The Birth Story
Let me be the first to say that I think we did pretty well this time. With all of the possible terrors of childbirth, we managed to come out pretty much perfect. Don't shoot me, but I might even say it was easy...
Neither Chris nor I slept much the night before--is anyone surprised? He got up at 5:30 and called the hospital. We were told that we could come in for the induction at 7:15. That gave us just the right amount of time--I could shower and finish packing a few last minute items, but there wasn't enough time to get really anxious.
You can't see it, but my shirt says "Rub for Luck".
I really liked our nurse, Justine. She was very nice and was excellent at answering any questions we had. She gave great explanations for everything. And she was ever-so-slightly sarcastic--she fit right in with our group.
Once the paperwork and questions were all done, Justine put in the IV. That was actually one of the most miserable parts of the day. I hate IVs, and it made me rather nervous to think about having it stuck in my hand all day. The first attempt resulted in a burst vein (I think that's what she said). So not only did I have to get poked again, I had a big bruise on my hand that was being pushed on all day by the IV hookup. That was miserable.
Doesn't it say something that in my story of giving birth, I complain about the IV?
We started the Pitocin just after 8:00 in the morning. Contractions started about an hour later, shortly after 9:00. They started out fairly regular, about three minutes apart and lasting one minute each.
At 10:30, I opted for the epidural. Sometimes it seems wimpy to get an epidural, but really, I'm all for taking advantage of the technologies that are available today. It was uncomfortable to get the epidural in, of course, and I was kind of surprised at the tape the anesthesiologist used. I don't really know what it all was, but he sprayed some kind of stuff all over my back and then plastered everything with silk tape. I have never had that much tape attached to my body...it took me almost an hour this morning to peel off all the leftover stickiness.
My mom came up to be there for the labor at delivery. Once the epidural was in, we played the waiting game. We watched the first two Harry Potter movies, played a round or two of Set, and basically just chilled.
Who can complain about that?
My doctor, Dr. Strebel, came in and broke my water around 11:30, and labor picked up after that. By 3:30, we were getting ready to start pushing. Here is me getting ready...
...and here is Christopher.
I guess we all have our own preparation techniques.
Once the doctor arrived (yay! he missed Jane's birth, so I was really glad he was here this time!), we started pushing...and then we were done. I pushed through two and a half contractions--all told, about six minutes. I was actually kind of surprised at the moment when Dr. Strebel told me to stop pushing. I didn't even know that she was already here.
The Baby
Megan Leigh Wampler
October 6, 2009
4:02 pm
7 lbs 2 oz
19.5 in
Mom's nose, Dad's personality
October 6, 2009
4:02 pm
7 lbs 2 oz
19.5 in
Mom's nose, Dad's personality
11 comments:
Ahh, she is so cute! Hooray for an easy labor and delivery, you deserve it! She's adorable!
Congratulations, she's beautiful!
I'm so glad to hear everything went well. I have to admit the Iv was the worst part for me last time too. I think they even did that same thing to me too. She's beautiful. Glad she's here.
Yay! and about the epidural...well, what other MAJOR surgery do you know of that people have done where they don't have some sort of anesthetic? Common, you wouldn't get a root canal without being put under or drugged, I think women like to do it natural as a badge of courage they can taunt. Well, taunt on by yourself. good for you. I don;t know much else people can say, oh, I had the option for help and pain free but I decided to take the hard route...for character building. whatever. GO YOU!
Wow i didn't think you were due yet! YAY for you and the family!!
Yay for everything going so smoothly!! Congrats again0she is so precious!!@
Congrats! She's beautiful!
Congratulations! She is beautiful! Hey, I say once drugs get into your system just go all the way.
Congratulations! She is so adorable! That does sound like an easy delivery. No complaints about that right? That's how I felt Adalyn's delivery went. It is definitely true that after the first, it gets easier, and easier. (I don't know about the 2nd easier, since I've only had 1 easier!) :)
She is beautiful! Congratulations. I am so glad you had such an easy delivery!
she's gorgeous!!! congrats guys!!! Jane must be so excited!!
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