Lily's birth

So this post is for my journaling purposes but if any of you are like me you like to hear other peoples labor and delivery stories.  Come on you know that you love "The Baby Story" on TLC.  

So my official due date was July 22nd,that being said Noah was 2 weeks early and so I was hoping that I would not go the full 40 weeks.  

At 37 1/2 weeks I was dilated to 4cm so I was hopeful that she would come early.  After a week of very uncomfortable contractions and almost going to the hospital I saw my doctor again.  I was one day shy of 39 weeks and dilated to 5 cm.  Everything was ready, and my Mom was here playing the waiting game with us.  My Mom and I even went and got pedicures with bright pink polish hoping it would entice her to come.  (this was my mom's first pedicure ever, I was so proud of her because she does not like her feet.  I think that she might actually get another one someday.)

So my doctor wanted to "induce" me the next day.  I know most of you jump at the chance of induction but I had a hard time deciding what to do.  My doctor wanted to control my labor and was worried that I would not make it to the hospital because I was already a 5.  So relunctantly I decided to go in on Wednesday.  She said that all she was going to do was break my water and she was pretty sure that would put me into active labor.  

Of course I did not sleep much on Tuesday night and got up at about 6am.  Mike called the hospital and they said to be there at 8am.  So I got ready and we left, it was weird to leave and know that my life was about to change forever. 

At the hospital I met my nurse got my I.V. so i could get my antibiotics.  My nurse was awesome, I told her I was a hard stick and she did great, one stick.  My doctor came in and broke my water at about 9:30am.    then we started walking the little loop that we were allowed to walk.  I should have kept track of how many laps we made throughout the day, I joked with the nurses that I was trying to complete a marathon.  I was having contractions but not like I expected after having my water broken.  Mike was hungry so I sent him to get lunch, he asked me if i wanted a drink, could I have one?  He asked and they said it was fine, so yes he got me a diet Coke.  Around 1pm the resident came in to check me and this time it felt like my water was really broken.  My doctor wanted to start a very small amount of pitocin and I consented knowing that it would speed things along and i really wanted my doctor to deliver.  She had to leave around 6pm so we were on the clock.  At this point I was questioning my decision and was worried that my doctor was not going to be there.  Oh well there was no turning back now.  More walking, more waiting.  At about 2:30 after walking and sitting on the ball they started to hurt and I decided to plug in.  Nothing a little MJ can't take care of.    Now i was getting really uncomfortable, I got a new nurse at 3:30 and she was great too!  I was not longer smiling so they decided to check me again.  The junior resident came in checked me and said I was a 10.  She left the room to get the attending and when she was gone I told Mike and my nurse that there was no way, while I was in pain I knew it had to get way worse.  Sure enough I was a 6 but she had gone from -2 station to +1  so it was going to go fast now.  It did I guess, time is all relative when you think that you are dying.  I thought I remembered how much it hurt, I didn't!!!  When i felt like i had to push they came back in to check me and I had a lip left.  Those last 3 contractions were terrible and then my doctor showed up and had me start pushing.  While it was more excruciating pain at least I was almost done.  I was so tired and it felt like I was not pushing hard enough.  I joked afterwards that until I started making the "ugly" face I was not pushing right.  Once I started the "ugly face" it was not long, maybe 4-5 contractions and then the ring of fire and then she was on my chest.  I was so happy it was over and that she was here.  Here Apgar scores were 9 & 9 which was great!!  She had not been affected at all by labor and delivery.

She weighed 6 lbs 3 ozs, and measured at 20 1/2 inches.

She is beautiful and thus far has been a great baby