(NOTE: this post contains pictures from the actual delivery--they are all rated G, but I figured fair warning was needed.)
So my due date came and went without a baby appearing.
Tuesday, February 7th I had an appointment that morning with my OB. I was sitting at 4 cm, so they stripped my membranes again and scheduled me for an induction on Thursday (if I hadn't gone into labor before then).
George and I played with the kids outside that afternoon while I waited for any contractions at all. Nothing really happened until we were eating dinner. Thinking maybe, just maybe I was going into labor, we threw the kids into the tub and got them ready for bed, tidied up, finished packing my bag and then waited. The contractions slowed down, so after the kids went to bed, George and I put on TRON to finish. We had started it a couple times but never really got to watch the whole thing.
We didn't get to finish it that night, either.
Around 10:00 p.m. my contractions started up again so, worried if we waited too long I wouldn't be in time for an epidural, we called our wonderful neighbor Melissa to let her know we were heading out and hopped into the car.
Standing outside the L&D unit about to be triaged.
We arrived at the hospital around 11:00 p.m. and were shown into triage. My contractions were about 2-3 minutes apart and moderately strong--nothing too painful, just lots of tightening.
I was 6 cm, so they admitted me! We called our families and my mom started her 2.5 hour drive down to Charlottesville so she could be there. Melissa offered slept on our couch all night long so my mom could be there for the delivery. True friend!
Waiting for the epidural. Yay! I delivered Jude without one and realized, well, epidurals are lifesavers. It may work for some people to delivery naturally, and I could have done it again should I needed to, but honestly, I would rather smile my way through the experience than cry.
See? Isn't that nice?
I got my epidural around midnight and laid back to wait. The epidural was perfect. I could still feel the pressure of the contractions, but almost no pain. I could even move my legs! Perfect.
Waiting for baby Cole to arrive.
Around 1:00 a.m. I was 8 cm with my water still intact. The doctor offered to break it to get the show on the road, but my mom hadn't made it yet, so we decided to hold off until she got here.
Mom arrived about 30 minutes later and we all tried to nap while we waited.
They checked me again at 2:30 a.m. Still at 8 cm, so they broke my water. I guess I had a lot because the nurse said she had never seen so much fluid come out before. The baby still looked good, though, so we settled in to wait out the last little bit.
My contractions had slowed down considerably after the epidural was placed, and when they checked me again at 4 a.m. and found I was still at an 8, they discussed starting pitocin to encourage stronger contractions. While the order was being processed, my body decided it wanted to get this baby out on it's own and the contractions picked up once again.
I was feeling tons more pressure, so at 4:45 a.m. they checked and I was fully dilated! Yay!
Waiting while they set up the delivery table and got the appropriate people in the room.
10 centimeters! And still smiling!
I love the sequence of these next few pictures. If you watch the clock, you can tell how fast this delivery was.
About to begin my first push--at 4:59 a.m.
5:01 a.m.--wait! Little pushes now!
5:03 a.m. Daddy cutting the cord.
That's right. I pushed through ONE contraction and he was out! I think my epidural was wearing off at this point because I could feel him crowning (and no, I wasn't smiling at that point), but I'll take it over feeling the whole process.
Cole's first cry, held by our wonderful doctor!
Up on my chest for a quick clean-up. He wasn't too pleased...
...but calmed down quickly.
On the warmer, waiting for his measurements.
Proud Daddy!
It was a great delivery! Minimal pain, some waiting, a small amount of pushing. Doesn't get much better than that!
Grandma was a great photographer.
Official weight is 9 lbs, 1.2 oz--exactly the same as Jude, down to the tenth of an ounce.
Cole is 21.5 inches long, too! 90th percentile for length in babies. A little surprising, since Lance was only 19.5 inches and Jude was a chubby 20 inches.
My mom got to be there for the delivery (thanks, Melissa) and then drove back to our house to put Lance on the bus and to take care of Jude all day. She is amazing! She stayed up all night and still took care of the kiddos. Thanks, Mom!
We were transferred to our new room on the post-partum floor around 7 a.m. and got about an hour nap while Cole was getting his bath in the Nursery.
Welcome to the world, little Cole! We are so happy you're finally here!
