The Novel of Nora's Birth

So…time to sit down and do the TMI post about Nora’s labor and delivery.  I just re-read Emmy’s post and it helped spur my memory on what to include.

First things first, Nora Lee Sanders made her appearance at 10:46 AM on Monday, March 19, 2012 (a day after her daddy’s birthday).

Those of you that have been following our journey lately know that both fundal height measurements and ultrasound measurements were showing Nora to be on the small side.  Not alarmingly small, just small.  At my 38 week appointment (which was at 38.5 weeks) my doctor asked/beat around the bush about induction.  I had made it to a point where her systems were fully developed, and if she was in fact little then we could get her into the outside world to grow. I had also been dilated to a 3 and 80% effaced for 3 weeks.  I was definitely on board.  We set the date for Monday, at that time- I was 39 weeks 3 days.

Chris and I went to bed very excited Sunday night mostly because of what was to come the next morning, but also because KU had just beaten Purdue in the 2^nd round to get themselves into the sweet 16. It was a close one, and at the end of the game I was jumping up and down in excitement.  I can’t believe my body even remembered how to jump..hah!  Anyway, we went to bed and honestly- I got about the best sleep that I had in awhile.  No middle of the night potty calls, just pure sleep.

We woke up at 415, got ready and headed to the hospital.  We were told to check in at 5am so we left ourselves enough time to go grab some food.  But lo and behold… our closest McDonalds isn’t open 24 hours?  I thought all McDonalds were open around the clock?  Guess not.  So we headed to the hospital, hungry.

Hate to ruin the story for you...but from here on out- things were really smooth.  I was hooked up to Pitocin at 530, and dilated to about a 4.  At 715 my doctor came in and broke my water.  I was dilated almost to a 5 and 90% effaced.  At 915 my epidural was in and I was dilated to a 7.  I am so glad I decided on the epidural when I did.  After my doctor broke my water she told me I could get it whenever I wanted.  I honestly wasn’t feeling too much pain with the contractions and thought I could hold on a little longer.  Around 830 I decided I was ready for a little pain relief and called for the epidural.  Apparently, right after I decided I wanted mine 2 other ladies did as well.  Sorry ladies for whatever pain you had to endure, but I made my decision quickly and got my epidural first…hallelujah!  Hah.  Back to the story, the epidural went in without a hitch.  My 2^nd epi from Emmy’s L&D almost didn’t happen because the anesthesiologist almost couldn’t get it into the space correctly.  I was a little worried this time around, and had decided if I went into labor on my own I was going to try to go epi-free but with the Pitocin, my decision changed. Really…back to the story this time.  My epidural was placed and finished around 915.  The nurse checked and I was dilated to a 7.

The next check came at 1020 by my dr and she found me to be completely dilated and effaced.  She told me “we are ready to go”.  I think I was in awe and questioned her, “as in, we’re ready to push? Baby time?”

I can’t remember what time I started pushing, but Nora Lee Sanders came out at 1046am with a teensy bit of assistance from the vacuum on the very last push.  She was in more of a left occipital anterior position instead of fully anterior(head down) and the vacuum was the extra little help that she needed in coming out.

Everything was so different this time around from induction, to quick dilation, to a successful one and only epidural to not as much pushing.  I really think the effects of the epidural had so much to do with it.  This time around, I could still feel the pressure of the contractions after the epidural- but did not feel the pain.  Therefore, when I was pushing I was much more effective because when the nurses would say “that was a great push”…I could actually feel what I was doing and repeat it the next push.  Pushing a child out in 3 sets of contractions is DEFINITELY nicer than pushing one out in an hour and a half.

One thing that didn’t change was the great care in L&D…I really appreciated how calm the nurses, techs and Dr were during the actual delivery.  They were so encouraging and made me feel like I was doing such a good job.

After Nora’s delivery, the grandparents (minus Chris’ dad b/c he was feverish) and Emmy came in to meet Nora.  We spent a few hours in there and then moved to the recovery room about 3 hours later.  I spent another few hours with a “peg leg” (my left leg) and was pretty much confined to the bed until it regained feeling.  Apparently since I was on my left side when I received the epidural, the left side becomes the last to regain full feeling.

We spent 2 days at the hospital and were discharged around noon on Wednesday, March 21.  Nora’s discharge weight was 6#10oz.  We went for a follow up appointment today (4 days old) and she is up to 6#13oz (after we changed a VERY full diaper).  We are so happy she is almost back up to birth weight.

We are home and adjusting to life as 4.  My mom has been with us this week and it is so nice to have an extra set of hands (especially since those hands are willing to do Emmy things while we are a little preoccupied with the newest princess of the house).

Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers along the way.  We have been waiting a long time for this little girl and couldn’t be any more in love.

first pic as a family of 4

I am not certain why Nora is missing here, but I wanted to showcase Emmy's new "I don't really want to take a picture" face.

Nora Lee Sanders
7#10z 19"
10:46am March 19,2012