Avery Jane - our birth story

**Melanie** · #1 June 11th, 2009, 11:52 AM

There isn't much of a birth story here...it was the easiest and probably fastest labor and delivery I've had!

On Sunday night, June 7th, we got home from camping. Went to bed around 10 PM and read for a while. I felt two pretty good contractions while reading and then got tired to turned the light off and as I was falling asleep I had a couple more contractions. Then at about 3:30 AM I woke up having a doozy of a contraction. Could not go back to sleep so I got up and timed the contractions. Only 2 more and they were 30 minutes apart, then they seemed to stop so I went back to bed. Got up again to get the kids up for school and ate breakfast. No more contractions, but did have some bloody show. Not sure if anything was happening, I went about my day. Sent Milo to catch the bus for school, took Owen to his eye doctor appointment, then dropped him off to school. Then filled my car with gas and went to the grocery store. Then I went home and cleaned the house a bit, watered the garden, did some laundry. Just trying to get stuff done in case this was it. Didn't feel any more contractions until about dinner time. Then at about 7 PM they kicked in full force, very suddenly. They were quite strong, about 15 minutes apart.

I checked my hospital paperwork regarding when to call them. I was waiting for the contractions to become regular and according to their paperwork, it said if this is my first baby to not call until the contractions are regular and 5 minutes apart, but if this is not your first, then when they get strong to call, do not wait for them to become regular because your labor can progress very quickly. I thought, oh SH*T - I better call NOW. So at about 9 PM I called and told them what was up and they agreed that I'd better come in and be checked. So I called my mom and she came over to stay with Owen and Gus and Milo, Jeff and I headed in.

I had already been at 3 cm and 80% effaced since my last doc appt. When I got to the hospital I was 4-5 cm and 90% so they said based on that they will keep me there. YAY! They called my doc who said I could either have my epi now or wait until she got there to break my water and then have the epi. I said I want my epi as soon as I can have it!

They got me into a room and started my IV. It took two tries and I have a really fabulous bruise on my arm from their first attempt! Once I had my IV and a bag of fluids in, they got me my epi. By then the contractions were very severe. I don't know how women do this naturally all the way, there is no way I could! So after my epi I was in heaven. My doc came and broke my water. Then my contractions slowed way down, probably from the epi. They started me on pitocin to kick things into gear again which worked.

Then it was around midnight so they turned off the lights and told me to get some rest while I finished dilating. Milo then fell asleep. Only 2 hours later I was at 10 and ready to push. They had me do a practice push while the doc was setting up and then suddenly yelled at me to stop! I almost pushed her out with my practice push! So I waited another minute until the doc was ready and pushed twice and out she came at 2:17 AM on June 9th. Poor Milo wanted so much to see his baby sister be born, and we all tried to wake him up when it was time to push, but he would not wake up for anything! He finally woke up the next morning and was very happy to be the first brother to see and hold her. It was a very magical day!

Here are some pictures:

My little peanut. Only 6 lb 7 oz, and 18.7 inches.

Enjoying her first bath. AAaaahhhhhh.....

The proudest big brother ever, Milo

Or maybe this is the proudest big brother - Owen!

Gus giving her a kiss.

Jeff took all the pictures, so I'll have to take some of him with his new daughter and I'll post those later.