We decided to go ahead and induce when I hadn't gone into labor by the due date. I really hadn't been wanting to induce but we waited long enough for the natural process and with Lucas having time off work and relatives coming in from South Carolina we wanted to get the show on the road.
Here's the Cliff Notes version of how things went:
Sunday, January 3rd
• Went to hospital around 8:30pm to start a few rounds of antibiotics the night before
• I had a break down after I got the IV's started and blood taken because the reality of it all hit me at once
Monday, January 4th
• Started pitocin for induction at around 5am and although I was having contractions I wasn't really feeling them
• Don't remember when they initially checked me but I wasn't making much progress and was still dilated to 3cm, which I had been for a few weeks
• Water was broken around 9am and then came the PAIN!
• Experienced real labor contractions for over and hour with much help from Lucas and my mom and lots of BREATHING!
• Then I caved and asked for an epidural. Immediately after getting the epidural I told the nurse that I was starting to feel pressure down below. She said that was a good sign and checked me again - I was 9 cm and quickly went to 10!!!!! (She really should have checked me BEFORE the epidural...it's likely that I had already progressed well before then.)
• Pretty quickly after I began pushing. My mom and Lucas were on leg duty and I pushed for about 45 minutes. My mom thought I was sleeping through each push because I had my eyes closed just focusing :)
• After crowning we all expected the shoulders to come next but Lila shot out like a rocket, landing on the bed at 1:36pm!!!! She had been face up which kind of made her stuck down there otherwise we probably would have delivered a few weeks earlier as anticipated by the dr. (sorry for the "details").
Lila is absolutely beautiful but as you know Lucas and I are a bit biased :) She is really even-tempered and I love her coo's and sweet cries. If only she didn't think 4am was play time! We feel so blessed to have her and she was definitely the best 30th birthday gift ever!
I'm so lucky to have the best husband who helped me through labor, compliments me, loves his baby with all his heart, and CHANGES DIAPERS! My mom has been a Godsend and I'm so glad she got to experience the adventure of labor with us. We thank her for allowing us to get some R&R on our first night home last night.
Bottom line: Lucas, Lila, and I are so thankful to the friends and family who have shared in this truly special and amazing time in our lives. We love you all and look forward to sharing much more through the years to come!
Such a sweet story! I caved for my epi at a 7 and after I got it, I was at a 10 within 20 minutes! Part of me wishes I would have held out, but that pain was unbelievable! That is awesome that Lucas changes diapers. Jeff won't change the dirty diapers. :(
ReplyDeleteMy mom was in the delivery room with us, too! She saw Langston "born" so she thinks she has a special bond with him. I got some amazing pictures because she was in there with us and Jeff said he couldn't have coached me along without her.
I completely miss those first few days home from the hospital! I hope you enjoy it so much, except for the no sleep part.
Congratulations, Liz!