At hospital, I was 50% effaced and only 2 cm but they said I was on my way to delivery. Took the pain as long as possible with relaxation and then broke down and accepted Stadol, which as I suspected, just made me doze between ouches. Finally got the epidural. 8 and 1/2 hours later, the epi had worn off and I was in agony again. The anesthesiologist kept me waiting (with good cause, the lady in the next room could not expel the placenta and was in terrible pain). He finally made it in and except for one spot in my left lower back where I could feel a lot of pressure but no pain, the epi took. Then I could feel her descending. The doctor asked if I felt rectal pressure and I said yes, she's on her way down. They examined me and announced I was fully dilated. I smiled, lay back and opened my legs. I was ready for the work! Except it wasn't any work at all! The nurse said, "let's see what a push does" and I pushed. She said, "woah, this baby is going to fly out!" Just then the doctor who had been with me the whole time left and there was a changing of the guard. The doctor who had just come on got the glory. I was actually glad though, because she wore glasses and I could see the whole delivery reflected in them! That was really great, I had wanted to ask for a mirror but there wasn't time. Five pushes in five minutes and she was out, what a breeze, I couldn't believe it! As she had aspirated some meconium, she was whisked over to the examining area (which is in the birthing suite) and given deep suction. Meanwhile as the doctor delivered the placenta and sewed me up, she yacked on about something, I don't know what it was because my attention was on my baby whom I hadn't yet seen. My husband was over there and he got to see her first and to cut the cord. The doctor was really sweet, but it cracks me up to think of her blabbing on and on until it became like a droning bee in the background. Very funny!
They drew blood from the umbilical cord, which we stored through the Cord Blood Registry. Any questions about that I'll be happy to answer later. Then I got to see my baby and I blubbed my eyes out. 7 pounds, 6 ounces, 19 inches long at 0835 am. What an incredible experience. I had to take a semi-private room as allowed by my insurance and guess what? There was no one in the other bed! I had this double size suite all to myself for the price of a shared one! And the hospital was amazing, like a good hotel. Nurses constantly check on the baby and me. (she roomed in with me). They would appear within five minutes of my paging them. The hospital even provides 8 free hours of a postpartum doula who comes to your home on two separate days!
I'm in heaven and now we have a little girl. Our four year old boy is ecstatic, says it's HIS baby. And he has not reverted to babyish behavior or starting pooping in his pants. What a big boy! He starts kindergarten in September and we're excited about that too.
Anyway, can't believe I blabbed so long. Good thing I type for a living and can pound this out quickly. Talk to you soon!
Kate
