For all of you who have been asking about how the birth wen and how I am feeling, I figured it might be good if I posted a birth story about how Miss Madeline joined the world, so here it goes!
I know most women hope for an early birth, not too early, but a week or two early is always a welcome "gift." Any pregnant woman that I have ever known has always crossed all fingers and toes in hopes of this, and as most of you know, I was no different. I however, got lucky! Our little girl decided to join the world almost 2 weeks early, 12 days to be exact. It all started like this...
Monday morning, October 27th, my alarm went off as usual, 6:45 a.m., I hit the alarm and "rolled" myself out of bed...literally. Headed to the shower, thought it was a bit odd that I still had my burning back pain this early in the morning (usually it dies down a bit over night), but thought nothing of it. Took my shower, though I did get severely nauseated and almost passed out, still continued to think nothing of it. Took a little more time than usual getting ready, but headed out the door and was in the office by 8:30 a.m., yes a bit late I know, and I even cheated and parked outside of my building. Anyone who works with me knows this is a big "no-no," the parking nazi's were out in full effect, but I figured this morning was worthy of a $10-15 ticket.
Got into work and started work on the ever-so-coveted Football Letter. I mean it was the FBL after the big PSU Ohio State win (undefeated, yeah!) and our readers get a bit worked up when it's not out by lunch time. Anyway, started feeling contractions the whole time I was working on this, they weren't too painful, but they were getting consistent. So, I started timing them. By the time the first draft of the FBL was routing, the contractions were anywhere from 2 min. to 6 min. apart, but again, not too painful. Still not feeling well I decided I would eat half of a sick day, and headed out the door around 11:20 a.m.
I arrived at home and decided that if these contractions continue for one more hour, I would call the doctor's office. Twelve-thirty came around and the contractions lingered, so I called....and waited, and waited. Meanwhile, my contractions had doubled in intensity and pain. Finally about an hour later got a call back from the office. The nurse politely pooh-poohed my cramps/contractions and said, "Hmmmm, let me check your chart and I'll discuss this with your doctor." Nice right? So I wait another hour or so and they finally give me a call back to let me know "yes, the doctor wants you to go to the hospital." Finally!
So, I call Brad and let him know to get home (He was in Altoona for a surgery), and then call our friend and doctor Melanie Cherry to let her know that we were given the all clear to head to the hospital, and she said she would meet us there. About one hour later, 3:00 p.m., Brad and I arrived at Mount Nittany Medical Center and headed up to Labor and Delivery. The on-call doctor checked me out and I was indeed another cm dilated since my last apt. on Thursday. So now we were up to 3 cm. He called Mel to let her know, and Mel asked him to go ahead and break my water, I was finally a keeper! No more false alarms!
Okay, so here is when things to speed up, so here we go. Once they broke my water, the contractions intensified, obviously. So the anesthelsiologist came up and by 4 p.m. I had my epidural. I was in heaven, HEAVEN I tell you. Once I got the epi., and since Mel had arrived it was time for another check of my progress, and in this one hour I was already at 5 cm! NICE! So Brad decided to run out and grab some dinner for he and Mel....don't worry, I wasn't really hungry. Brad was gone no more than an hour or so (He had run home and let our other two babies out to go potty). While he was gone I had already dilated to 7 cm. I called him and told him, that he might want to get back here soon! Brad arrived and by the time dinner was finished I was at 9 cm, and within another 30 minutes I was ready to push. So yes, by 7:03 p.m. I was pushing! AH! And after about an hour of pushing, our little Madeline was born at 8:01 p.m.! Start to finish about 5 hrs. :)
She came out with one or two little cries and was quite content from the get-go. Not much more than a peep was heard out of her the rest of the night. My mom arrived about 20 minutes after the delivery and was able to join us for a glass of celebratory champagne! We toasted to the quick and easy labor, our fabulous friend and doctor, Melanie Cherry, and of course to our beautiful, brand new baby girl. All was right with the world.
So that's it, there is Miss. Madeline's story. A bit long I know, but I know if I didn't do it now, I would forget all of the details. She has been a pleasure so far, sleeping the days away, and finally starting to feed quite well. We are all clear to head home today, and I can't wait to get her in her own litt clothes and bed! Thanks for all of the well-wishes from everyone, and my apologies to everyone I haven't had a chance to get back to.
We love visitors, and Madeline is eager to meet everyone, so if you are in the area, feel free to stop by our house, the door is always open.
Great Grandma Madeline Ayres, and our little Madeline Grace at five days old.
Me, Aunt Kristin, and Madeline.
Mel and Madeline, our two M&Ms.
First time Daddy and Madeline met.
Grandma Ayres meets Madeline.
Uncle Justin and Grandma Howe, who drove 5 hrs to meet Madeline the night she was born!
Grandpa Howe and Madeline.
Me and my baby girl ... finally!
Daddy and Madeline hanging out in the hospital room.
Getting ready to head home!
The snow, yes snow, we headed out into. It snowed all morning up here!
Hanna and Sadie meet Madeline!
Madeline in her swing. Thank you A. Sarah and U. Mark, she loves it!
