Hello to everyone!! My birth story ... :) :)

With a few minutes on my hands, I'm going to try to post this ...

Well, it all started on Sat. afternoon. I woke up feeling lousy & started having 'braxton hicks' about mid day. Mom & I went food shopping in the late afternoon & I started noticing that the contractions were getting pretty regular & more intense. I wasn't so ready to believe that 'this is it' ... as it was still 2 weeks to my due date! so I didn't say anything to anyone.

As the evening wore on, I started paying attention to the clock & timing the contractions. At this point they were coming every 5 minutes. I still was not convinced, but mentioned to Vinnie that I probably should pack my bag anyway just in case. (He kind of had a heart attack ... Neither of us was really ready for this & no one was expecting it!!) Then I took a shower ... I figured if it WAS the real thing, I wanted to shave my legs before I went to the hospital.

Around 9:00, I lost my mucus plug, pretty gross actually, but defintiely a sign that things were going to start happening for real. The books say that labor will begin anywhere from 12 - 36 hours after this happens. At this point I called my Mom & she insisted that I call the doctor. I was pretty convinced myself by this point that I should probably go to get checked out.

We got to the hospital around 10. I was checked by the OB & wasn't dilated at all. So we went home. Which was ok with me! Who wanted to stay in the hospital pacing the hallways? We live close by, & I knew Vinnie needed to rest b/c he'd worked in the yard all day & was exhausted. I knew I'd probably sleep once I could get the epidural.

We got home & I we tried to get some rest. Vinnie did better than I did. He slept & I paced & tried to breathe!!! By 5:00 I was ready to go back to the hospital ... it was getting pretty bad. I woke Vinnie up & made him get dressed & we called the doctor again. We were back at the hospital a little while later & when they checked me I was ....

4 cm dilated & FULLY effaced (sp?)!!!! They admitted me immediately & started the IV.

In about 45 minutes I was ready for the epidural & was sooooo thankful to get it! I was able to relax, but was not able to sleep. It was just toooo exciting. I was amazed at how calm I was about the whole experience so far, so was Vinnie!

I was moving along pretty fast. By 1pm I was fully dilated & ready to push. Here's where it got a little hairy.

Because I had started feeling contractions again (about 2 hours earlier) they boosted the epidural. So it didn't really have a chance to wear off entirely.

Bottom line was, that they made me start pushing way too soon. I couldn't really feel the contractions, & was having trouble getting coordinated. I totally underestimated how difficult it was going to be! I was so worried about the laboring, & that was really a piece of cake compared to the pushing.

So I pushed for about 2 1/2 hours. The first hour was a waste of time b/c I couldn't feel anything, the second hour I was exhausted. And Everyone is watching the clock. As we got closer to 2 hours of pushing, they brought in 'THE BIG GUNS' ... the head nurse. She was terrific! She was no nonsense & really got us motivated, dispite the exhaustion.

But things still weren't moving along. The baby was not coming down the canal. So the talk was about what would happen next. I knew the possibility of a c-section was looming & was starting to get upset about it. But the dr wanted to do a vaccuum extraction. This was the next best thing to an unassisted vaginal delivery. But I had no idea what I was in for.

At this point, they took us down to the OR. This was serious business! It was a little scary & it was at this point that my anxiety level hit the roof! I was afraid for me & the baby & started losing it. But it would all be over soon, I knew.

The dr inserted the vaccuum (OMG!) & she was delivered with in a few minutes. The hardest part was the epi .. which was unavoidable at that point, & pretty extensive. I had a lot of stitching to say the least & was not really numb for it ... .

But the best part of it all was when Vinnie announced, through tears, that we had a beautiful baby girl!!! We both cried as he cut the cord & we waited to hear her cry. That was the most beautiful moment of all. Every part of it was so worth hearing that sound.
:D I don't think I'll ever forget how she sounded, or how I felt when I heard her for the first time.

In the end, they brought her to me & I got to kiss her quickly before they brought her down to the nursery. Vinnie went with her while they finished with me & we got to have her in the room just a little while later.


It seems amazing to me every day that I've been so blessed to have her & how wonderful it is for us to have this time together. I am so thankful for every moment & I know they will go so fast. She's getting bigger every day & every day brings new adventures. Each little accomplishment is something to be
cherished.

So I've gone on long enough ... & will try to post some pics for you!! Many, many, many thanks to you all for your kind words!! I'm so glad I could share this with you!!

Much love to you all!!

Christine