<< Part One

Fair warning: This post will be long and may include some less than flowery descriptions of the disgustingly beautiful process that is childbirth.  It also may seem disorganized as it is being written stream of consciousness style.

Another side note: I originally intended for her birth story to be a single post.  However, it is not something I’m capable of telling in few words since I want a thoroughly detailed account recorded.  Something I can share with her when she is older.  So, it will be told in more than one post… here is part two.

Part Two

So after being hooked up for… I don’t know how long…. I was then taken by wheelchair to a new room.  My labor and delivery room.

The place was spacious! A large bed, a couch, an entertainment center with a television.  A large bathroom with a big shower that had 5 massaging showerheads and a whirlpool tub.

I had to be hooked up to the monitor again, but was told that as long as things were looking ok, I could be unhooked for periods of time so I could walk around, use the shower, etc.  But I had to have an IV.

They said I had to have a three way hook up.  They used two of them for fluids/insulin to maintain my blood glucose level (due to the gestational diabetes).  They said the last one was open in case I requested pain medication or an epidural.  They reminded me that I had the option to request them since my OB had ordered them to be available, should I choose to take them.

My goal was to deliver naturally.  No drugs.

I think the most painful thing I experienced that day was the IV being put into my wrist.  Ugh.  They didn’t go in the back of my hand, they went at the side of my wrist.  (I have small veins, apparently)  It went on my left side.  The nurse that was doing it saw I was having a contraction when she was ready to plunge it in.  She asked if I wanted her to wait until it was over or go for it.  By now, they were coming every couple minutes.

I said go for it.

Oh. My. Gawd. Did that hurt!  She stuck it in and wiggled it around.  I felt warm liquid on my hand and fingers.  (I was turned away – not wanting to witness it at all.)  And she says something about knowing it was Halloween but not meaning to make it bloody.
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Fair warning: This post will be long and may include some less than flowery descriptions of the disgustingly beautiful process that is childbirth.  It also may seem disorganized as it is being written stream of consciousness style.

Another side note: I originally intended for her birth story to be a single post.  However, it is not something I’m capable of telling in few words since I want a thoroughly detailed account recorded.  Something I can share with her when she is older.  So, it will be told in more than one post… here is part one.

Part One

My last OB appointment was on October 28th.  At that time, I was scheduled to be induced on November 5th.  Actually, at the beginning of that doctor appointment, I was scheduled to go into the hospital the night of November 4th to be given something to help my cervix dilate prior to the induction.

At that time, I was scheduled to begin my FMLA leave from work on November 3rd.

At that time, I thought I’d be coming home with a beautiful baby on November 7th.  However, Miss Aerissa had other plans.

Let me back up a moment.  I know posting slowed down here.  Nearing the end of my pregnancy, I was feeling more exhausted and trying to prepare as much as possible for my daughter’s arrival.  I never felt the nesting experience the way I’ve heard so many women describe it.  I didn’t go crazy with cleaning the house and kept questioning my perceived lack of motivation.  My focus was on my daughter’s laundry and her room.  It was also on groceries – making sure we had what we’d need for a few weeks (other than minor basics like milk), knowing that once babygirl arrived, we wouldn’t be going out too much for the next month.

There were still preparations I was planning to make… including posts I was going to write/schedule.
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Last weekend we had our childbirth class.  It was a couple hours long on Friday night and then about 3ish more hours on Saturday morning.  I kinda liked it that way rather than going for an hour or two once a week for 6 weeks… that’s just too much.

The class was held at the hospital I’m going to be delivering at and run by a pediatric nurse who has 2 children that she delivered there.  As a sidenote, I thought it was great that one of her labors ended up needing to use an epidural while the other was all natural.  It felt like she had a great handle on the information she was sharing.

There were a few things I noticed while in class… every woman really carries differently and it is difficult to tell how far along they are.  We did introductions which included how far along we were.  I was one of the “earliest.”  I was a little surprised by a couple people with how far they were… I wouldn’t want to wait until after 32 weeks to take a childbirth class!

I also must just be having a very hot pregnancy.  I was the only one that didn’t bring along a hoodie or long sleeve shirt.  All of them ended up wearing them at one point or another (or wrapped up in their throw blanket).  I was never cold in either of the rooms we were in for class!

I also felt like the most emotional one in the class.  Sure, I couldn’t see everyone’s face at all times or exam their eyes… but just the very fact that we were in class got me a little misty as it started.  Babygirl’s arrival is getting closer and there was something so real and final about childbirth class.  Also, I wasn’t sickened by the birth videos.  Instead, I was fighting back tears – I was very touched by the moment of birth and baby being placed on Mom’s chest.  Goodness, I’m getting a little watery just thinking about getting to experience that first introduction to our baby!

I’ve also decided that childbirth is the most disgustingly beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.  
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