I started an email for our daughter and sent her an email with her birth story
I started an email for our daughter and sent her an email with her birth story. I also send pictures so she'll have stories and memories to look at when she's older. Anyways, here is our birth story.
Easy. I would describe my entire pregnancy, labor and delivery of you with that one word. Easy.
First, you need to know that I absolutely loved being pregnant with you. It was easily one of the most liberating, fun and care-free experiences. You may not know this but together we tackled our first half-marathon together, our first sprint triathlon together and even traveled to New Orleans and Cabo San Lucas together- all before you were ever born! By the end of the pregnancy, we were so ready for you to be here. The doctors had told us at multiple appointments that we would have you early and that they would be surprised if they saw us at the next weekly appointment....this happened for three weeks in May. I worked through our entire pregnancy; all the way up to the weekend we welcomed you. Speaking about that weekend....
Memorial Day weekend was the last three day weekend of the school year and the weekend you chose to make your grand entrance. Your dad and I had been invited to a surprise birthday/last hoorah party for Nate that Saturday. The party started at 6 and we stayed until 10:30. Stephanie and I talked the whole time about going past our due dates and I was convinced you were going to keep me in school until the very end of the year. As we drove home that night, I ignored the few cramps I felt and chalked them up to the same false labor pains I had had the week before. As we pulled into the driveway and I stood up out of the car, I felt a major leak and thought, "Did my water just break or did I pee myself?" As I walked towards the house, Dad told me that I had a hitch in my git-up. I told him I was fine and just super pregnant. I fed Klaus, and Reggie, Bart and Zoe; went to the bathroom; and still had small bursts of fluid. I finally told your dad that my water had broke and we needed to go to the hospital. He took it rather well....with the exception that he forgot to pack his toothbrush, toothpaste and deodorant.
Once we got to the hospital, the security guard in ER took us through to the elevator. One elevator was already out of order so we got into the second one. A nurse was on her way down to the basement so we rode with her. Once she got off the elevator, we hit the button for the 2nd floor and watched the doors close. Nothing happened. We opened the doors and a janitor was standing there watching us so we tried again. We closed the doors and hit the 2nd floor button and....nothing happened. I decided I'd rather take my chances and have you in a stairwell than in an elevator so we got out of the elevator and walked three flights of stairs up to Labor & Delivery.
In Labor & Delivery, we were hooked up to monitors to listen to your heartbeat and to watch my contractions. Surprisingly, we slept on and off through the early contractions. At 5:00 AM, the nurse started me on pitocin to make the contractions stronger. While they did get a bit stronger, it wasn't long before she realized that my water hadn't completely broke. That meant the doctor would have to come in and break the rest of my water before we could fully deliver you.
While we waited for the doctor to arrive, the anesthesiologist came in to give me an epidural. Best. thing. ever! The strong contractions that I had to close my eyes and focus on breathing through were no longer a concern. I couldn't feel them! When Dr. Weibell finally came in, I couldn't feel anything but did hear the gush when he broke the rest of my water. He told us it would take about 4 more hours until I was fully dilated and ready to deliver. When the nurse checked me an hour later, we were ready to push! She prepped the area, got everything set up and we were ready to go. I started pushing a little after 2:00 PM and the doctor came in at 3:00 PM for the final pushes. Dad watched the entire process and I was even able sit up enough to watch your delivery. At 3:22 PM, you were officially delivered and instantly put on my chest. We laid there, you on my chest, under my hospital gown, for an hour while Dad and I gazed at you in absolute awe and admiration.
When they finally moved you to take measurements, we learned that you weighed 7 pounds, 3 ounces and were 19 1/2 inches long. The first things we noticed about you were your long fingers and nails and your nose. We have the same nose! I wonder if you will still have the long fingers and nails when you are older.
After delivery, we moved to the Mother & Baby ward. All of your grandparents came and visited you that first day! We went home on Monday, Memorial Day, and started our greatest adventure with you.
On a side note- as I write the email to you you are sleeping in the baby lounger on the coffee table as I marathon watch Grey's Anatomy. You are 11 days old and can already lift your head up and roll over on your side. You love your head rubbed by dad and enjoy sleeping in my arms. The swing is a life saver for when you are fussy, which isn't very often. You sleep a lot but when you are awake you are so curious about sounds and images around you. Emery, my transition to motherhood has been fairly easy and that is because of you. Thank you for being such a sweet, mild tempered baby and I love our time together.
Love you enough to fight a bear,
Mom
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