This is a super long and detailed birth story, so consider this your warning. Pictures are at the end!
She's here! Eisley Kathryn made it safe and sound into the world at 5.07pm on August 8, 2008. (What a cool birthdate huh?)She was 6 lbs & 14 ounces and 19.5 inches long, not exactly the "porker" we were expecting!
So, you might want to read the previous two posts here to see what got the ball rolling...
We (after much mental debate on Heather's part)checked into the hospital on Thursday night around 7.30pm to get an induction rolling. I was really flipped out that I was the one making the decision, as my doctor was willing to wait until next week. But due to personal issues, and job scheduling, I was having a lot of anxiety over waiting much longer. It could have meant that Justin wouldn't get much recovery time with the baby and I. After weighing our options and much thought over the health issues (doctor was worried about preeclampsia and the excess amniotic fluid I had) we had decided to bite the bullet and go for it. We also recruited many prayers on my behalf, to help us avoid a csection.
So after checking in they started the drugs to "ripen" my cervix, which would make it easier to dilate, and also cause contractions. They were hoping this would cause her to drop, which would make the labor a lot more successful!
But by 8am, after 3 doses of the cervix meds and no progress (still 1 cm & 50% effaced and no signs of dropping whatsoever) they decided to give me one more dose and see if I made any progress by noon. At this point I was having mild to medium contractions brought on my the cervix ripening drugs, and thinking hard about the possibility of a cesarean.
Well, around 1pm they re-checked me. Absolutely no progress. The doctor also mentioned how my pelvic bone felt slightly different than the average woman's, which could prevent the baby from dropping and fitting through the birth canal. I mentioned to him how I had also broken my tail bone a few years ago, and now it's crooked like a finger. When I'd had those xrays, the doctor had informed me that when I someday gave birth, the birth process would probably break the tail bone back into it's original position. I was never looking forward to this aspect of giving birth, since when I had broken my tail bone the first time it took almost 3 months before I could sit without a donut...
My doctor said this *could* be a contributing factor of her not dropping, and it will also make my recovery from a vaginal birth much longer and painful. But he was willing to give it a little more push, and start pitocin to try and get some stronger contractions in hope of moving little Eisley down the birth canal.
They couldn't break my water because since Eisley hadn't dropped and I had so much excess amniotic fluid, it could be very dangerous. The cord could come spilling out before the baby (since her head wasn't plugging the exit) and that would mean an emergency csection!
He offered for me to go home, wait over the weekend and see if I made any more progress. This was not appealing to me. Eisley was simply NOT going to move. Stubborn little thing...
So, of course, the final option was a cesarean. The dreaded Big C! Suddenly, it wasn't looking all *that* bad to me anymore. I was having serious doubts that she'd make any progress on her own. Drugs like pitocin can increase your risks of having an emergency csection, and I began to accept the inevitable.
I got very emotional as I started to realize my hopes for a vaginal delivery were walking out the door. Of course my doctor was giving me the choice, I could have still pushed for the vaginal delivery. But a gut feeling told me that it wasn't going to happen. I talked and cried a bit with my mom, sister, and of course Eisley's DAD! Everyone was in full support, and I was beginning to see the positives of choosing the csection:
* no episiotomy
* longer stay at hospital (which I'm told I'll be thankful for)
* my hemorrhoids get to keep healing
* those dreaded cervical exams stop
* no long labor and no real major contractions
* not breaking my tailbone
* not risking hurting Eisley by trying to fit her round peg head through my square hole with strong drug induced contractions, so to speak
* knowing she'd be born in hours, rather than waiting out a labor that could take days only to end in csection anyway
So we made the decision, and were scheduled for 5pm! I actually began feeling really good about my decision. I was emotional, but I was also confident that this was a good thing.
So 4.15pm rolled around and I had a fresh face of makeup, so they started to prep me for surgery. !!! Before I knew it I was walking back to the OR to be sliced open while awake... I was beginning to seriously contemplate running my bare behind through the exit doors.
But for some reason, I kept walking. Into the OR, I sat on the operating table and was given a spinal (a really strong, effective epidural like procedure that is given in one quick shot). My wonderful OB held my hand through the spinal, which was a bit scary. Before the anesthesiologist was even done, I could feel my feet turning into heavy, tingling mush. I was then laid on my back and prepped for surgery.
Justin, sporting scrubs and looking very Grey's Anatomy, made his entrance to sit by my head. A screen was placed at my shoulder level so that I couldn't see the butchering of my abdomen, which I was very thankful for! Justin was teary and I was just going into my "dealing with panic" mode by closing my eyes and trying to think I wasn't in an OR about to have a person removed from my body whilst I was awake. Justin later told me I looked very calm. Ha!
At 5.00pm on the dot they made the first incision. Suddenly I was trying to forget every csection episode of Maternity Ward or A Baby Story. I didn't want to think about my stomach being open, and me here awake.
The feeling was indescribable. My body from my chest down was completely numb, but I could feel people touching me. So I literally was feeling them cut me open, play feng shui with my organs, and removing Eisley. But I just couldn't feel the pain.
The doctors and nurses all laughed in shock when they broke my bag. Supposedly it was even more water than they had anticipated (and they already knew it was a lot) and I set off like Old Faithful.
They warned us the moment was coming, but there can be no preparation for that moment when they pull the baby out of you and she starts crying. At 5.07pm, Eisley was born!
The doctor made my day when he said this was absolutely a great descision for her birth. Eisley's cord was wrapped twice around her neck and she was higher than he had realized. They had to use a vacuum to get her out! My baby loved "Hotel Heather" as my mom affectionately called it. I was so glad I didn't sugger long hours of labor just to be told that a csection was the only way.
She was taken to my right where a warming station was waiting and they cleaned her up, checked her vitals, etc. Justin was very teary and happy and emotional. I was in a state of shock. Are you sure that I was really pregnant? Did that baby seriously just come out of me? Meanwhile, I'm hearing how cute she is, about her blonde hair, and how great she looks. She stopped crying rather quickly. The nurses said she was very calm and easy going.
Then came the best part, while laying on an operating table with my reproductive organs being worked on, I got to hold my little girl! They actually let me hold her. I was in awe of her perfect face, and she was moaning daintily and happily. All I could do was look at her little face and think... "Really??"
Unfortunately, Eisley couldn't keep me company in the OR, and she headed to the nursery with her daddy to be given a thorough check and vital stats checked. Once they were out of the room, it became hard to believe again that this was all really happening. I waited and listened to the doctors and nurses chat while feeling lots of pulling and tugging on my body as they sewed me up.
At 5.33pm, I was on my way to the recovery room. Everyone said I did great and the baby was perfect. Suddenly, the c-section seemed like a great idea and I was so glad. It was all over!
I rested in the recovery room for about 30 minutes, it went by fast and they monitored how my body was handling the spinal and morphine and other drugs they'd loaded me up with. I felt great! But I was really anxious to hold my baby again.
My mom, sister, and dad all beat the baby to the room. It was good to see friendly faces. I'd made it out alive. Not more than 10 minutes later, daddy and Eisley joined us. She looked great! Her Apgar score was a 8/9, which is wonderful for Colorado. Nothing else in the world mattered except that precious little baby all of a sudden.
In another 10 minutes, I was holding Eisley as we were pushed through the halls to our post-partum room. Justin's parents, Aunt Katie, Aunt Britta, and my parents all joined us. Eisley was incredibly calm and happy as she was passed around, meeting her family and loved ones.
And so now we're resting. Eisley is teasing us by being a very happy, calm baby. I'm realistic to the fact that this very well might not last. But so far she's happily endured diaper changes, feedings, and being next to other baby's crying - all without a peep. Noises and changes don't bother her in the slightest. We're in awe of what a good baby she is, and enjoying the peace while it lasts.
We think she's a doll and are completely smitten with her. In the end, the csection ended up being awesome. I'm in very little/no pain and discomfort and I'm so happy that my nether-regions are in tact and unharmed. It's bee such a pleasant experience. God has blessed us so much, it's downright embarassing. Words cannot describe the joy we feel in our hearts.
Here's our daughter:
I'll for sure post more ASAP!
So there they are! My postpartum cankles! Admit it, you all thought I was exaggerating with the picture of the Marshmallow Man a few posts back... well now, SEE?!
Woohoo! Yay for my bony ankles and their victorious return! After 9 months, I had actually forgotten how small they were...
Isn't that the sweetest smile?
