Layla's Birth Story

So, I wasn't sure if I was going to write this post.  I didn't think the story would appeal to my general readership (Do people REALLY want to read about childbirth???), and I don't have many photos to accompany the post (Because let's be real - the last thing on my mind while in labor was documenting the process). However, I decided to write this, simply because I will have the chance to look back on it someday and share it with Layla.

(If you don't want to read about how she came into world, you may want to close out of this now...)

I was fortunate enough to have a very easy pregnancy.  I remained active for most of it, and besides nausea in the first trimester, I felt pretty great throughout.  As a result, I was told by many that I'd probably have a pretty easy delivery / recovery.  The recovery part?  Yes.  I am now 4 weeks post-partum, and I have been working out for 2 weeks.  Overall, I feel amazing.  But the delivery?

That's another story.

In order to refrain from making this too long and wordy, I thought I'd present the labor and delivery process in a timeline fashion.

Saturday, 11/2 - My official due date.  At this point, I was experiencing contractions but only 1 cm dilated (based on an earlier appoinment that week).

Monday, 11/4 - My 40 week appointment.  I had progressed to 2 cm, but beyond that, no signs of labor.  My doctor and I scheduled an induction for Friday, 11/8 at 11:00 p.m.

Thursday, 11/7 -

7:00 p.m. - After walking 2+ miles with my mom, I came home, sat down at the kitchen table...and my water broke.  Everywhere.  It was seriously like a scene right out of the movies:)  Mike wasn't home, so my mom came over to stay with me until he arrived. Since I had tested positive for the strep B virus (very common in pregnant women), I knew that as soon as my water broke, I had to go to the hospital right away.

9:00 p.m. - We arrive at the hospital.  I am examined in triage before I can be admitted.  It's also unusually crowded that night in Labor and Delivery, so since I am not very far along, I have to hang out in triage until I can be moved upstairs.

Friday, 11/8 -

12:30 a.m. - We're finally admitted and check into our room (which is the BOMB DOT COM).  I am given pitocin to speed up contractions, which, at this point, don't really bother me.

3:30 a.m. - I've progressed to 4cm, and I decide to get the epidural.  The epidural doesn't "take" on my left side, so the anesthesiologist returns several times throughout the morning.

At this point, I tried to get as much sleep as possible, but with people constantly coming into the room and checking on you, it's difficult to do so.

Honestly, from 4:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m., things are a little hazy.  I feel great, and I know I progressed nicely, but I don't remember much.  I DO remember Target calling me around 10:00 a.m. to schedule the delivery of the glider for Layla's nursery:)

12:00 p.m. - The room is set up for delivery.  My doctor, plus two nurses and Mike, are in the room, and we start pushing.  (Note:  I was horribly nervous at this point.)

The thing about pushing with an epidural is that you "think" you're doing it right but it's difficult to tell when you can't feel a thing.  I do know that Layla was "right there" - meaning, she was SO close.  But, I just couldn't push effectively to get her out.  We tried several different positions, but it just wasn't working.

3:00 p.m. - At this point, I was exhausted, and my doctor suggested the use of forceps.  She knew I did not want a c-section, and this was our best bet after pushing for 3 hours.   I was petrified, as I had never even considered forceps as an option, and I was terrified that they would hurt my little girl.  However, because she was so close, my doctor assured me that it was perfectly safe and giving her a little nudge would help tremendously.

And BAM!  Like that, it seemed as if there were 30 people in the room.  The anesthesiologist returned to drug me up for the forceps, and two more doctors actually inserted them.  Then, in the event that I needed an emergency c-section, there was a team ready to go, plus another team ready at the baby's station for when Layla appeared.

And I lost it.  I started crying hysterically because I was so scared, yet so excited to meet our baby girl.  The forceps were used to get her head out, but then I pushed a few more times, and...

3:46 p.m. - Layla arrives!  At birth, she was 8 lbs., 7 oz. and 20.5 inches! Her coloring was perfect and boy, did she come out with a set of lungs!  I was so overwhelmed with emotions, and I just couldn't believe that we created this perfect little girl.  When you carry a baby for 9+ months, SO many thoughts fly through your head.  What if she's sick?  What if something goes wrong?  But for her to arrive safely and healthy and OMG, so adorable - it was such a relief!

She's here!  I wish I could articulate exactly how I felt, but it's the most incredible feeling in the world:)  There were lots of tears of joy!

7:00 p.m. - We are moved to a recovery room (with THE most incredible lakefront view!!!), where I am now crying tears of pain.  My epidural wore off an hour or so after delivery, and I had a hard time getting comfortable.  The nurse gave me painkillers, which helped tremendously.  

A few things to note:

* I hadn't eaten a full meal since Thursday around noon.  Mike went out and got us dinner on Friday night (Cheesecake Factory!), but I still couldn't eat.  I am not sure if it was the adrenaline or medicine, but I pretty much went 36 hours without eating.

* Nursing in the hospital was a bit of a struggle that first night, and she had to have a little formula to increase her sugar levels.  Now?  She's a rockstar!

* I couldn't believe how many people constantly came into the room, between nurses, doctors, midwives, etc.  I barely slept that first night, but Layla was knocked out for five hours!  (And the nurse was horrified I didn't wake her to eat - I didn't know I was supposed to!)

Saturday, 11/9:

* We had tons of visitors on Saturday, between my parents, my in-laws and my brother and his girlfriend.  However, despite all of the chaos, Layla was SO calm and alert!

Sunday, 11/10:

* 11:00 a.m. - We are discharged and head home!  While I am SO excited to bring our little lady home, I have to admit that I was terrified at the same time.  The hospital staff was so incredibly supportive and helpful, and I was afraid of messing things up royally.

Anyway, that first week home was equally wonderful and frustrating.

* I struggled with painful nursing, which got SO much better after a lactation consultant came to the house to help.

* I was still in a lot of pain from delivery.

* Layla had a super successful appointment with the pediatrician and we were so happy to hear how healthy she was.

* We had a few visitors who were SO supportive and helpful.

However, I NEVER would have made it through any of this without Mike.  He held my hand (and leg - poor guy!) the entire way.  Watching him with Layla those first few days made me fall in love with him all over again.  He continues to be such an incredible husband and father, and we are both so lucky to have him.

 

Honestly, the childbirth experience wasn't exactly what I anticipated, but looking back, it was even better.  I know this is going to sound weird, but I will never forget the feeling of pushing a child out of me.  I will never foget how I felt when I heard her first cry.  I will never forget how my husband looked at me.  To say that this experience has changed me is an understatement:)  It's exhilirating and terrifying and amazing and painful and everything in between.

Thanks for reading along!  Our little lady came into this world kicking and screaming, and I have a feeling we're in for a wild ride:)