I am going to put all of the pictures at the end of this post. I want to just type up the entire birth story as I remember it (2 months later!) Please excuse all of the L&D terms, you can comment if you have any questions.
My pregnancy proceeded very easily and as expected. Dr. Lobello began checking my cervix at 35 weeks. I progressed from 1-2cm at 35 weeks to "a good" 3cm at 38.5 weeks. I was mentally prepared to go to about 38 weeks like I did with Avery. Everything had been packed and ready to go since I was 35 weeks. Since I hadn't gone into labor naturally, at my appointment on the Monday when I was 38.5, I scheduled my induction for July 1st. It was the day before my due date and the timing worked well for the family. There was a light at the end of the tunnel and so I focused on enjoying the last week of my pregnancy.
The next day, Tuesday June 25th, Josh, Avery and I went to Baton Rouge to Build a Bear and we walked around the mall. I had been having occasional contractions the previous few weeks and nothing really changed until that evening. Tuesday afternoon Avery and I walked down the street to our neighbors house. Avery played with the kids, while Stephanie and I sat and visited. I started having some contractions at their house, but nothing out of the ordinary.
When we got home that evening, I realized I was still contracting. I proceeded to make dinner (red beans and rice, great idea!), while somewhat timing out my contractions. I realized they were about 5 minutes apart and I had been having them consistently for a few hours. Josh got home around 7pm, I told him I was contracting, but I still had a lot of stuff to do before we could go to the hospital. He bathed Avery while I: cleaned up the house, scrubbed the toilets, took a shower, shaved, washed my hair, etc, etc, etc,! Around 9 pm I blow dried my hair and realized my contractions were slowing down.
We settled into bed to try to get some sleep. I had Josh call his parents and give them a heads up that I was starting to contract and I called my mom as well. Josh's dad was sick and had just taken Nyquil, it was so funny because when I went into labor with Avery he had just taken a Benadryl! He was hoping I didn't actually go into labor until his meds wore off :)
Avery slept in bed with us and we all tried to get some rest. I woke up around midnight contracting again. I laid in bed for awhile timing them out. I finally woke Josh up at about 1 am and told him I thought we should head into the hospital. Avery was so excited about the whole thing, there was no way she would let us leave her at home with a babysitter. So at 1:30 the three of us loaded up the car and headed to Slidell.
When we got there around 2, Michelle and Brandy were working. I went into LDR 3 and gowned up. Brandy came in and put the monitors on me. I was barely contracting! It was so frustrating, I felt like one of the people we make fun of, who come in complaining of contractions and aren't doing anything! She checked me and I was 4cm so we decided I should get up and walk. They got Avery a wagon from the pediatric unit and we traversed the hospital. I was squatting and walking up and down the steps and pulling the wagon all over, I was determined to stir up more contractions!
When we got back to the room I was contracting about every 6 minutes and was having some bloody show. We rested for a little while, Josh on the itty bitty sofa and Avery still in the wagon. Around 5am Brandy rechecked me and I was 5 cm. SO I was in labor!
Dr. Lobello hadn't answered her text message, so Brandy let Dr. Smith, who was on call, know I was there. She went ahead and admitted me and ordered to start the penicillin since I was GBS positive.
We went ahead and called the families at 6am to let them know this was the real deal. The day shift came in at 6:30 and Heidi was my nurse. Dr. Lobello woke up and we decided to go ahead and start Pitocin since I was only contracting every 6 minutes. Heidi started the pit at 7am, I was 6cm! My mom arrived around that time.
The Pitocin had me squirming pretty quickly! I was going to try to wait to get my epidural until after Dr. Lobello broke my water, but decided to go ahead and get it since I was already 6 cm. Dr. Rigol did my epidural. It was cool because he let Josh stay in the room and explained everything to him step by step (one of the perks of being an employee). Everything went well with the epidural. My BP and the baby tolerated it well. Heidi checked me after she put in my foley and I was 7cm! WooHoo! Josh's parent arrived after that, and I was feeling good! All of the pictures on here are after I had my epidural and I was all smiles.
Dr. Lobello got there at about 8:30, she broke my water and I was 8 cm. It was flying by! It was so funny, because Avery was in the room when she AROMed me with the amni hook. Nobody thought she was paying attention, but afterward she wanted to know why Dr. Lobello stuck that stick in my hiney :)
Everything after that is kind of a blur. I was feeling good, but kind of out of it between the epidural, lack of sleep and labor. I had a few little variable decels ( I was trying NOT to watch the monitors), but Dr. Lobello came back in, I guess around 9:15 to check me. I was complete and like +2! Heidi had just barely started my second dose of penicillin.
Josh wanted to deliver the baby, so we asked her about it during my prenatal check ups early on. She was totally fine with it, and even a little excited about giving him the opportunity to deliver Alexa. So it was now his time to shine! It was so fun, he scrubbed his hands and then Dr. Lobello helped him into the gown and gloves. He assumed the position and I started pushing. I had them put the mirror where I could see and got the hang of pushing very quickly. Josh was so cute because he heard everyone encouraging me and he sounded like an old pro coaching me through the pushing. I think I pushed through 2 contraction and by the 6th push she was out at 9:37am!
Josh caught her in his chest and then didn't know what to do with her! He finally got her up on my belly and we started rubbing her down. She came out screaming and looked good. Josh cut the cord then they took her over to the warmer. Dr. Lobello took over and repaired a 2nd degree midline laceration and left labial laceration (ouch afterwards!). My mom stayed in the room for the delivery, she said this time was a lot less traumatic for her because she knew more what to expect. I am so glad she got to be there for both of my deliveries.
Josh said he didn't really feel the emotional part of being a new daddy until after he had ungowned and was no longer in doctor mode. Diana was doing the newborn care, and Alexa was being a little grunty. I got to hold her for a little while, but then they called in the NNP ( who I didn't recognize, she must be new). They did a little bit of deep suction and cleared her up. She got to stay in the room with us and we brought the family in to meet her.
Avery came in first and she was in love! Josh's parents quickly followed and everyone got to meet Ms. Alexa Claire. Everyone held her a little bit then I started nursing her. She latched on like a champ and we haven't had any issues with that! She stayed in with us for about an hour and a half then she went to the nursery.
They weighed her: 6 pounds 12 ounces, and measured her: 19 inches long. She stayed under the warmer for awhile then they bathed her. After that she was all ours.
It really was a quick and easy labor and delivery. I have been blessed with 2 of them now! I am really thinking about trying to go natural next time. It was only 2 hours from the time I got my epidural to the time I delivered. Maybe I could handle the pain for 2 hours? We shall see. It was a great experience and even the postpartum part was great. I had great nurses and techs, we were definitely spoiled. I am so thankful for the whole experience, it is definitely one of God's greatest miracles to bring new life into the world. Alexa Claire has definitely been a huge blessing!
