Anyways, her birth story is crazy...
On Wed (10/21), I went for my 38 week check up, which included a stress test. My OB was slightly concerned about her weight (she was weighing in at a small 5 lbs, 13 oz at my 37 week check up), so she ordered the test. No issues were found, but she also ordered a sonogram, which found that her fluid level was very low (2.1 - anything below a 5 is considered to be low). She told me we needed to go ahead and get her out and I would need to be admitted to the hospital that day! I cried when she told me this - just out of disbelief that the time had finally come. I'd never been in the hospital before and the whole idea scared me a little.
Michael and I went home and got everything together, kissed our sweet girls good bye and headed to River Oaks to have our baby girl. I was sad to leave Gracie and Harlee b/c I knew their little lives would never be the same once we returned. =(
I was given a
cervidil around 6 that night to start the labor process. My OB wanted me to have a "
balloon procedure," but I was VERY hesitant about this since my friend, Leah, had this procedure done and said it was VERY painful and didn't work for her anyways. I was so torn as to what to do b/c I REALLY wanted a normal delivery - no c-section - and my OB explained that this would basically guarantee it for me. I ended up deciding to only have the cervidil and if it didn't take, try the balloon thing the next morning. This is the same procedure Lisa had done with Abby and it worked great for her. Lisa's didn't hurt her, but mine about killed me! Of course, I was dilated 1 cm already and Lisa hadn't dilated at all, so maybe that's the difference.
I didn't start having pain until around midnight. I was given staydal to "take the edge off" my contractions. I must have gotten up a million times in the night to pee (poor Michael), which was not easy when you're attached to an IV and monitors on your belly.
My OB broke my water around 7 am and said I was 3 - almost 4 cm dilated. Once she broke my water, I almost immedietly started having severe contractions. I was in so much pain and felt like I was going to hyperventilate at times. I was trying really hard to remember the breathing stuff from my birth class, but it wasn't helping me too much. I kept begging for my epidural and asking Michael to go find him ASAP!
Finally, I heard the nurse tell Michael to leave (come back in 20 minutes, she told him) b/c the epidural people had arrived. Right about that time, I felt a huge urge to push - an unexplainable, uncontrollable urge. I told my nurse (who was AMAZING, by the way), and she told me to wait. She checked me, then looked me in the eye and said:
"Jennifer, look at me...you are dilated to 10 cm...there isn't time for an epidural...you're going to have this baby right now." Then, she said..."you can do this."
All I could say was Michael, where's Michael. Then, I started pushing some - I couldn't control it. I probably pushed about 2 or 3 times without Michael even in the room. I was screaming the whole time - not out of pain really, but out of an urge to GET THIS KID OUT OF ME! I was told later that a girl down the hall who had just rec'd her epidural told her husband and nurse, "we need to pray for that girl." The entire hall heard me screaming!
I kept asking for Michael and the nurses were saying they were looking for him. I asked for my cell phone and they found it. I called Michael (who had left with his mom to get breakfast) and told him to come back, I'm pushing!). Needless to say, he freaked out and almost missed her being born!
He walked in and couldn't even speak to get into the Labor and Delivery area. All the nurses were laughing at him. He walked in and about 2 pushes later, we had a baby girl!
I dialated from 4 cm to 10 in less than 50 minutes and pushed 5 times! Emily was IN A HURRY to get out! Something tells me this will be how she will live her life - always in a hurry...just like her Daddy. =)
Poor Lisa...she missed her arrival by about 10 minutes and was so upset about it (she was supposed to be in there with me like I was with Abby), but Emily waits for no one - not even her daddy! I was glad she missed all the screaming anyways. I had actually told my nurse ealier in the morning that I didn't want anyone, but Michael in the room when I was in this much pain. Lisa arrived just in time to get some amazing pics of my sweet girl right after she was born.
She also did a great job capturing the entire experience right up until Gracie and Harlee meeting her.
Emily is 1 month old today! I can't believe how fast the time is flying by with her! Her Aunt Lisa bought a cookie cake to celebrate her 1st Month Bday. =) I took her 1 month pics the other day with her wearing her "coming home outfit" and also a little red gown (both mine when I was little). I found some pics of me wearing these same outfits. It's so funny. She does look a lot like me, but I can see her daddy in her too. She for sure shares has his nose, blood type, and birthday!
