So got to Dr. at 9:15 and she put in a balloon that got me to 3.5cm, they didn't have room to induce until 11am, so Paul and I hung out in the cafeteria for an hour. Then at 11am, there was a nurses meeting, so we finally got in a room about 11:45 or so. At 1:30pm, my nurse, Susan started the pitocin to induce as well as magnesium sulfate for my blood pressure. About 2pm, my Dr. stopped by to break my water.
A small little side note, an online friend who frequently prayed for me died suddenly two days ago. Her name was Susan as well. It made me feel much calmer like maybe she was watching over us :)
About 2:30pm I finished "Are you there, Vodka? It's me, Chelsea" by Chelsea Handler (thanks for the distraction, Kari!!) and 1/2 of a Redbook and we walked the hall for a 1/2 hour or so. Then I told the nurse she better check me. I guessed I was at a 7cm as I was having some pushing tuggings. Nope, only 5.5cm!!! Seriously? Anyways, so had walked around with no water leaking and sat on the bed, GUSH... I sloshed to the bathroom and almost slipped and hit my head. The nurse helped get me all back together and in bed and I basically hung out and dealt with the strong contractions.
Dr. showed up at 4:30 as her last patient cancelled and she and the nurse chatted about colleges and badmitten while massaging my back and having me do all sorts of crazy positions and shaking my hips and wierd breathing (ok, so maybe it wouldn't seem so wierd if maybe somewhere in birthing 3 kids I had made it to a birthing class). About 5:15, I felt like pushing but was only 7-8 cm, so Dr. offered some drugs in my IV so I could just breath and not push through contractions. After making sure I'd be able to walk right afterwards, I said ok. Well, of course, by the time the nurse got drugs, we were ok to push. Seriously, I finally ask for drugs and still end up with none, but whatever...
And, guess what, of course Valerie is sunny side up like Henri!!! She apparently missed the memo or can't read yet or something, so she didn't realize I just wanted ONE baby to have thier head in the right position (Carter had his hand up next to his head when he came out).
I was so glad to be done! 3-4 big pushes (Dr. says one, apparently they count contractions, not actual pushes), she came out. I can bend! Woohoo! Nurse said usually one has to stay on the magnesium for 24 hours, but I showed my Dr. how low my blood pressures were when she wasn't in the room (she's getting a complex because they get higher when she's in the room) and bargained down to 12 hours, so at 6am I can get off the IV, wait for on call Dr. & pediatrician to check us out, so I still may make it home by noon tomorrow, we'll see.
So, even though I didn't get her out by my 3pm deadline, I did shave about 2 hours off my total labor time of 6 hours, so I'll call it a success. The 3 pushes also helped the case.
Valerie also went straight to 30 minutes of breastfeeding. Carter took 2 weeks and Henri 3 weeks, so I made a deal with her that I'd be ok with her not listening about the head position if she kept up being able to figure out the breastfeeding.
Then we got me all cleaned up and on some ibuprophen & tylenol, Paul got me a 12 inch sub sandwich and Valerie got a bath and shots and has been sleeping ever since, so I can update you all... you know, you 4 people who read this blog..... Nurse should be back in 30 minutes (9:30) to check on us, then I'll go to sleep, I already sent Paul home to get some rest. Sitting around making phone calls and reassuring me that she really was out and I'd survived another birth was pretty exhausting ;) ( Just kidding, hon, I love you!) Oh, he also filled out the grueling questionaire for our cord blood donation!
So you probably want a picture of this cutie, eh? Here you go... goodnight!
She's a mellow, mellow baby and good sleeper. Nursing really well, 10-60 minutes at a time. Official stats are: Born July 22nd at 5:36pm 5 pounds, 10 ounces, 19 inches long.
