My Labor Day

So this is going to be a post telling about my day of going into labor and giving birth. I warn you, it will probably not be that interesting to you. I'm doing it for those that ARE interested, and also for my own remembrance's sake. I'll spoil the ending here: It's a GIRL! That is the most exciting part. :)

It all started the night before. I was having a horrible time sleeping because I had a lot of pressure on my pelvis. Returning to bed after my third potty trip I felt a contraction. The time: 5:30. I didn't think too much of it. Laying in bed, not yet sleeping, I felt another contraction. The time: 5:38. I decided to keep track, just in case. So of course I'm not sleeping. I'm just laying there waiting for another contraction so I can see if there is a pattern or if they get closer together. Keep in mind that I was induced with Chelsea on her due date. I didn't know what it felt like to go into labor naturally. Well, the contractions kept coming every 8-11 minutes for an hour.

At that point, 6:30, I decided to prepare in case I needed to go to the hospital. My hair was frizzy from being tied back the day before and I had makeup all over my face. This is not how I wanted to start my hospital stay, especially knowing that people would want pictures if in fact I was really in labor. (I still wasn't sure I was actually IN labor. I had contractions all the time, just not this regularly) So I took a nice long shower, peeking out the door at the clock when contractions came. I took my time preening and doing my hair and makeup. For the hour between 6:30 and 7:30 the contractions were about five minutes apart. I was beginning to think I might actually be in labor. They didn't really hurt, so I wasn't concerned about birthing in my living room. (With Chelsea from the moment they dropped the pitocin I was having contractions just a couple minutes apart-they didn't really hurt until hours later, and they weren't intense until just before she was born.) Rick got up for the day and was surprised to see me awake. I like my sleep. :) Well, after consulting the expert, my mom, we decided to call the doctor. He said to come on in to the hospital. Rick called work, changed out of work clothes and into comfies, and we headed over to check in.

Once checked in, my contractions spread out. They only came every 15 minutes or so. I was thinking, AM I in labor or what? I thought I might be, but maybe not. What an embarrassing waste of time. Sigh. But then the nurse checked me and told me I was 4 cm and 100% effaced. Oh. Maybe I am closer than I thought. (With Chelsea I was 3 cm going in, it took 4 hours to get to 4 cm, and about an hour to go the rest of the way.) The nurse said that they would keep me. :)

After hearing about my previous labor, my hilarious nurse said she didn't trust me. She thought I would be quick at delivering. And promptly set up the room for delivery. I surely hoped I was in real labor at this point, even though it was my day off and I had hoped to get in for a much needed haircut that day. (Yeah I was worried about my hair. I have YET to cut it. It's pretty bad.)

I'll get to more interesting parts of the story eventually. So as time goes by, Grandmas were in and out and so was Rick. (There were a few other families from church giving birth, or who just had given birth, or who were about to give birth.) I was actually in labor! All along I was saying how this labor is SO much easier than my first. And it was. But it didn't stay easy. Eventually the contractions got a LOT stronger and more frequent. I decided that I didn't need to be a superhero and said OK when the nurse offered pain meds. She wanted to check me to see how far along I was to decide which meds to administer. Well I was about an 8 she said. Dr. Billings was right outside the door (I don't know if he was just checking in as he passed by, or what. But he was there.) Nurse told him 8cm and he decided to come in and check for himself.

Here is where it gets more interesting. Between the time the nurse checked and the time the doctor checked, I became ready to deliver. Apparently. After checking, Dr. said, why don't you give me a little push and we'll see what happens.

Huh? Push? Already? I didn't have the urge to bear down or anything. But he's the doctor, so ok. Whatever. I pushed. Baby started to descend! Um. Ow! I pant pant pant as Dr. pulls back and says, ok let's have a baby! and puts on his gown. In the meantime, I'm not sure what to do, so I just lay there in pain until he's ready to catch a baby. Hopefully this is quick like everyone seems to think.

Ten minutes later we have confirmation. It is a GIRL!!!

And I am relieved. The time: 1:03 pm. Total labor: 7 1/2 hours. Baby girl, Brienna Nicole Heit, 6 lbs. 14 oz. and 19 inches long. Perfect! Our Bishop's wife is the one that gets to clean her off and measure her. She is also part of the Primary Presidency (of which I am the secretary) and so I didn't worry about letting them know why I wasn't in church.

Brienna was the third of five babies born within a few days of each other. I actually took over the recovery bed of one of the mothers. The night I left, my visiting teacher came in to have her twins. Mine was the only one NOT a C-section. (Poor Cindy had 10 hours of labor before having to do an emergency C-section. She doesn't recommend doing it that way. I would tend to agree.)

I was only in the hospital that one night. This business of delivering two weeks early gave me a smaller baby, which was IMMENSELY helpful in giving birth and also the recovery process. I've been told that being induced makes delivery/recovery harder, though I don't understand why that would be. At any rate, going into labor naturally WAS easier and less painful. I don't know if it made delivery/recovery better or not. I really had no idea what I was doing when having Chelsea. This time around I knew what to expect and had better pushing techniques. And it took less time to get her out. Again, smaller baby=easier baby to birth. Simple fact. Anyway. I felt fine and didn't want to waste another day laying around in the hospital. So we went home the next evening. I'm not sure if I would recommend it, or do that again. It wasn't bad. But it would have been nice to have one more night of being able to send crying baby to nursery. At the same time, why put it off one more day? I don't sleep well in hospitals anyway. What's one night of sleep at the beginning of a new baby experience?

Well it's been almost two weeks. I feel almost normal. Almost. I weighed myself today and found that I'm only 3-5 pounds heavier than my starting weight. How cool is that? My tummy is wrinkled and stretch marked, but not bad. Not as bad as it would have been had I been pregnant all the way through today! I have a wonderful baby. She sleeps a LOT, and is pretty good about sleeping all night except for twice to eat and get changed. (We pester her for 2-3 hours before her bedtime bath/feeding to keep her awake in hopes of her sleeping better at night. Hopefully it is working and we aren't just making her miserable for no reason, hehe.) Chelsea adores her little sister. There is no sibling rivalry as of yet. Chelsea loves to help get diapers and wipes and powder during changing time. And she loves to hold her and give her a pacifier (which she will sometimes accept).

Life is good. I do feel kind of lonely during the day still. I do feel kind of cooped up. I don't feel like I get as much done as I should be getting done. I'm emotional and cry at strange times, especially if I do leave the house for any reason. I sometimes watch the clock waiting for Daddy to get home so that I can have a break. A break from what? I don't know. Just a break. I feel like a slacker mom, but I'm worn out at the same time. But really, life is good. I have to remind myself that this is what life is with a newborn and a toddler. They are going to grow up someday very soon and I will wonder what happened. It's already that way with Chelsea. She's SO BIG and she can do SO MUCH. I remember when she was born. I felt the same way I do now. Emotional and loopy and lonely during that first month, but happy still. I don't know how single parents do it. I am so happy to have the support of my husband and both our families. I need them. *sniffle sniffle* Thank you to my family. I would be an even bigger wreck without you! You help me to get through all my tough times and support me and tell me I'm doing fine when I feel like I'm not. You take care of my kids when I need a break. And so much more. I'm blubbering right now and I think I've babbled long enough. Thanks for reading this! If you've gotten this far, I know you are one of the ones that are there for me and care for me! Thank you!