Waiting.
Waiting is hard. It's not easy to wait to find out if you're pregnant, to finally see that little plus sign and know your life is about to change. It's hard to wait to reach each new milestone, the next trimester, the next little box to check during the pregnancy. It's really hard to wait that last month before your due date as you anticipate going into labor and you think about the delivery and wonder how it will unfold. The waiting during that last week before your due date is almost painful as you go over and over all the last-minute preparations for the baby to come, making sure the clothes are washed, the house is clean, you have groceries and babysitters, hospital bags and charged cameras. Yep, the waiting during pregnancy is hard, but all that waiting is nothing compared to the waiting you do once your due date has come and gone and you're still pregnant.
That waiting is excruciating.
I have to admit my attitude wasn't the best after my due date came and I wasn't holding my little girl yet. Thank goodness for George who helped keep me and the boys happy. He's such a good daddy. :)
I think these are the best moments. The quiet ones just being together as a family.
Since I wasn't making much progress and I was getting more and more over-due, I scheduled an induction to happen January 10th. Finally, there was an end in sight!
Our good friends the Simmons watched the boys for us the night before so George and I could have one last date before the baby came.
We went to Mas, a Spanish restaurant here in Charlottesville that specializes in Tapas. Basically, you order several small dishes for the table and everyone gets to sample each one. It was delicious and so fun to be out with just George. It doesn't happen that often, so it was special.
Friday the 10th rolled around and since my mom was out of town until Saturday, I had a friend lined up to watch the boys until my sister Laura could get into town that evening. Everything was going well until I got the call from the hospital. They were busy, so could I come in that afternoon instead of morning? Sure, no problem. Only right as we were about to walk out the door 15 minutes before our changed induction time, I got another call.
They were still too busy. Could I come in tomorrow?
I can't say I was rude on the phone because I wasn't. I used to work there, I know how it goes sometimes and inductions aren't on the top of the priority list. I did not, however, do a very good job masking the disappointment in my voice when I said that would be fine. George and I made some quick phone calls to let family know, cancelled our babysitter and let Laura know we wouldn't need her until the following day. She decided to come Friday night anyway and I'm so glad. It was a nice distraction while we waited even longer for this baby to get here.
After a sleepless night, George and I headed to the hospital around 7:00 Saturday morning. I had never been induced before so this was a new experience for me. After about two hours of taking histories, starting an IV and waiting around, they decided to start some pitocin to get my contractions going. I was only 3 cm dilated and this baby was really high up, so they needed to move her down a bit before they could break my water.
10:30 a.m.--3 cm dilated and pitocin started! Wee!
My mom made it into town around lunch time! I'm so glad she got to be there for it.
Being induced was boring. Well, it was for me. Basically they kept going up on the pitocin and kept waiting for me to make some changes. I wasn't. I was contracting regularly but the contractions were not getting much stronger. I had been on an increasing pitocin drip for most of the day and I still didn't feel like I needed my epidural because they just weren't coming strong enough.
Poor George was bored out of his mind staring at me waiting for something to happen, so he made frequent trips down to the Emergency Department to shoot the breeze and even help with a couple patients that came in. He loves his job.
I'll be so glad to say good-bye to this baby bump!
Amy had also driven down from Northern Virginia to be with Laura and the boys while I delivered. It was a bit depressing to send updates like, "no progress, still 3-4 cm dilated" and "I'm so bored!"
Amy had also driven down from Northern Virginia to be with Laura and the boys while I delivered. It was a bit depressing to send updates like, "no progress, still 3-4 cm dilated" and "I'm so bored!"
To pass the time, Mom and I played some cribbage, but before we could finish, it was time to be checked again.
It was around 6:15 p.m. (I had been on pitocin for almost 8 hours with only 1 cm change.) I was frustrated. George's family was on their way into town and I was worried we wouldn't have a baby before they had to turn around and make the 2-hour drive home for the night.
I was still only dilated to a 4, so the doctor decided to aggressively strip my membranes to see if that would help at all. Can't say I enjoyed that experience, but it seemed to do the trick and by 7:00 p.m. I was asking for my epidural. Finally, finally I was doing something.
Around 8 p.m. the epidural was in but wasn't working very well. For some reason my legs were almost completely numb as was my upper abdomen, but I could feel the contractions all through my lower abdomen and lower back. And they were getting stronger. I had delivered Jude naturally and feeling these pains brought back some intense memories. I was trying not to panic--I did NOT want to have another natural delivery if I could help it.
While all of this was going on, George's parents and Allen arrived. It was a nice distraction while I sweated through the contractions and we waited to see if the epidural would eventually kick in fully.
I was still only dilated to a 4, so the doctor decided to aggressively strip my membranes to see if that would help at all. Can't say I enjoyed that experience, but it seemed to do the trick and by 7:00 p.m. I was asking for my epidural. Finally, finally I was doing something.
Around 8 p.m. the epidural was in but wasn't working very well. For some reason my legs were almost completely numb as was my upper abdomen, but I could feel the contractions all through my lower abdomen and lower back. And they were getting stronger. I had delivered Jude naturally and feeling these pains brought back some intense memories. I was trying not to panic--I did NOT want to have another natural delivery if I could help it.
While all of this was going on, George's parents and Allen arrived. It was a nice distraction while I sweated through the contractions and we waited to see if the epidural would eventually kick in fully.
The anesthesiologist ended up giving me multiple boluses in my epidural and I finally started to feel relief around 8:45. The baby wasn't liking my contractions, though, and there were a several tense minutes while George and the doctor watched her heart rate drop with each contraction. They turned off the pitocin and she finally leveled out.
The doctor went to check me again and my water broke. And I was fully dilated. And the baby was right there. Nice. 4 to 10 cm in 2 hours--not too shabby. I guess those strong contractions finally did the deed and the drops in the baby's heart-rate was a reaction to a rather fast decent.
Since I couldn't feel anything, they decided to wait a few minutes before attempting delivery to allow the baby to rest after her decels. In the mean time, they gowned up and George got ready to catch our baby!
We were delivering at an academic hospital so it's a little bit unique when it comes to who gets to deliver you. Basically, whoever is there at the time does the delivery, regardless of who you saw during your appointments. We won the doctor lottery that day because not only did we know our doctor, we were friends with her AND she had delivered Cole two years ago. Yes! She was so cute the whole time and very enthusiastic. I loved it!
The doctor went to check me again and my water broke. And I was fully dilated. And the baby was right there. Nice. 4 to 10 cm in 2 hours--not too shabby. I guess those strong contractions finally did the deed and the drops in the baby's heart-rate was a reaction to a rather fast decent.
Since I couldn't feel anything, they decided to wait a few minutes before attempting delivery to allow the baby to rest after her decels. In the mean time, they gowned up and George got ready to catch our baby!
We were delivering at an academic hospital so it's a little bit unique when it comes to who gets to deliver you. Basically, whoever is there at the time does the delivery, regardless of who you saw during your appointments. We won the doctor lottery that day because not only did we know our doctor, we were friends with her AND she had delivered Cole two years ago. Yes! She was so cute the whole time and very enthusiastic. I loved it!
Kim agreed to take George under wing and help him deliver our little baby.
Still breathing some oxygen trying to help this little baby rest.
10 cm dilated! It's time!
George's dad took Allen to get some food and we enlisted George's mom to video tape for us while my mom took still shots. Thanks, Mom(s)!
All gowned up and ready to go!
Okay, disclaimer: George and I are both in the medical field (I was a labor and delivery nurse) so this doesn't phase us at all and I want to have these pictures in our family journal, but I realize some people may be uncomfortable seeing pictures of the delivery. Rest assured they are all PG or less and at no point do you see any interesting bits, but if you'd rather not see it, start scrolling fast through the next about 10 pictures.
For those of you still holding on, you ready? Here we go!
Kim giving George a basic run-down. He's delivered a baby before, but I'm sure it was helpful. Besides, it's always different when you're doing things to your own family. Notice the time on the wall: 9:14 p.m.
Okay, push! 9:17 p.m.
Turn the head, deliver the shoulders...
And she's out! After 2 pushes.
And she's out! After 2 pushes.
(I love this shot. I know it's nasty, but I think it's super cool that we caught the splash. Yeah, I was a labor and delivery nurse...)
I love Dr. Gregg's face in these pictures (she was the Attending that over-saw the delivery). You can tell she loves her job.
Breathe, baby!
Breathe, baby!
IT'S A GIRL!
Daddy cutting the cord...
Here she is! 10 fingers, 10 toes--perfect!
Holding my baby girl
I love Mom's face in this picture. I'm so glad she got to be here for it.
She was quite alert! She just sat there with her eyes open, taking everything in for more than an hour.
They are "breastfeeding friendly" at UVa and really encouraged skin to skin--hence all the skin. Sorry.
Meeting Grandma
Love it!
Grandmom
Father, son and daughter. :)
Pop Pop!
Allen. :)
Laura and Amy had been at my house all day long watching the boys. Laura had to drive two hours back to Winchester that night, but came by to see the baby before she left.
Laura, you were amazing! Thank you so much for all your help!
They let me feed her and hold her as long as I wanted before they whisked her to the warmer to measure and bathe.
They let me feed her and hold her as long as I wanted before they whisked her to the warmer to measure and bathe.
A peanut! More than a pound lighter than Jude and Cole, although almost a pound heavier than Lance!
Daddy
While they were getting me up to the bathroom, George gave her her first bath. I'm sad I missed it--this was the only shot I got.
It was now past midnight and we were tired! Once Lily and I were settled in our postpartum room, George and my mom went back home to sleep and be with the boys. I couldn't wait for Lance, Jude, and Cole to meet our little girl!
