Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Our bundle of Joy...




So I have to post about being 36 weeks pregnant, but I will get there later. I know more people want to hear about the birth of our precious new daughter- Keegan Joy!

At my last appointment on Thursday, I was really hoping that I had made some progress from nothing the week before. As the doctor checked me I was concerned that I had not until she smiled and let me know I was 3 cm and 50% effaced. I was really excited as that was some definite progress and 3 cm was nothing to sneeze at. I was already in the hospital with my water broken at 3 cm with MacKenzie so it was odd to be walking around like everything was normal. The doctor texted the doc on call this weekend and let him know that if I was to go into labor (which she was fully expecting) then she would come in to deliver. I went home and traded off resting with playing with MacKenzie and doing last minute things around the house.

Friday night we joked with friends that I should go into labor around 6:30 the next morning so Matt would not have to go to work (but he wanted a full nights sleep unlike with MacKenzie). When I woke up Saturday morning I told Matt that I was sorry as 6:30 had already passed...he said he didn't have to leave for work until 8 so we still had plenty of time to go into labor. I went back to sleep for a bit and woke at 7:45 with an urge to go to the restroom (which was odd as I had already been). Just like with MacKenzie, my water broke on the toilet! I think it is great that my daughters are so considerate that they have my water break on the toilet so nobody has to clean it up. Matt was excited (the least of which was that he didn't have to go to work). We took our time getting ready, I took a shower, repacked my bag, fed MacKenzie, started laundry...you know...all of those normal things! We stopped by Chick Fil A to get a chicken biscuit on the way to the hospital which I know is "naughty", but I had to eat something!

When we go to L & D, we changed into a gown, got checked (still at a 3), and answered the thousands of questions they have you ask. Our nurse was great and we felt comfortable and happy that we were there. Seeing as I still had a ways to go, we sat on the exercise ball for a bit, walked around a bit, and waited to see what would happen. They kept telling me that with this being my second birth, especially if I skipped the epidural that the baby would be born by 4 (which I thought was nuts). At 2:15, we were checked again (at a 5) and Dr. Norton called to say she was on the way and that she wanted me started on pitocin. The nurse hinted that they were somewhat concerned about dips in the baby's heart rate, but that it was overall nothing to worry about. In the first 30 minutes of being on pitocin, I progressed 2 more cm and Dr. Norton and the nurse needed to know if I wanted the epidural or not. I was working really well through the contractions, but was scared out of my mind about the actual delivery. Everyone in the room was so encouraging and supportive about me doing it without the epidural that I felt confident that we could go all the way. Over the next 45 minutes my contractions built like crazy until they were literally on top of each other. I kept asking them to check me as the baby was turning into a better position because I was feeling pressure (but not the kind they needed). The nurses kept switching me from side to side to ease the baby down the birth canal. At about 3:15 they switched me back to my right side and told me the baby was basically coming down the shoot and that this next bit would be intense. I focused on Matt grinding his fist into my back, my mom rubbing my head, and me not saying words that I really wanted to.

At 3:30 or so, I asked them to come back in and while they didn't check me, they started to get ready. I was so thankful to have the support of our nurse and Dr. Norton there. They were so reassuring and supportive with the extra touch of you can do this/you have to do this! All of the sudden my body took over and I told them I had to push. They needed me to hold off so they could wash up and get everything sterile. The nurse really talked me through breathing and waiting (which was hard to do as my body was really trying to push on it's own). I remember thinking to myself "In the movies they hold on to the bed...maybe that helps...", which is what I did and it took my mind off of things (to some degree) while they moved me into the stirrups and got ready. Matt said that the baby was very much crowning by the time they got me into position. They told me to let go of the bed (which I really did not want to do) and grab behind my legs to push. I pushed once...good, pushed twice...good and stop! They told me the baby was right there, but I needed to wait. I found out later that the cord was wrapped tight around the baby's neck twice (which explains the dip in heart rate). Dr. Norton tried to loosen the cord to pull it over, but had to make the cut herself rather than Matt (which we all know was fine with us). Once the cord was removed, I pushed once more and the baby was delivered at 3:42! From 5 cm to in my arms in 1.5 hours!!! As they suctioned the baby, we all waited for Matt to let us know if it was a boy or a girl...he must have been in shock because it took him some time before he said "It's another girl!". I think we were all surprised! They placed her on me for a few minutes then took her to the warmer to clean and measure her. She was 20 inches long (1/2 inch less than Mac) and weighed 7 lbs 8 ounces (almost a full pound less than Mac).

While I definitely had pain during the contractions, during birth, and after, the part I didn't like about no epidural was how out of control I felt at the end. So I am not sure if that was pitocin related or no epidural related. Everyone in the room said I was not out of control and there was no cussing or craziness, but the way I felt...in wanting to against what they needed and feeling like I had made the wrong decision in those last few minutes...made me feel out of control. I will say that I immediately felt better after having her and much more mobile.

When they gave her back to me I was shocked by how much she looks like MacKenzie. We told the people in the room that we decided on the name Keegan Joy (Keegan means little fierce one). We think the name is perfect for her and goes well with her Big Sister's name. She nursed for a bit before going to the nursery to get checked out and cleaned up some more.

Since then we have had a barrage of visitors (all welcome of course), been working on nursing (which she has been doing great at, especially the past 24 hours), and learning about ourselves as a family of 4. Mac has been adjusting as well as can be expected for a 16 month old (smile at baby, trying to play, ect).

I am sure there will be more to post soon, I just wanted to get the basics down before I forgot and for all of those who are super interested!

1 comment:

martha said...

Congratulations!!! Way to go, super-momma! I especially loved the bit "me not saying words that I really wanted to." :) Glad that all went well and that you have another sweet baby girl! Hopefully we'll get to meet her and MacKenzie this summer when we finally come home! Hope you get lots of rest and that the adjustment from one to two goes smoothly. Lots of love from all of us!