Wednesday started very early. Well, I guess technically Tuesday never ended. I didn’t get to sleep until about 1:00 am and had to be up at 3:30 to get ready and be at the hospital by 5.
We left the house by 4:45 and got the hospital right at 5. I checked into the ER because of it being so early. Then, Billy and I walked up to Labor and Delivery. I got into my room and the nurse asked the standard questions and let me change into my lovely gown. After I was settled into my bed my cervix was checked by another nurse. When she checked me she rammed her fingers into my cervix. It felt like she got a running start from across the room. I remember grabbing the sides of the bed because of how much it hurt. I had never been checked so harshly. I was 2 ½ centimeters dilated.
Then, my IV was started at 5:30. Before my meds were given to me, my blood was drawn. When they drew my blood, it gushed down my hand. I don’t’ know why, but I didn’t realize that blood was that warm. It felt like someone had peed on my hand! I was a little grossed out by the feeling of the blood running down my hand.
After my blood was drawn, my meds were given to me. I had to have penicillin because I had tested positive for Group B Strep. The nurse said it might sting going in, but it didn’t. It CRAMPED! It cramped any time my arm was below my head. So, I laid in the bed with my left arm above my head. I even had to go to the bathroom with my hand above my head which was real interesting!
My pitocin was started at the same time was the penicillin. Contractions soon followed, but weren’t too bad. I could actually handle them by breathing through them. I was surprised at myself because with Conner I only had 3 or 4 c contractions before Billy asked for my epidural for me. I was frustrated though because I was having contractions. I could feel them, but they weren’t showing up on the monitor!
Dr. Wells came in around 8:30 to break my water which was earlier than the 9:00 time he said would be there. Boy, was that an experience! It hurt so badly, which was something I didn’t remember from my labor with Conner. He had to try several times to break my water. He first used the hook. He tried and tried, but said Caroline was tucked to the side. He then tried with a fetal probe and still couldn’t break it. The whole time he’s trying to break my water; I’m unintentionally pushing him with my feet. After he tried with the fetal probe he took a break, which I was very thankful for! During the break, I went ahead and asked for my epidural and my nurse called the anesthesiologist and he was on his way up. Dr. Wells then was going to try with the hook again, but Caroline decided to break the water herself (and Mommy is forever grateful for that…lol) I was about 3 ½ centimeters at this time.
Of course after my water was broken the contractions were more intense and it was too long before the anesthesiologist came in to save the day. He asked Billy to step out while he did the procedure. I still don’t understand why Billy was asked to leave, but I wasn’t going to question anything if it was going to delay me getting my epidural! After my epidural was put in, the left side of my body was totally numb, but the right side wasn’t. It wasn’t bad; it just wasn’t as numb as the left side of my body. I could still feel the contractions on the lower right side of my abdomen.
I was checked again around 11:00 and was about 5 cm. After that, I relaxed and let the pitocin do its job. I was checked again around 12 and was 9 cm. My MIL was the first to come back into the room after they checked me and I told her I was at 9. She then went to go get Conner from school so he could be there when Caroline was born. Soon after, I started pushing. I pushed 3 or 4 times and she started crowning. I had to stop pushing to wait for my doctor to get there. While we were waiting, I asked for the mirror. I didn’t use the mirror with Conner, but I’m glad I did with Caroline. It gave me something to focus on and helped me have more productive pushes. When Dr. Wells got into the room, I only had to push 3 times before she was out.
She came out with her hand on her face which is where she liked to keep it apparently because that’s where it was during her ultrasounds too. I tore when she came out, but not in the place most people tear. I tore up top. I thought it would be worse, but it actually was better. I didn’t have any pain post partum like I did with Conner. Dr. Wells had to give me a couple of stitches, but that was it.
She weighed 7lbs. 1oz. (all the nurses thought she would weigh more!) and was 20 ¼ inches long.
I was so happy too because Billy was able to stay with me the whole time and wasn’t sick like he was with Conner.
After Caroline was cleaned up and we spent some time with her, Billy went to get Conner to see his sister for the first time. It was love at first sight for him! I fell in love with Conner all over again when I saw how much he adored his baby sister. We gave him the gift from Caroline and he opened it, but before he opened it he asked, “How did she carry that?” It was precious! I loved being able to have some private family time with just us four.
