Katie Leigh was born on 5/14 at 1:23 pm. She weighed exactly 7 lbs, and was exactly 19 inches long! I'll tryto post some pics tomorrow, but here are the details!
I arrived at the hospital at 5:30 am on Thursday. It was almost 6 by the time we filled out the paperwork and got to the Labor/Delivery room. I fell in love with my nurse right away-her name was Tina, and you could tell she was a pro. The worst problems of the day came early. First, when they drew blood, my vein rolled, and the lady had to dig around. Then, when they tried to put the drip in, the 1st vein in my left hand blew. Then the lady stuck me in the vein right next to it, but the veins were too close, and blood started running out of my hand. Finally she stuck me in the right hand and it took!
They started the drip around 8, and before 9 my dr. came and broke my water. I immediately started to feel a dull cramping, and my nurse lined up my epidural. The dr. doing them was in another room, and I was supposed to be next. An hour later, the contractions were 2 min. apart and getting really strong, and my nurse was obviously pissed! She called several times, and finally went and found the dr to come and do my epi. It was wonderful! With dd9, my epi hurt, and I had seizures a few days later. But with this one, after the initial stick and pressure of the meds, I felt immediate relief. I continued to feel the tightening of the contractions, but felt no more pain!
I continued to progress pretty consistently for the next few hours. Around noon, I started to feel some pressure. At 1:10, my nurse looked at the monitor, and said I think you are ready. I don't know how she knew, but she checked me and I was at 10 cm and 100% effaced. She called my doctor, I pushed through 3 contractions, and at 1:23 (how easy to remember!) Katie was here!
I didn't get to hold her, but I saw her up close, then dh took her to the nursery while I was being prepped for my tubal. Unfortunately, every baby in the state decided to be born that day, and there were so many C/S that they couldn't get me to an operating room. Over 2 hours after delivery, they finally brought her to me to nurse, but just as they were walking into the room, a room came ready! So I held her for about a min, then they had to take her back to the nursery again! They added more meds to my epi, and I dozed in and out during the tubal. I could hear the dr talking when I was awake, but never felt anything. It took about half an hour, then I went to a recovery room.
They brought the baby to me in recovery, a full 3 hours after delivery, to nurse for the 1st time. She was throwing a fit! She latched on easily and nursed great, and has ever since. She has only lost 5 oz since delivery, and the pediatrician at the hospital said they don't have to see her next week. I just have to take her for her 2 wk check up with our pedatrician.
Because the hospital was so full of women having babies, housecleaning couldn't keep up with the rooms. I got put back in my L/D room until 11:30 that night. The rooms have changed alot since my other kids were born! Before, they were just regular hospital looking rooms. Now, the rooms are suites, with a sleeper sofa for dh and a huge whirlpool tub! That thing was heavenly! I could have stayed another day just to use that tub again.
We were released this morning, and we've been home for about 4 hours. Ds11 and dd9 are at my mil's, so we have another day of bonding before the excitement really starts! She doesn't like her bed very much, but is happy when she is skin to skin with me. We both just took a nap after nursing. She is napping in the bed right beside me now. She is beautiful! I'm so glad dh talked me into having one more! Now I can't imagine my family without her!
Lie on one side, hips hurt, roll to other side which takes major effort in itself and try again. Then hips hurt again, repeat, throw in a few (like 4) bathroom breaks in the middle of the night,ugg!! AND getting out of bed at 2am to pee takes all my strength LOL!
Welcome Katie!!!! Glad you are home and everything went well!!!
Get as much rest as you can!
