I'm a little hesitant to write a "birth story", but I do want to remember the details of that day. So, here goes...
We went to the hospital on Tuesday night, October 23rd, 2013 to begin the induction process. Now, of course, induction wasn't exactly the way I wanted things to happen, but by that point, I was ready! I was "somewhat favorable" as far as dilation and effacement went so my body just needed that extra boost to get things going! Looking back now, it was a good decision and I would do it again if it comes down to it! I tried everything I could to get her to come on her own! That night in the hospital was funny...just me and Will (Holly stopped by for a bit too!) and crazy amounts of anticipation, but really just laid there and hung out!
After a night with the medication to dilate me more I was having regular contractions by the morning. Will said he remembers waking up in the middle of the night and looking at the monitor and seeing the contractions happening and that was what made the whole thing really real to him. Contractions weren't painful at that point, but were working so by the time my doctor checked me, I was at 3cm. She went ahead and broke my water about 11am and that's when things really started getting moving and more painful. I labored for a while on my own trying to move around as much as I could because I knew as soon as I got the epidural my movement would be limited. My mom and dad got there right as things were getting pretty rough...lots of tears with seeing them and the pain and at that point I knew I was ready for the epidural. They never had to give me too much Pitocin to keep contractions going so that was good, but I would guess they were much stronger than normal contractions would be on there own and I was ready for those drugs!
The epidural was the most difficult part of the whole process because the first time they did it, it did not work completely. I had a "hot spot" that didn't get numb and because of that I felt a ton of pain in one location. Finally after 2 hours or so of trying to make the first epi work, they came in and did it for a second time. It worked almost immediately and I felt SO much better. This also allowed my body to relax and start progressing more. I went from about a 5cm to fully complete in about 3 hours. It was weird to feel SO much pressure but no pain with the epidural! The doctor came in and checked and had me do a practice push at about 8:00pm and she thought I was ready to go so then things really started moving! I started pushing at about 8:40 and Joanna arrived at 9:10pm! Praise the Lord for being able to push her out quickly. Once I started pushing I was like...no way I can do this for 2 hours...so I just went for it and it worked! She asked if I wanted the mirror to watch, but definitely not for me so I just relied on Will and Dr. Carter to encourage me. I loved my doctor and the nurses...my nurse during the day with the whole epidural disaster was incredible!
A little hesitant about this new world!
It was amazing to hold her right after she was born and Will cut the cord, truly indescribable. I was sad to let her get checked out by the peds people and it took FOREVER because they were training a new nurse, but once we got her back in my arms, tried breastfeeding for the first time and had some family time it was Joanna's moment to meet her extended family and our family was complete!
8 pounds 8 ounces
We then got to move into the "penthouse" room of the new mother and baby floor at St. Luke's which was so great, Joanna got her first bath and we finally got to bed after eating some food at about 2am!
What a blessing she is to our whole family.
Love,
The Messamores
