Dear baby Rose,
I am holding you in my lap right now as I type this. You are such a sweet baby. I thought this day would never come. Here is our birth and labor story.
Things Get Started
You did make it though, and a few days early! You were due to be born yesterday 11-14. You were born instead on Saturday November 9th. I actually had a lot of contractions on Friday November 8th, but they never became regular. On Saturday morning about 2 am they started becoming more painful. I started timing them. They finally got closer together and were about 3 - 4 minutes apart by around 6 am. We were taking our time getting ready to head to the hospital. We knew it would still be awhile before you came. Your daddy sure took his time making special tea with almond milk....it seemed to take him at least 20 minutes! We were lucky that you had started your entry into the world early that morning, so he was able to call into work and be with me all of that day.
The Hospital
We arrived at the hospital (Saint Elizabeth's in Lincoln, NE) around 6:30 AM. Unfortunately I was only 1 - 2 cm dilated. I needed to make it to 10 for you to come! They told me that they would call my midwife but I would likely need to go home to labor there unless I progressed a bit. Your dad went to run an errand and I started walking the halls of the 4th floor of St. Elizabeth's Hospital. I would slow down and stop when a contraction came, and kept track of when they were coming, how long they were lasting, and how far apart they were. Luckily after an hour of walking the floors we made it to 4 cm dilated! We got to stay!
Things Get Real
I had hoped not to get an epidural for various reasons. But, I knew that I could change my mind. Joshy was a very good helper once things got going. The contractions got to be fairly painful from 5 - 6. We would stand and I would lean on a table in the room. He would massage my back, or use a massage truck we found out about in our labor and delivery (Lamaze) class through St. Elizabeth's. Here is a link to one option you can find through Amazon.
I started to feel a lot of pain, and was re-considering my decision on not getting an epidural. Joshy suggested we try the birthing jacuzzi tub in the birthing suite. We got that filled up and I got in. We went through quite a few contractions in there. It did help slightly but the contractions were getting much stronger. I was definitely not able to just relax my way through them and "go to a happy place." I got very scared about dealing with many more hours of this. We decided to go ahead with the epidural.
Around 4:30 your Auntie Daisy and Uncle Kevin came to the hospital. Uncle Kevin wanted to give us privacy. But it was so nice to see Auntie Daisy. They went to church then, because they had to work the next day.
My midwife (Jill Dolberg) was out of town that weekend, so one of her associates Carol came in to evaluate me. She had stopped in a few times as I was laboring. I was at 7.5, and I really wanted the pain to go down. The anesthesiologist did a good job. It seemed to take a bit to get all of the fluid in me that I needed. But I was SO happy to be in no pain. Luckily my contractions continued to come quite closer together. A few hours later by 7 pm I was ready to push and was at 10 cm dilated. Around 7:30 we officially started pushing. Around this time your Auntie Daisy came by again. She and your daddy were great helpers coaching me through pushes. We moved positions often and tried to get as many good pushes out of each contraction as we could. My epidural had worn off some, so I was able to move myself. We tried getting on my hands and knees. By this point your heart rate was dipping a bit during pushing. So we would push only on every other contraction. My contractions were very close together.
Labor and pushing seemed to be going well but you got stuck in the birth canal. After 2.5 hours of pushing your heart rate was not doing well when we would push. And you were not moving. So we decided to head into the surgery room to see if they could do a vacuum assisted delivery, or do a c-section. Unfortunately you were so high up still a vaccum would not help. We didn't want to do any damage to your head! Your Auntie Daisy said our doctor back up to midwife would do a good job. His name was Doctor Gregory Heidrick. I have to say that I agree with her thoughts.
I am holding you in my lap right now as I type this. You are such a sweet baby. I thought this day would never come. Here is our birth and labor story.
Things Get Started
You did make it though, and a few days early! You were due to be born yesterday 11-14. You were born instead on Saturday November 9th. I actually had a lot of contractions on Friday November 8th, but they never became regular. On Saturday morning about 2 am they started becoming more painful. I started timing them. They finally got closer together and were about 3 - 4 minutes apart by around 6 am. We were taking our time getting ready to head to the hospital. We knew it would still be awhile before you came. Your daddy sure took his time making special tea with almond milk....it seemed to take him at least 20 minutes! We were lucky that you had started your entry into the world early that morning, so he was able to call into work and be with me all of that day.
The Hospital
We arrived at the hospital (Saint Elizabeth's in Lincoln, NE) around 6:30 AM. Unfortunately I was only 1 - 2 cm dilated. I needed to make it to 10 for you to come! They told me that they would call my midwife but I would likely need to go home to labor there unless I progressed a bit. Your dad went to run an errand and I started walking the halls of the 4th floor of St. Elizabeth's Hospital. I would slow down and stop when a contraction came, and kept track of when they were coming, how long they were lasting, and how far apart they were. Luckily after an hour of walking the floors we made it to 4 cm dilated! We got to stay!
Things Get Real
I had hoped not to get an epidural for various reasons. But, I knew that I could change my mind. Joshy was a very good helper once things got going. The contractions got to be fairly painful from 5 - 6. We would stand and I would lean on a table in the room. He would massage my back, or use a massage truck we found out about in our labor and delivery (Lamaze) class through St. Elizabeth's. Here is a link to one option you can find through Amazon.
I started to feel a lot of pain, and was re-considering my decision on not getting an epidural. Joshy suggested we try the birthing jacuzzi tub in the birthing suite. We got that filled up and I got in. We went through quite a few contractions in there. It did help slightly but the contractions were getting much stronger. I was definitely not able to just relax my way through them and "go to a happy place." I got very scared about dealing with many more hours of this. We decided to go ahead with the epidural.
Around 4:30 your Auntie Daisy and Uncle Kevin came to the hospital. Uncle Kevin wanted to give us privacy. But it was so nice to see Auntie Daisy. They went to church then, because they had to work the next day.
My midwife (Jill Dolberg) was out of town that weekend, so one of her associates Carol came in to evaluate me. She had stopped in a few times as I was laboring. I was at 7.5, and I really wanted the pain to go down. The anesthesiologist did a good job. It seemed to take a bit to get all of the fluid in me that I needed. But I was SO happy to be in no pain. Luckily my contractions continued to come quite closer together. A few hours later by 7 pm I was ready to push and was at 10 cm dilated. Around 7:30 we officially started pushing. Around this time your Auntie Daisy came by again. She and your daddy were great helpers coaching me through pushes. We moved positions often and tried to get as many good pushes out of each contraction as we could. My epidural had worn off some, so I was able to move myself. We tried getting on my hands and knees. By this point your heart rate was dipping a bit during pushing. So we would push only on every other contraction. My contractions were very close together.
Labor and pushing seemed to be going well but you got stuck in the birth canal. After 2.5 hours of pushing your heart rate was not doing well when we would push. And you were not moving. So we decided to head into the surgery room to see if they could do a vacuum assisted delivery, or do a c-section. Unfortunately you were so high up still a vaccum would not help. We didn't want to do any damage to your head! Your Auntie Daisy said our doctor back up to midwife would do a good job. His name was Doctor Gregory Heidrick. I have to say that I agree with her thoughts.
I was praying very hard that you and I both would come out of this safely.
The c-section process was very odd. I could still feel and move my toes just before the surgery. I kept asking them if that was ok. I did NOT want to feel them cut into me. Your daddy was standing right next to me holding my hand. He wanted to stand up to see the action though! It was a very odd feeling when they took you out, and some of my other organs! Your daddy said they took out the uterus to stitch it up. And it was the size of a basketball! I felt pressure and pain even in my chest. Your daddy said they were messing with things all the way up there. My arms and legs were strapped down during the surgery.
I cried when they pulled you out and I heard you crying. I praised GOD and thanked him for our safety. I asked your daddy if you were ok and he said you were. They cut the cord and measured you. You were 8 pounds 11 ounces! Then, you pooped, TWICE.
Your Auntie Daisy was there after the surgery too. They put you on my chest in the recovery room and you started nursing. I could not even hold you on my chest I was so tired. Auntie Daisy and the nurse helped though.
The c-section was a success. They gave me a binder thing I have been wearing ever since the surgery. It has really helped things move back into place. The incision has healed very nicely. Nothing has come out for several days now. I am starting to feel like myself again!
So that is how you got here! We are so thankful that you are healthy and here. Praise the Lord!
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