Welcoming Lola Rae

I've thought a lot in the past week about writing Lola's birth story. Actually finding the time to do it has been another thing altogether. I love the fact that her story is so polar opposite of Brody's. So without further a due, I present Lola Rae's story:

I had my weekly doctor's appointment Wednesday afternoon and was admittedly disappointed when the doctor announced that I had not dilated anymore than the previous week. I had been feeling so many contractions I thought for sure I had dilated more, in fact, I had secretly hoped the doctor would check and announce, "you need to get to the hospital, you're in labor!" Okay, that was maybe an extreme daydream, but can ya blame a girl? The doctor went as far as to offer admitting me to the hospital and breaking my water to get things moving since I was considered full term but I quickly declined. I wanted to let her come when she was ready, not when I said.  I went through the whole mental process of accepting that she will come in her own time and I still had a week until her actual due date.

my last belly picture (October 7)

That evening was even quieter than usual. I had convinced myself that since I had thought she would come early she will decide to stay cooking for an extra week. I came to terms with the fact that she was not coming early. It almost was a relief finally allowing myself to be O.K. with that. So we went about our business like any other evening. Of course, Brody decided that evening that he wanted to wake up multiple times during the night. Jeff went into his room the first time, I went in the second time. When I couldn't get comfortable in his bed I gave up and took him into our room. He fell asleep pretty quickly leaving me uncomfortable and irritated. I gazed at Brody and Jeff sleeping identically with arms over their heads and mouths hanging open. As I laid hugging the edge of the bed watching my sleeping boys bitterly, I felt a sudden warmth leaking from my lady bits. I kid you not, I jumped out of bed in a blink of an eye. At first I thought I imagined it, but when more warm water trickled down my thighs I quickly barked to Jeff "ohmygod I think my water broke!" I was instantly shaking. Partly from excitement, another part of me was kind of scared. I ran to the bathroom cleaned up and go figure, once I got dry clothes on again I felt another gush. Jeff wasn't as convinced. He laid half asleep asking me if I wanted to go take a shower…a shower?!?! I did not respond well to that suggestion or the multiple others he tried. I settled on calling my mom. What mom doesn't want to get woke up at 3:30 am, right? I kid. She had been waiting for this exact call for the last two weeks. She didn't hesitate to confirm my water breaking suspicions and agreed I should get to the hospital right away. Once I hung up with her, Jeff finally eased into action. He called his mom and while we waited for her to get to our house he moseyed around making coffee, debating over his outfit and even styling his hair! All the while I kept reminding him that the doctor said if my water broke to go right to the hospital. It's surprising, considering we basically live across the street from the hospital, that it took us almost 45 minutes just to get there.

After getting checked in and settled in a delivery room the nurse finally asked us the golden question: are you having contractions? I hadn't really even thought about that part, but the answer was no. I also hadn't been feeling a lot of action from Lola which made us both nervous. We quickly got hooked up to the the monitors and we both breathed a sigh of relief when her strong and steady heart beat filled the room.

all checked in

Feeling happy listening to Lola's heartbeat

After that, it was the basic questions regarding our birth plan, if this was my first, how'd my labor with Brody go ect. That's about the same time my mom got to the hospital. With no contractions happening there wasn't much to do besides wait. The nurse suggested multiple ways to try to jump start my contractions and considering how anxious we were for Lola to be born I started right in with a warm Jacuzzi bath…well just a warm bath because we couldn't figure out how to turn the jacuzzi part on. Turns out it was a button on the outside wall of the bathroom.  I got impatient with the bath by the time the water filled up. Next up was walking. I did lap after lap around the labor and delivery floor. I was bored after round 3. The nurse had mentioned nipple stimulation and I was hesitant at first but willing after the first two fails. Strike 3 on nip stim. Bouncing on a ball was my final attempt. I can't say these things didn't work, because they did get contractions going, but they were weak and inconsistent and would eventually stop. I was getting very disappointed and frustrated. According to the  movies my water was supposed to break, quickly followed by a baby! Not 12 hours of semi-consistent contractions.

Relaxing 

The only perk to the 12 hour wait was that I actually as able to set the "mood" in the labor room. I had planned setting the mood with Brody but never got around to it. This time I had looked into some essential oils I wanted to try and had borrowed a diffuser from a friend. We filled the diffuser and dropped in some Balance. I really do think it helped. Not only did it quickly mask the smell of hospital but I feel like it kept us all sane during the incredibly long wait. My mom blames Lola's 12 hour wait on the diffuser saying it made her to relaxed. Anyways, it kept us calm and in a relaxed mood, and the nurses didn't mind it either. We had Pandora set to Ludovico Einaudi and the lights dimmed. It really was a great atmosphere and one that I had envisioned. I really wanted to emulate how I felt during my yoga sessions and it was a success…except for the growing impatience that is. During this time our nurses changed due to shift change and we met our nurse, Whitney, who was amazing. We instantly liked her and her respect for our birth plan. Since I hadn't been contracting I hadn't been checked for dilation and my doctor only momentarily popped his head in to see how I was doing and mention that if things don't get moving I should consider pitocin. I quickly dismissed this idea, it was not in my plan, plus they gave us a 12-18 window before I really needed to worry about infection.  It's funny how you envision your birth going, who you want there, how you want things to go. It changed pretty quickly for me. Being confined for 12 hours and seeing the same faces I quickly said yes to my dad and grandma visiting. It was a nice distraction from the labor that wasn't happening. We also all managed to get a nap in. Jeff and my mom were going a little stir crazy and both took time to escape the labor floor. I will admit I was jealous. While they got to indulge in food and fresh air, I was stuck with chicken broth and bad tv. Once again, everyone cleared out but Jeff and we decided to try walking again. After no luck, again, the nurse decided to check me, I think because we were all curious. It was disappointing news to hear I was at a "stretchy" 4. My doctor had been checking in by phone and the next time we saw our nurse, she brought up pitocin again. Our doctor was ready for me to take it, but she reminded us, the choice was ultimately mine and I did not have to do it if I didn't want to. I restated that no, I wanted to wait until we absolutely had no choice. And then…things started happening. FAST.

At exactly 3:30 p.m., exactly 12 hours after my water broke, I was laying in bed and felt a shift in my uterus. BAM! Contractions. Intense, one after the other. They kept coming and coming and I felt like I was barely getting a break to gather myself. Seriously from the very first one I was using a breathing method I learned in yoga. In through a straw, out with a ssssssss. I couldn't believe how fast they hit. When my nurse came in to check on me she quickly announced I was going into active labor. FINALLY! And I remember thinking to myself, "I was impatiently waiting all day to feel this?!?What the hell, am I crazy?!?" They hurt. bad. Jeff was amazing. He was right there, by my side holding on to me, reminding me to breathe, reminding me I could do this, reminding me this meant our daughter was on her way. After a good amount of contractions the nurse wanted to check me and sure enough I had dilated to 6. Things were moving along and the contractions weren't easing up. The breathing helped immensely, just having something to pour all of my focus into, but the pain was overpowering and I succumbed to moments of weakness where I told Jeff I didn't want to do it anymore, that I couldn't do it anymore, it hurt too much. He quickly reminded me I could do it, that it's what I wanted to do and he believed in me. I pretty much had a choke hold on him, squeezing the life out of him but he held strong. Finally I couldn't take it on my side anymore I had to change positions. I sat straight up, perfect posture seriously, and they became more manageable.

Don't let this picture deceive you, I was in extreme pain

I wondered to myself why I hadn't thought to sit up sooner. Things were definitely happening and more staff were filling the room. My doctor also made an appearance and I was asked multiple times what position I wanted to be in to labor. I was adamant that I did NOT want to give birth on my back. In fact, I didn't want to leave my sitting straight up position, but was quickly informed that I could NOT give birth that way. Jeff brought up the birthing bar and the nurse quickly set about getting it up. The bar was up and I got on my knees and leaned over it with my upper body. As soon as I was in that position I felt a faintly familiar feeling and knew that the baby was coming. I needed to push. My mom, ever my supporter, told me if I felt like I needed to push to push. My doctor popped his head into the room, and looking displeased informed my nurse that I needed to be on my back or side but that I couldn't give birth on my knees as there was no room for the baby. He was largely ignored by all. I was barely managing my contractions and there was no way in hell I was laying  back down. Again, I felt the intense need to bare down and push and told my mom. Her and the nurse both told me I needed to change positions to make room for the baby and suggested I stand. At this point, the doctor poked his head in again, announced I needed to be on my back and was quickly shot down by my nurse and my mom, both of the saying I was not getting on my back, that I didn't want to be on my back, and that was that. He left AGAIN. My mom suggested I stand again and this time I did. As  soon as I stood I had to push. It felt like the baby was right there ready to pop out and as my mom explains it as soon as I stood, my lady parts were at her eye level and she was shocked to see the baby was crowning. She quickly told my nurse that Lola was coming out, she took a look too and shouted for someone to get the doctor. I have to admit, most of this is a blur. For example, I had no idea my mom ran out of the room and yelled out to the nurses station that we needed the doctor the baby was coming. I lost track of my husband during this ordeal too. Seriously, I was so focused on what I was feeling I had no idea he'd gone from my right side to my left and was standing behind me. And I certainly didn't register that the doctor came into the room and had eyes the size of saucers upon seeing me half standing, half squatting on the bed, bracing myself on the birthing bar, pushing my baby out. All it took was two massive pushes. Her head quickly followed by the rest of her! The doctor barely got behind me in time to catch her. In fact, Jeff helped him catch her. Or as he put it, the doctor got her head and then Jeff took over and had her safely in his arms. I do remember the doctor asking me to please lay down, which took some effort considering that Lola was behind me and I had to step over her umbilical cord and multiple monitor wires that were hooked up to me.

I posted the thumbs up picture online and people commented on how great I look….that was before labor folks, this frizzy halo is after!

Jeff is cutting the umbilical cord

Loving on our baby girl

I laugh at this next part because I had made it abundantly clear that I wanted instant skin to skin contact. During all of the above I had on a tank top and as Jeff handed Lola to me he was also trying to help me get my shirt off. Not the logical way: over my head, but by pulling it down. I seriously think if he could've got it all the way off that way, he would have! It's so hard to explain what it feels like holding my babies for the first time. It's like a mixture of relief that the pain is over and awe at what I just accomplished and amazement at the perfect little being curled up in my arms. I don't remember my dad coming into the room but I remember his hand on my shoulder. It didn't leave my shoulder until the doctor had finished stitching me up. Yep. I tore. Apparently it was a nasty tear too. I'll tell you that I DO remember the doctors hand shaking as he was trying to give me my numbing shot. That is NOT something you want to see near your delicate girl parts! But having my dad's steady hand on my shoulder helped keep me calm. In the after math of everything the nurse said the doctor was pretty shaken up at the whole ordeal. Considering he wanted me to give birth on my back and I defied the doctors orders and gave birth standing up. I mean hello…gravity anyone? It makes so much more sense. All in all, once active labor started, it only took two hours. Lola was born at 5:24 p.m. at 6 lbs 11 oz and 19 inches long. Her nose looks just like Brody's. She was red as a lobster and tiny and delicate; perfection.

Our little lobster loving her first bath