AW Claire's birth story and PIP - very long

[bean47]

I like reading birth stories so I will share mine, only a month late.

The morning of 7/24 I had my routine 39 week OB appointment. I mentioned some mild cramping but didn't think anything of it really. I was 3cm and 50% effaced with a very low baby. I made my 40 week appointment but the Dr. I saw said she didn't think I'd make it; I laughed at her. I was happy to stay pregnant for another week.

Around 2:00 I started having some contractions and began timing them. As some of you may remember, my H had gone into work until 8pm, and I was seeking advice here as to if I should have him come home or not. Looking back at my contraction timer makes me chuckle, I was so in denial. I decided to not have him come home earlier and continued on through the day with Olivia. We played in her pool (it was HOT out), had dinner and a bath and I got her to bed by the time H was coming home at 8:00. At this point I knew the baby was coming, contractions were 4 minutes apart and stopped me in my tracks. I had called the OB on call (who happened to be my favorite) and she said have my dad head up, since he was about 45 minutes away and then head to the hospital. So I called about 30 minutes before my H was due home and he said my step mom was almost home, he'd grab her and they would head right up. H got home and I was in a ton of pain but kept telling myself I would be at the hospital in about 45 minutes. I kept checking my phone and counting down to when my dad should arrive. I thought I had about 20 minutes left when he texted they were just leaving. I was so pissed! I had H calling our friends and neighbors to come to the house until they got here but everyone was working or on vacation it seemed. It was a very long 50 or so minutes until they arrived. I was even more furious to see my step mom had taken the time to change out of her work clothes before leaving! I wanted my epi now; I got it really late (during transition) with Olivia and didn't want to do that again.

We finally got to the hospital around 9:45 and everything seemed to move at snails pace. They got me right to a room but the nurse just kept putting information into the computer while I continually asked for the epi. Finally they checked me and I was only a 4. I had to get a bag of fluid before the epi. I was contracting every 1-2 minutes and it was pretty intense. The nurse wouldn't let me get out of bed which was torture! I wanted to move with each contraction. Finally at 11:40pm the anesthesiologist came to do the epi. He was wiping my back when another nurse popped in and said "oh, they didn't tell you, you need to go into X room first". NOOO! He said he'd be right back and my H got a good chuckle when I flipped him off as he left the room. He did come right back a few minutes later and I got the epi. I was looking forward to some rest and a break from the really intense pain. Less than 10 minutes later my water broke and I was 10 cm. I started pushing right away and it was too long before I was feeling a lot of pain. I learned after the fact, they never turned the pump on or whatever, I just got the initial epi dose. It sucked but she was born at 12:56 with the cord around her neck. Thankfully she was perfectly healthy and needed no intervention. They left her on my chest for the first hour for skin to skin and she screamed the whole time lol She was 7lbs 3 oz

I'm pleased with the experience but wish I didn't have to feel her crowing ha. The doctor was awesome and created such a relaxed feeling for the delivery. Recovery was so much easier this time around but I did lose a lot of blood and require pitocin again and it was close but I managed not to pass out after getting up for the first time unlike with Olivia.

Here are some pictures from the hospital I never shared and some from today, 5 weeks.







And today, at 5 weeks, she weighs 11lbs 6 oz

[musiclover]

You guys are the cutest family!! I want to shrink you and put you in my pocket, lol. You have two gorgeous little girls!!!

[bubbyboo]

Aw thanks for sharing your story! Where did you get your "big sister" shirt?

[melmon0417]

I love birth stories! Thank you so much for sharing! O and C are both beautiful.

[jamaga2583]

Aww... I'm sorry you didn't get the whole epi, but it sounds like you rocked it anyways! You guys are adorable.

[carawestt]

Your girls are so beautiful!

[Deleted]

I love birth stories! I would have been livd having to wait that long while in labor. Ugh! Glad it happened so fast, but sorry about the epi and the cord around her neck. Great pictures!

[thedahliharpa]

Thanks for sharing! Your daughters are gorgeous.
I loved that giving the bird was part of your story :-)

[fusion]

gorgeous girl! thanks for sharing

[chasbride07]

You have a beautiful family! thanks for sharing!

[helicase]

Thank you for sharing! That sucks about the epi, though. I'm glad you're doing well. Both of your girls are gorgeous. And, WOW, great weight gain!

[jenbelle]

You rocked!!! I'm so sorry about your epi, though. Thanks for posting this, I love reading the stories!

[Deleted]

Thanks for sharing! She is precious

[bean47]

Sept 2, 2014 14:12:31 GMT -5 bubbyboo said:

Aw thanks for sharing your story! Where did you get your "big sister" shirt?

I got it at a Carter's outlet.

[DaphneStrauss]

I loved reading your story and all the pictures are beautiful! I really love the family one. Both your girls are so beautiful! Thanks for sharing!

[ladydi]

Thanks for sharing! I love birth stories and your girls are gorgeous.

[bean47]

Sept 2, 2014 15:44:07 GMT -5 helicase said:

Thank you for sharing! That sucks about the epi, though. I'm glad you're doing well. Both of your girls are gorgeous. And, WOW, great weight gain!

Whoops! She's 11lbs 6oz not 12! Still pretty good. And thank you

[bean47]

Sept 2, 2014 14:12:02 GMT -5 musiclover said:

You guys are the cutest family!! I want to shrink you and put you in my pocket, lol. You have two gorgeous little girls!!!

Lol, thanks!

[artgal84]

What a great story and you hve such beautiful girls!

[raynes]

Thanks for sharing!

[honeybee503]

They are both beautiful!

[shevacc]

What a beautiful family! In spite of all the foot-dragging by everyone around you, sounds like a pretty great smooth delivery.

[spaghetticat]

Thanks for sharing! Those pics are precious!

[browndog]

Congrats, great story, thanks for sharing.