the TMI labor and delivery post...edited with surprise ending

So, first off- this is probably TMI- but I want to write it to remember.
Second, I'm certain some times are off- but hopefully everything is in order.

At my 39 week appt, I had my membranes stripped. That evening (Tuesday) I noticed alot of extra fluid, but it kind of smelled like urine. So I passed it off as a leaky bladder since Emmy had settled even lower. I should have known better though, because I had not experienced bladder issues ALL pregnancy. Anyhow- my parents and sister were in town staying with us and I think that might have had something to do with me not wanting to go to the hospital to get it checked out. I didn't want to get everyone's hopes up for nothing.

I wake up Wednesday morning and get ready for work. I'm still leaking a little and call a coworkers wife who was an ob/gyn nurse. She suggested I go to the hospital and get it checked out- sounded like fluid to her. I then called my dr's office and the triage nurse told me it sounded like I wasn't leaking heavy enough.

I got home from work and actually caught a sample of unknown fluid- smelled it and it DEFINITELY was not urine. So I called Chris and told him we needed to go to the hospital that evening. I wanted to eat dinner first though, so we had our Bueno and I took a shower. Note that I had not been having any regular contractions, that would have been a good sign that it was indeed my water that broke.

We get to the hospital, admitted into triage and the nurse uses the nitrizine swab and it immediately turns blue- yep,water broke. Yay! Time is close to meet Emmy, but the nurse and dr are worried that I might need an antibiotic since it was close to 24 hours since my water had broke. They eventually decided I was ok after monitoring my temperature. Another dr from the office was on call Wednesday night, I had never met her but heard she was great. She came in and asked me if we wanted to get things rolling or wait awhile and try to deliver the next morning when my dr arrived (7am). I had a hard time deciding, I said "no offense to you, but I'd definitely like my dr to be here"....but in the grand scheme of things, "let's get things rolling". Little did we know how long it would take.

At 10pm I get started with the Pitocin drip. They start it off slowly, more to help dilation than encourage contractions. As they upped the Pitocin, my contractions definitely started getting stronger. It's strange though, they felt completely different from Braxton Hicks. My BH occurred more in the upper/middle uterus and in my back. The real deals were mainly in the lower uterus- I guess like cramps? I don't know, I don't get crampy. Anyhow- I digress.

I had checked into the hospital dilated to a good 4 and progressed to a 5 VERY slowly. At 3am I requested some drugs and got some Stadol. I wanted the epidural, but I think they were waiting on my contractions to get stronger and closer. The Stadol definitely helped take the edge off, I was able to take about an 1 1/2 hour nap.

Around 515am I got my first epidural, it felt great. I could feel the warm sensation going down my legs until things went numb. AWESOME!. At around 715am my dr came in to check, I was only dilated to a 6. She did a little extra "stretching and encouraging". Some time after the epidural the nurses rushed in and put me on oxygen. Emmy wasn't responding well to the strong contractions and her heart rate was dipping. After spending awhile on my side and on the mask, things settled down. Also, somewhere in the mix- they had to place an internal contraction monitor. The external monitor wasn't giving the best readings. This didn't hurt at all, but did leave a few spots on Emmy's head from being placed.

Soon thereafter I received my 2nd epidural. The machine had been beeping saying it wasn't getting the drugs into and through the catheter. The anesthesiologist on call (different from 1st one) came in to check the epidural. He removed the catheter and there was a clot in it, I had not been receiving any drugs since the initial administration. He said the feelings wear off in about 2 hours, so that's why I still felt like I had been receiving drugs. He barely got the 2nd epi placed, he was just having a hard time with the catheter in my spine. He told me he had done all he could do and just couldn't get it to flow, right after that- it started working! Yay, sweet pain relief. Bring on the drugs.

Somewhere between 930 and 10am I go from 9cm to 10cm. Once I get to 10, my wonderful nurses tell me to just wait to push until I feel the sensation. I asked them if I would feel that sensation, given the fresh epidural. They said I should feel it, but I never did. They came in around 30 to 40 mins later and told me it's time to push. I asked for a mirror, and we got started. My nurses were great coaches, and Chris was a great support. He got brave enough that he thought he wanted to look in the mirror too, to see what was going on- but I told him not too. He has a history of weak stomach in hospital settings. But he was AWESOME through the whole labor and deliver.

I start pushing and somewhere in the mix, the nurses figure out that the 2nd epi is not pushing the drugs into my spine anymore. Hmm, no wonder I can feel my toes, calves and scratches on my stomach. Oh well, it is still helping enough that I can't feel the most important part.

I must have pushed around an hour and a half, I had my hopes set for pushing less than that- I figured I could have done it quicker- but oh well, she's here. Emmy's head was having a hard time getting around the bend (under the pelvic bone....not sure if my small hips have anything to do with that?)

So, push, push, push, breathe, push.....encouragement from nurses, appearance of dr- she puts on her gear and something that appears to be a welders mask...push, push, and she's here.

EMMY CHRISTINE SANDERS arrived at 1210 pm. I can't even think of the word to describe the moment that they put her on my chest. WOW. That's my baby girl and she looked just like me! They weigh her and she tips the scales at 7lbs 2 ounces. Her cord was around her neck and there was some meconium in the fluid, but no worries- it was in the "hind part" of the water. So I suppose she could have weighed a little more than that. The nurses get her cleaned up and eventually measure- 19 1/2 inches tall. What a perfect little being.

As they are cleaning her, one of the first things the nurses notice how far her first 2 toes spread apart. Just like her daddy.

After they get her measured and APGAR completed, I get her back! We work on feeding as the lactation consultant (boob whisperer) comes to visit and then she goes off to the nursery with Chris to get her first bath. They are gone for awhile and I get my first hospital meal. At this point, I really don't care what it is. I missed breakfast and I'm starving.

Around 330-400ish, we get moved into the postpartum room and stay there until we got discharged Saturday at 2pm. It was so wonderful that my dr made it for the delivery, and then she was on call over the weekend.

I had a great experience at St John, everyone was so wonderful. My nurses made me feel so great about what I was doing. We held lots of conversation during the pushing part, talked about iPod playlists, and cracked a few jokes.

It was such an amazing experience. Towards the end of pushing when i was just *tired* of pushing, I kept talking to God in between contractions. I kept saying, "God please give me the strength to complete this- you will receive all praise". And He gave me the strength, and He did get the praise.

It's just so ironic that we spent so much effort keeping Emmy IN earlier in the pregnancy, and then it took her so long to get out! I had issues with dilating because of a LEEP procedure I had a few years back for an abnormal pap. It left some scar tissue on the cervix and made it hard to stretch out. It also caused my cervix to shorten, which resulted in bedrest.

I think had the nurses stretched the cervix sooner, things would have progressed faster. But I know God was in control and things went exactly the way He had planned them.

I'm just so thankful for all the prayers along the way and for a dr who is a Christian. It's just nice to know that the person looking after your pregnancy believes and trusts the same God that you do.

If you made it to this point, so sorry for all the rambling. I *think* I got in all the details that I want- but who knows, I'll probably go and edit later.

In other news, Emmy left the hospital at 6# 12oz and 2 days later was up to 6# 14.5. We go back for her 2 week appointment next week- I wonder if she'll be back up to birth weight?

She's such a good baby. Last night she ate at 12, 4 and 7. We are getting some good sleep for new parents. I hope I am not jinxing anything.

That's it for now, we're going on a little walk with the little girl.

Ok, if you read this whole thing, you deserve a picture.

LOVE TO YOU ALL!