Sweet baby Jane was added to our family on Saturday, November 21st, 2009. She was born at 12:45pm weighing 6 pounds 10 ounces and 18 inches long. She is absolutely beautiful and the perfect addition to our family. Dawson adores her and is thrilled to finally be a big brother.
I went into labor early Saturday morning. I went to bed feeling like she was lower than normal and it was hard to walk. At 3am I woke up to a contraction (I was also dreaming I was in labor at the same time.) I didn't think much of it because this had been happening for a couple of weeks now. I went back to sleep and woke up 15min. later to another contraction and dreaming again that I was in labor. I decided I would time them. They were not too consistent about every 6-10minutes. Around 4:10 I decided I should wake Brad up and go to the hospital to get checked just in case. We got there around 5am and I was still only dilated to a 4 (I had been a 4 since my Drs. appt on Wednesday.) I was a little disappointed about that. The nurse hooked me up to monitor my contractions. After an hour she said they weren't regular so they might send me home but the Drs. were changing over at 7 so they would wait until then. At 7:30 they checked me again and I was still a 4 with irregular contractions (3-8min. apart.) They mentioned sending me home again...I was not so happy about that At 9am the nurse came in and checked and said that although I hadn't dilated anymore I was showing some progress so they would admit me. I then asked for an epidural because I was tired of the pain and figured at the pace I was going this was going to take a long time. The anesethelogist came in around 10 and got it going. I wasn't feeling much just a little pressure here and there but the monitor wasn't picking up contractions at all. I thought great the epidural stopped my labor and this is going to be awful. The nurse checked my progress around 10:45 or so and said I was now 6cm and 100% effaced. I was shocked! She said my water needed to break and if it didn't break soon she would try to help me with that. At 11:15 I'm having Mary read to me what is for dinner and the other options in the cafeteria when I felt a lot of pressure and told her to hold on. I then heard and felt a pop (she heard it too) and sure enough my water broke. We got the nurse in there and she checked and said sure enough that was your water and you are now a 10 and ready to push. The Dr. came rushing in and I started freaking out. The baby's heart rate dropped so they put the internal monitor on her head (which was tangled up in her hair after I delivered.) They gave me oxygen to help me and the baby out. With the epidural going I couldn't feel anything so the nurse turned it off. Within minutes I was feeling intense pain! I ended up pushing for 3 contractions then took a 10min. break. I then pushed again for a few contractions and they said to take a 15min. break. I was having to breathe through the contractions that were very painful. Mary became my focal point for whatever reason and I just kept staring at her and saying breathe. She lost it at one point and laughed at me. I apologized after wards for being a little bit crazy/creepy by looking at her. All the sudden I had the worse pain/pressure feeling and the nurse had me try to push and sure enough Jane was ready. The Dr. came back in and I pushed a couple of times and out she came. It was rather scary and exciting at the same time. It was not my finest hour in life and I'm thankful to not be pregnant anymore. I have so much more energy and am feeling more like myself again.
Brad has been an awesome dad and husband. He just loves his daughter. Dawson wasn't able to come see us at the hospital because of h1n1. He adores her though and has been a huge help when he's around. He just looks at her and you can see his love for her. Nothing makes me happier than that. I'm sure he will be very protective of her.
I have to end my post with a HUGE THANK-YOU to my amazing twin sister Mary. She showed up at the hospital at 5am (with her make up on) and went through labor and delivery with Brad and me. She brought us food when we needed it and kept everyone updated. She let me squeeze her hand and stare at her when I was freaking out. She kept Dawson Sunday night and took him to a movie on Monday so Brad and I could have some time with Jane. I can't thank her enough. I also have to thank all my family who came to visit us and who have been helping us out. It means so much to us. We are indeed blessed.
