After relaxing on the couch a couple hours, Eric took the boys and I to dinner. It was doctor's orders. Really! Dr Anderson wrote on a prescription pad prescribing Eric to take me to dinner the night before the induction. We made it a family outing as it would be our last outing as a family of four! We took the boys over night bags with us because we would be dropping them off at the Autrey's afterwards. We didn't want a restaurant with boys and their craziness so we went to Costa Vida where I ordered my usual and we sat in a booth.
I felt large amount of discharge twice. Once walking to the booth, second sitting at the booth. At that point I decided I needed to go to the bathroom and check it out. I figured it was more stuff like I had that morning at work. Boy, was I wrong! I felt a steady stream flowing into my undies. I reached the stall and began my bathroom routine when a large about of amniotic fluid sat on my pad and more poured into the toilet leaving a trail in between on the floor. I peed and bunched up toilet paper into my underwear and quickly waddled to Eric to give him the news. His face was PRICELESS. He couldn't believe it! To be honest, I didn't believe it either. I remember telling him, "finish your food then we can go. I can lay down at your parents house and do the simple 'test' to see if my water has broken." Everyone had finished and we gathered the rest of the food, found a garbage sack for me to sit on and left! Every movement I felt a big warm waterfall flow down my legs. The contractions were only ten min apart, the intensity was growing and they were coming closer together with every one. Eric and his NASCAR driving skills got us to the Autrey's very quickly. From there we got home with the same speed. I sat in the car full of excitement while Eric ran inside to shower off and gather our bags and last minute needs. Fifteen minutes later we were on the road again towards Utah Valley Hospital.
8:10 PM my water broke. (yes, late dinner...). 8:50 we got to the hospital and parked. I told Eric that I could walk... few steps from the car and I opted for his wheelchair offer. I soaked the thing, I wonder if I left a trail as Eric ran me around. We got checked in on the fifth floor-labor and delivery. Looking back now, I would have waited longer to go to the hospital and labored at home. On a side not, Eric was wheeling me to our room when a code was called on the floor. (A mom and her baby weren't doing very good and was rushed to the operating room) I recognized my co-workers voice! That's what I do at the hospital, all codes! It was different to be on the clinical side instead of the one receiving and calling the code.
Meg R.N. helped us get started. She is super cute and spunky with her super short wild spiky bleach blonde hair. Then she was swapped out for Trisha. She was the sweetest nurse. I was at a 4+ and 80% and contractions at five minutes apart. An hour later they were intense and on top of each other. Breathing techniques, imagery and Eric's hands were my best friends. :) I was in no hurry for an epidural. I wanted to experience labor! I actually wanted to have a natural birth, but as time went on in my pregnancy, my stress and anxiety caught up to me. I would rather have an enjoyable birth than forcing myself to go natural and my mind freaks out and makes things worse.
By the time the anesthesiologist was ready for me I was a 6 (just over an hour after arriving at the hospital). I could have put the epidural off longer but the contractions were on top of each other and Chloe would be here in an hour, maybe two. I was moving fast! It was awesome!
They had me sitting for this epidural. The boys I was on my side, which I think I prefer. Sitting wasn't very comfortable. I had a FIVE minute contraction while he was doing the procedure. So happy to have had Eric there for that part. I accidentally grabbed his bad arm a little too hard :/
Once settled back into bed, I called JM to come down "BRING THE CAMERA!". She brought me flowers :D It was great to have her there for Eric and I! I was so excited to have the birth photographed!
Labor had slowed down at that point. My consistent contraction weren't helping the progression process. Dr Anderson walked through the door at that point! he broke the last bit of my amniotic sac. When I had ruptured, was up high. Chloe's head acted like a cork allowing only amounts to come out at a time. There was just a little bit of sac filled with water at her head, when that broke there was some maconium.... This really helped things move along, but what really helped was the peanut ball! Everyone should have a try with that thing! It is exactly how it sounds! It sat between my legs for an hour. It's to help labor along ad position baby to line up just right for her to come out. She was just slightly turned. the nurses swear by it! It was super uncomfortable at first, but during the hour the peanut ball went from being an enemy to a best friend. (Yes, I felt all the contractions. During the end I did have to breath through them. Epidurals only work half way then end up only taking the edge off. I don't mind it!) Trisha checked me after removing the ball and there was Chloe's head!!!!! I was at a 2+3 plus!!! Eric even put on a glove to feel. he could only get the tip of finer in before touching her. THING WERE ABOUT TO GET REAL!!!
I requested the mirror to watch! Eric though I was crazy wanting to do that. i feel it helped me stay motivated and try extra hard during my pushes. Which by the way, two pushes, a half of a push and she came right out! Cord wrapped twice around her neck (all my babies had that) and thick green maconium squirted everywhere. I could see her little head and it HAD HAIR!!! I couldn't believe it! I couldn't wait to see the rest of her!!! Eric was lucky enough to cut the cord this time! Little baby Chloe was handed over to the nurses to be wiped off and evaluated. They ended up pumping a total of 12 mls of poop out of her little tummy and one lung. She was super healthy and weighed in at 7.3 pounds. No wonder she was a breeze to deliver! She was also 19.5 inches long! I must say though, she was longer than that... she had to have been. Her exact arrival time was 3:00 AM on the dot!
Being her momma, her and I got to have skin to skin together where Eric and I shared a moment of happy tears and smiles as the moon. I don't ever want to forget that feeling of peace and happiness and the amount of unconditional love for my best and the little girl we have together.
After post delivery, I carried our daughter tot he 4th floor-Mother-Baby and into the nursery. I gave sweet kisses to her, exchanged smiles with Eric and left them to experience her first bath as I was wheeled into my room w402. For the next hour I tried sleeping. Who are we kidding!? I just had a baby! I was high on cloud 9, sleep was not an option! I tossed and turned finding myself only thinking about my husband and our new baby. all I wanted to do was snuggle Chloe and Eric, definitely NOT sleep.
The rest is history! I can't find the words for the feelings that consume my heart! I feel so blessed, I feel like the luckiest lady who has ever lived!!!
Weighing 7.3
19.5 inches, give or take
Arrived @ 3:00 A.M.
Chloe's First Week Home:
Lets be honest, she doesn't sleep in her bed very often... I'm sure we will regret it down the road, but for now we can't help it! This is heaven, she is heaven! I'm so so happy she came to us! She has the hiccups ALL the time, just like in the womb. In fact, her first few minutes of life she had them. They sound just like a squeak toy! It's the cutest noise we have ever heard!!!
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