Elizabeth Jane's Birth Story

I have four kids. When I started this blog, I had one tiny embryo. How did I get here?? Anyway... Our fourth little baby made her entrance to this world on January 20th.

Sunday we woke up and got ready for church, I was having contractions, but they didn't feel like labor contractions. They didn't last very long, they weren't getting more intense, they were varied times apart, and they seemed to come when I stood up, or when I sat down, not in a real timed pattern like labor. So through church I had a few contractions, but still kind of just like it had been all morning. We came home, got the kids lunch, laid them down for naps and Aaron and I watched some football. I tried taking a bath to see if the contractions would stop, but they didn't. I still didn't think it was labor though. But in case it was I packed a hospital bag. Aaron cooked dinner. We got the kids into bed. All the while the contractions were coming and going, but I was mostly ignoring them. Nathan was a nightmare trying to get him to bed that night. I missed half of Downton Abbey! Aaron's mom asked if we wanted her to come and help get stuff ready for my mom coming on Tuesday. I thought, well if this is labor it would be good for her to be here. So after driving to Phoenix from San Francisco, she drove from Phoenix to Yuma! Poor lady!

So then she was on her way, and still my contractions were like 10 minutes apart, and then 5, and then 10 again, and then 2 minutes, and then 3 minutes... there was no pattern which was making me nuts. They still weren't all that painful either, so we watched Sherlock. I was kind of distracted, they were hurting a little more.

And then something snapped in my brain. I felt pure panic. I wanted an epidural for this birth, and I was petrified we wouldn't get to the hospital in time. And I don't know what else I was scared of, but I was pure panicked. My heart was racing like crazy and I couldn't calm down. We called my neighbor to come stay with the kids while we left for the hospital, instead of waiting for Aaron's mom. I actually called my friend Christi right before we left because I couldn't calm down. I was shaking and my heart was pounding, and I wasn't in that much pain, but I knew what was coming, I guess. I was just really scared for some reason.

We got to the hospital around 11. I was crazy in triage. Contractions were now a minute or less apart. I knew baby was coming quick, and I really wanted that epidural. And I couldn't stop asking for it.

So finally, after what seemed like forever in triage, I got to L & D. I was 7cm in triage, and complete by the time the epidural was in, which seemed like no time later.

Getting the epidural while going from 7-10 cm... NO FUN! It was painful, but I got through it by chatting with the anesthesiologist. She was really nice and awesome and I kind of wanted to name the baby Sonji, after her.

Once the epidural was in I felt immediate relief. It was wonderful. My midwife came in, and when she checked me my water broke. I could have started pushing right then, but I asked if I could wait. I was scared the epidural hadn't all the way kicked in yet. The midwife said as long as I was comfortable that was fine. Baby was doing good. So I rested for a little while, maybe 30 minutes... and then I felt a lot of pressure and we called the midwife back in. About two or three contractions later, our little girl was here! She was handed right to me and I was able to hold her as long as I wanted.

She was 8 lb 11 oz and 22 inches long.

So while it was kind of silly to get the epidural at that point I am seriously so glad I had it. I was able to feel enough to easily push her out, but without feeling any of the pain. And I didn't have to get a catheter since I only had the epidural for such a short time! I was really worried about that.

So far things have been great. I'm tired, and kind of irritable. And learning to nurse is no fun. But watching my big kids react to their new sister is amazing. I'm so grateful to have my mom here taking care of us, or I don't know what I'd do!