showed up - it was about 9:00. I was having 60-70 second long contractions every 2 minutes, so needless to say I was a bit uncomfortable, and I was anticipating being like that for quite some time. The doc said he'd be back in at about 1:00 or so to check me again. Bryan and Brandy were awesome - they were both so encouraging and calming (as much as I could be encouraged or calmed).
At the nurse's suggestion I asked for the epidural very quickly. She told me it would be 20 minutes to get it put in and then another 20 minutes for it to start working, and I decided 40 more minutes would not be fun at all so I went for it. The anesthesiologist did a great job, and it went in very easily and quickly. It took a long time for it to start working, but Brandy helped me flip over a couple of times to get it to take effect. By about 10:30 or so I was really comfortable again, and just feeling tingling in my legs and tightness in my belly with contractions.
The three of us settled in for a long day of chatting and working through the contractions, and then the nurse came in and checked me at about 11:15 or 11:30 - and it was show time. Bryan was getting lunch, and when he came back in Brandy told him to eat fast! Forty-five minutes later (about half an hour of pushing), and Eden was here!
It was the most amazing experience of my entire life. And that is the understatement of the century. I can't even describe what it felt like to see my little girl for the first time, or to see her daddy watch her come into the world. He was such a champ! He got a little bit weepy during the whole thing (understandably so) and then got a little lightheaded afterward. But when they handed her to us and we sat there for the first time as a family we were both just completely overwhelmed!
So that's Eden's story. And since then she's been an angel. The three of us have been learning about each other every day, and she's a very happy baby. I'm going to start a Snapfish account or something for pictures, but for now I need to get back to her - here are a few to tide you over until then. :)
Leaving the hospital:
In the car seat for the first time:
Coming home!
First diaper change at home:
Her coming home outfit, and what we call a milk coma:
Daddy snuggling with his little girl:
What did you say, Mom?
Burrito bunny:
First bath - I swear she was totally enjoying it until just before we took this picture!!
2 comments:
Happy 5 days, Eden! :) I couldn't stop thinking about you three during my conference this week! Thanks for sharing the pictures. Let me know if you need anything anytime! I'd LOVE an excuse to see you and help out!
awwww, she's so adorable and the pictures of your whole family are incredible. thanks for sharing :-) we're glad the delivery went so smoothly - 30 minutes! - you're a total rock star.
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