Today I Had a Baby.

**squee!**

I have another little girl!  And I'm completely and totally in loooooooove.

Here's her birth story:

I was admitted to the childbirth center at 4pm on the 25th.  They put me on pictocin at 6pm.  I walked around and blogged and talked to Tony and my mom (when she showed up around 8 or 9).  The nurses had a beast of a time keeping the baby's heart beat on the monitor.  She has always been active and this night was no different.  She kept moving and hiding and then they'd have to stop me and adjust the belt and monitor.  Bit of a drag, but important in case there was a problem. 

(baby's first picture)

I think it was around 10 or 11pm when my midwife said I could have an epidural anytime I wanted.  I felt a bit like a cheater because though my contractions were painful, they didn't have me curled into a ball or crying.  But, I went ahead and ordered the epidural because last time (with Britt) I waited too long and then I couldn't hold still for the anesthesiologist because of the hard, killer contractions.  That was a terrible experience and he was a rude, angry doctor who did a bad job and poked me many times before he got it right.  So, needless to say, I was a bit nervous about getting the epidural this time around.  It was a wasted worry.  This anesthesiologist was sweet and kind and she did a great job.  It wasn't pain-free, but is it ever?  And it wasn't long before I couldn't feel anything from the waist down.

(profile shot)

Then we all took naps while I labored pain-free.  I think it was around 1am when I called the nurses to help me turn over to my other side.  They obliged and discovered that my bag of waters had broke.  They went to go get the midwife and when she came back everything went so very, very wrong.

(chubby chin and cheeks and everything else)

First, the midwife couldn't feel the baby when she examined me anymore.  Instead of being down where the midwife could touch and feel her, she had somehow bumped back up into me, out of reach.  And then her heart rate plummeted.  And I must have been hyperventilating because they gave me oxygen.  Though, I'm sure that was to help the baby too.  It was very tense.  They moved me back over to the side I'd been on, attempted to get a scalp monitor on to the baby, and then all of a sudden started prepping me for a c-section.  At that point I was so scared, and fighting back the tears and all I wanted was for my baby to be okay and for God to just help all my nurses and doctors to do their very best.  I didn't care if they cut me open from head to toe. 

On a lighter note, Tony (my husband) looks super hot in scrubs!  Who would have known? 

After everyone was totally ready to go, I realized that they'd managed to get the scalp monitor on the baby and that her heart rate was back to normal.  Everyone started calming down and breathing and they said that we were going to wait 5 minutes.  After those 5 minutes, they said that the baby must have compressed her cord for a while and that since she appeared to be doing better, they'd just leave me on my right side and continue to monitor her.  Later, the nurse moved me into an upright, sitting position and the baby liked that even better. 

(sweet girl)

Meanwhile, I was still laboring (and had asked the anesthesiologist to come back and turn my epidural down a tad so I could at least feel the urge to push) and sitting there, letting my body do its thing.  I was also fighting the urge to throw up.  They had given me an anti-acid medicine to drink when they thought they were taking me downstairs to have a c-section.  But instead of working like it was supposed to, it made me nauseous.  I eventually couldn't hold it in any longer and did vomit.  Not fun.  The baby really didn't like it either and her heart rate got iffy again.  The midwife and nurses rushed in and rolled me over into a super uncomfortable position, but it did the trick and baby calmed down. 

(peeky-boo!)

 

Then my midwife examined me, discovered that I was completely ready to push and that the baby was down in position.  Hallelujah!  So, I pushed for 25 minutes and out slithered Elle.  As soon as I saw her, I cried.  I was just so relieved to see her all safe and sound.  She weighs 9 lbs 1 oz and is 21.5 inches long.  She's totally adorable and looks like her sisters and like her own little self.  She has a very strong suck and loves nursing, her pacifier, sleeping, and her mommy and daddy.  Can't wait to introduce her to Ash and Britt!  She's doing very well.  I'm healing nicely so we'll probably get to go home tomorrow afternoon!