Labor & Delivery Story + Charlotte Photo Bomb!

3 weeks late but here it is!

I’m sorry that I have pretty much been off the grid. It’s been a crazy few weeks as I’m sure you can imagine, and I’ll be going into all of that later but this is about L&D and I want to get this story out before I start to forget things. (Although I’m sure I already have, as it is just the nature of the event.)

If you have been following my pregnancy you know that we decided to go with a scheduled induction at 39 weeks 1 day. It was the best choice for us. I was induced with Parker so I knew what I was going to go through and I’m so glad that we chose to do it again. I’d make the same decision again in a heartbeat. I had a pretty awesome induction though.

We checked into the hospital at 7am on Monday April 23rd (2012). I was already dilated to “a good” 2 cm and was about 80% effaced. With not needing a cervix softener, which they will traditionally administer the night before, we were a morning check-in.

By the time they got me to the room, gowned up, strapped in with the fetal monitors, started my IV and pitocin (aka: Devils Spit) it was 8 am. I then spent the next 5ish hours going between the bed and birthing ball and passing the time by playing Word with Friends and Draw Something on the iPad.

My OB wanted me to contract awhile and hopefully dilate a bit more before breaking my waters. I wanted her to wait until after lunch so I could eat something before the contractions became really intense (priorities people!) At that point the contractions were uncomfortable but they weren’t painful. It ended up being about 1 pm by the time she broke my waters and I had only dialated to a 3.

Quick note: Charlotte never dropped into my pelvis. She continued to “float” up until she came out. This can be bad, because her head wasn’t blocking the exit, they had to keep checking to make sure her cord wasn’t coming out before her. The good part of her floating? She didn’t get the classic cone head that can really freak a new parent out. ;)

Over the next few hours, contractions (obviously) became much stronger. I lost track of time around this point so just hang with me.

I’m going to take a quick sideline though, and talk about my actual contractions as I know one of ladies biggest concerns about pitocin is that the contractions are so much worse. Now, I don’t have any comparison because I have never gone into labor on my own, but yes, they are awful. I usually hear that they are longer, stronger, and more frequent than natural contractions. For me, my contractions were coming about every 2-3 minutes and lasting about 30 seconds, which is actually a short contraction as they commonly run 1 – 1 1/2 minutes. When things started to get really intense and I decided it was time for my epidural, I was incredibly thankful that they were so short.

I got my epi around 4 pm I believe, and it was by far the worse part of the whole experience. (I was 5 cm and still 80%) After the initial “pinch” to get the needle in they then have to thread the catheter into the right spot.

Mine didn’t go into the right spot.

It didn’t go into the right spot 4 times.

You know they missed when it effing hurts on one side or the other. It felt like she hit the top of my left hip bone. (No the catheter doesn’t go down that far, it just felt like it.) If this happens to you make sure your say something! Placing an epi like that will only numb half your body. She unfortunately had to re-thread it 5 times. On the last shot I was about to say eff it, it isn’t worth it but praise the Lord she got it right the last time. I’m guessing we had more difficulty this time because of scar tissue from my last one which was why I was apprehensive about getting one to begin with. Once it was in and working things were great and I got to go back to Word with Friends for the next couple of hours.

At about 6 pm is when they started asking me if I was feeling pressure with my contractions… um, Maybe? Hello, I have a working epi! So after concentrating on it, yes, definite pressure.

So my OB came in to check me and found that I was at a 9, so she had me push a little to see if I could dilate myself the rest of the way. Success! Then she had me do a “practice push” with the next contraction to see if she should gown up, or come back later after I pushed with the nurse a bit as Charlotte was still floating.

She gowned up.

I pushed through the next two contractions and Charlotte was born at 7:05 pm screaming and perfect.

I was so shocked and just kept saying “That was it??”

With my son, I pushed for hour and a half and he ended up with shoulder dystocia. So this was way too easy. I didn’t have any tearing so I didn’t need stitches. It didn’t feel like I just had a baby. It felt like I had just packed and moved my whole house, but it didn’t feel like I just had a baby.

Start to finish was 11 hours. Even with the issues with my epi, I think I had the perfect labor and delivery, and recovery has been a breeze compared to with my son.

Now, on to the fun stuff. PICTURES!

Meet Little Miss Charlotte Victoria born April 23rd, 2012 at 7:05 pm 

7 lbs 15 oz & 19 inches long

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Little Miss Charlotte

Charlotte Victoria was born on Monday April 23rd at 7:05pm weighing 7lbs 15 oz and 19 inches long. I’ll post more pictures and birth story later but it’s time to rest right now.

39 weeks

This is my final belly picture as tomorrow is the day!

I can’t believe that we have made it. It has been 39 weeks of waiting, worry, wonder, excitement, hoping and preparation which has all led to this. It is time to meet our little girl. We are to check in tomorrow at 7am to start our induction.

There is no way I’m sleeping tonight.

& I put all my belly pictures from 21 -39 weeks in a slide show just for fun.

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Birth Plan: I’m kind of an asshole when it comes to labor and delivery.

Let me start by saying that we have some amazing friends and family who love us dearly and would do anything for us. You know who you are and you know (I hope) how much we love and appreciate you.

That being said. If you were not there for the conception, you are not allowed to be there for the delivery. Period. (For the smart asses out there, this obviously excludes those I’m paying.)

I’m calling myself an asshole, unapologetically mind you, because I’m not just referring to “being in the room.” I’m referring to the whole hospital. I don’t want anyone in the waiting room, wandering the halls, dancing in front of the nursery, or sitting in the freaking parking lot.

You will stress me out.

You will make me feel pressured to “hurry up” so you can see my baby.

Not going to happen. This is something that is for my husband and I to share together.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I WANT VISITORS. I want to show off my new baby. My friends and family are MORE THAN WELCOME to come and see our new addition. It just needs to be a couple of hours later, after a few things happen.

My legs need to be out of the stirrups. There are things that need to be done once the baby comes out that I don’t want to share with anyone.

My husband and I get to have our skin to skin time, before the baby gets a bath. This is important to me. You only get one chance at this and I’m not about to have that taken away from me.

I want to breastfeed. The first few times is awkward as it is a learning experience for everyone involved and it isn’t something that I want an audience for.

I want to get out of bed and pee. Which means my epidural needs to wear off and the catheter needs to be out. The first time you stand up is… not something anyone needs to see. (Thank GOD my hubby had passed out by that point when Parker was born, because he may have fainted) Just trust me.

I have explained my feelings and wishes to my friends and family and thankfully everyone is really understanding and respectful. I guess I just wanted to write this for people out there who feel the same but don’t know if they should stand up to their loved ones and stick to their guns about what they want. To that I say, they will get over it and you will never regret having those first few hours alone with your new baby. You don’t get them back. You have spent the past 9+ months growing this life so you shouldn’t feel selfish for wanting first dibs with them.

Last Doctor Visit (38 weeks)

::Monday’s cervical check::
Dr: “Well, I’m touching her head.”
Me: “That… is just not right…” 

That means I’m dilating. Yay! But there hasn’t been much change. Boo!

2cm and 50% effaced.

It’s a start, and it’s two less cm I’ll need to go later. Doc also said that she could break my water if she wanted to. Which is a very good thing because there wont be any need for a cervical softener. Which does increase my chances of a successful induction as they wont be “cold starting” my body for labor.

Everything else looked good. My fundal height was 40-41 cm, which means jack s*** other than baby and I are growing. Something the gal in registration was so thoughtful to point out.

On a side note, to my happy surprise, my blood pressure has been awesome my whole pregnancy. Since I had pregnancy induced hypertension with Parker that required medication and did end up with preeclampsia, it has been something that we have kept a close eye on, so thank goodness it has been great.

We officially scheduled induction for Monday with check-in at 7am. We have finalized our plans for Parker’s care and a dog sitter in the event that this isn’t a fast delivery. (My hopes are not high.)

We are as ready as we can be.

So now we wait… some more that is.

3.5 days FYI

Parker rocks out!

This is Parker dancing to Kiss on the DWTS results show. The sound sucks but it was just too funny to not share. He actually had me replay it 3 times.

37 weeks (& 2 days)

tick-tock… tick-tock… tick-tock…

I’m term. I’m ready. Lets do this!

But. I have 12 days to go. (Today doesn’t count in my book because it is already here.)

How big is baby? I had an ultrasound on the 2nd and she was just over 6 lbs. (the rest of the details are HERE)

What I miss the most? ”Skinny” girl shaving. Now I was never skinny, but I could reach my whole left leg with my right hand. It really shouldn’t sound like I’m weight lifting or jogging on a treadmill when I’m in the shower. It just shouldn’t. I told my husband that shaving at this stage in pregnancy should be considered an olympic event as I’m huffing and puffing and in need of a water break when I get out. Oh, and we can add doing my hair and makeup without needing break because either my hands are going numb or I am getting out of breath. Ugh. Can you tell I’m done??

Symptoms? Good news! Since she flipped she really hasn’t been sitting on my nerve anymore, so that rocks. I still can’t move but what else would you expect at this stage.

Side note: Strangers are afraid to be near me because I “might” go into labor. I was at a funeral supporting a friend, and everyone who talked to me was afraid that my water was going to break. My only thought was ”Even if it does, I’m still going to finish my cake… I promise not to push.”  

Doctor’s Report? As of yesterday, everything looks good and I’m dilated to 2 cm and 40% effaced. Progress!

*digi layout done with Shabbyprincess “Yours Truly” kit.