David I were estactic! I was super excited because our first child would be close in age to their cousins. Since we found out a few weeks before Christmas we decided to take our parents out to dinner and surprise them with the first ultrasound photos. The grandparents started crying once they realized what the gift was. Other than my sister who I just had to tell, no one else found out until the 2nd trimester. Since my mom and sister both went early on their first babies I was hoping to delivery early too. But as we approached the 39 weeks I was convinced C was staying in there for ever. It's a good thing she decided to stay in as long as she did since David was out of town taking the Bar 5 days before her arrival. I had my diaper bag packed a week before C arrived. I made sure to have all the essentials: toiletries and makeup, several outfits for baby, sleepers, a dress for me and a top/shorts, lounge pants, nursing cover and nipple cream, socks and snacks.
On the evening of July 31 I started showing signs that C's arrival might be sooner than I was expecting. By that I mean that I started noticing the "bloody show". The next day at work, yes I was planning to work through that Friday, I mentioned to my co-worker and boss that I started having signs that labor might be near. No way did I think it would be as early as that night. I stayed at work pretty late that night trying to finish projects. Around 7:30 pm I decide it was time to wrap things up and head home. I was exhausted. It was Chick-fil-a appreciation day but I was too tired to stop by.
When I got home I went directly to the couch. About an hour after I arrived home I started having what I thought were painful cramps. I didn't think much of it until I started having them pretty regularly. I tried to nap but that wasn't happening. Around 11 pm the cramps had become more regular and David and I decided to go for a walk. I was convinced that it was just cramps and not contractions, but David thought otherwise. We started timing the contractions during our walk and realized they were coming every 10-15 minutes. They were getting stronger and I realized that C might make an appearance earlier than we expected. Once we were back at the apartment we thought we should get some rest in case we were in for a long day.
Of course I didn't sleep much and around 3:00 am I was woken up with the contractions coming closer together. My doctor told me that we should come in either when my water broke or when the contractions were 5 minutes apart for over an hour. It's a good thing the Olympics were on to distract me during the contractions. We blew up my work out ball and I tried bouncing on it during the contractions. It helped slightly, but the contractions still hurt. We also pulled out a tennis ball to massage on my lower back. After an hour the contractions had progressed to 3-5 minutes apart but were only lasting 30 seconds. I went ahead and called my doctor's office and let them know what was happening. They told me to go ahead and go to the hospital. I e-mailed my co-workers letting them know that I might not be in to work.
Once we arrived around 4:30 am I was admitted to triage and spent the next 4-5 hours hooked up to monitors and getting through the contractions. I was determined to go without the epidural for as long as possible. The nurse in triage said that I was already 5 centimeters and I figured I could survive if I was already that far long. Around 9:00 am we were finally sent up to L&D where I met my nurses. I'm pretty sure one of them was named Laura and I can't remember the other nurse. Soon after we arrived the midwife came by to check on me. She checked my cervix and informed me that I was only 5 centimeters along. What?? Wasn't I 5 centimeters along 3 hours ago? This is when I started debating whether or not I should go ahead and get the epidural. She came back in several minutes later to break my water. That was an experience. After my water broke the contractions felt much stronger. During all this one of my sister's friends who works at the hospital came by to see us. She wasn't my nurse but it was nice to see someone I knew.
After laboring for another hour or so I decided to go ahead and get the epidural. They made David leave for the procedure, which we both thought was weird but it gave David a break and chance to get coffee. I almost immediately felt relief and was able to sleep for about an hour. I was no longer in "pain" but I could still feel the contraction's pressure. Another hour or so passed and my contractions had slowed so they gave me pitocin to speed them up. After the pitocin kicked in I progressed fast. It was only 3 hours after the epidural that it was time to push.
I had a student shadow my doctor through my delivery. They did ask if it was ok before she came in. At this point what was one more person looking at my hoha. The nurses were great as the told me when to push. I could usually feel the pressure so I typically knew when, but I was glad they were there. David wasn't able to stand seeing me in pain so he stayed back towards my head and fed me ice chips between contractions. I pushed for about 45 minutes before I felt her slide out. I was asked if I wanted to feel her head or cut the cord, since David couldn't, but I declined. Looking back I kinda wished I would have, but at that point I was exhausted. I couldn't believe we were finally parents.
They took C to clean and check her. Her proud papa had the camera ready to capture her first moments of life.
Newborn Stats:
Height: 21 inches
long
Weight: 7 lbs.
12 oz.
Head Size: 13.4
inches
The doctor finished up putting me back together and we tried nursing for the first time. You were a natural, but also rather sleepy and closed your eyes almost immediately. We spent another hour in L&D before moving to our permanent room on the postpartum floor.
We spent the next day and a half getting to know you before taking you home. Your Greer grandparents drove 9 hours to visit you and were so excited to meet you.
Once we got home, we couldn't leave you alone. On our first night away from the hospital daddy slept outside your pack-n-play to make sure your were breathing.
We LOVE you Charlotte Lucy Greer and are proud to be your parents.
I love this...so beautiful!
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