A Baby Story

A few details about Maggie's birth; don't worry, not to many gory ones :)

We went into the hospital on Sunday night, ready to meet our little babe. Since it was a planned induction, they checked me in and then started the medicine to help me ready to dilate that night. I felt the medicine right away, and started having contractions about an hour after they gave it to me. Since I was still feeling good and allowed to eat, Gabe (graciously) ran out to get ice cream as a last treat for me, while I watched some tv. The plan was to sleep that night (which I was weary of being able to do) and then wake up in the morning to see where we were at in the induction process. I tried a couple of sleeping medicines that night but contractions became more painful and regular and I finally had to take the narcotics (staidol) to help me sleep. I drifted in and out of sleep every hour and a half, and ended up taking 5 doses of the meds. In the morning at 8:00 am, when the doctor checked me and removed the medicine, it had definitely done it's trick - 3 cm! I was definitely in active labor, no need for pitocin. My plan was to get in the shower and then get myself a nice epidural since labor was well established.

That's when things really took off - I labored on the side of the bed for about 30 min while they got everything ready, then got in the shower, which was really great, but my pain was intensifying pretty quickly. As I sat in the shower, I tried think about where I might be in labor, feeling like I was progressing quickly, but thinking that it was too soon to be as far into labor as I felt like I was. I sat in the shower for about 45 min, and then got out planning to be checked and have the epidural. And surprise! 9 + cm just like that! They called the doctor, notified her that she did NOT have time to go to the bathroom, and I was ready to deliver. Um, yes. I definitely had the urge to push, was in intense pain, and basically couldn't NOT push. No time for pain medicine, but at that point, I didn't even want it, just wanted to push. And three pushes later, at 10:04am, our little Maggie was born!

A speedy delivery, and she was here. Tears of joy, holding her on my chest for a full two hours after her birth, nursing her right away, and loving on my little girl. My recovery this time was very quick, and it was really nice to be able to be up and moving around a little so soon after her birth. I was able to stand by Maggie as she got her first bath right in the room. We spent the next two days in the hospital getting to know one another, and enjoying the delicious moments of having a newborn baby. Henry gave Maggie a birthday party, and we even managed to sneak in some rest! Maggie couldn't be a sweeter, more loved addition to our family - we feel so blessed!