Introducing...

Meeghan:

She was born Thursday at 4:35pm weighing 8 pounds 2 ounces and 19.5 inches long.  It was definitely an exciting birth.  I arrived at the hospital at 5:45am for a scheduled induction.  They placed one dose of cytotec at 7:50.  I was closed at this point.  They check 4 hours later, and I am only 1 so they give me a second dose.  At this point, my back really starts to hurt and I feel like I need to walk a lot to get rid of the pain.  By 2, I am really feeling contractions.  I can't believe they hurt so bad and I am not that far along.  Plus they were really close together.  I was starting to feel some pressure, and so the nurse checked me around 3. I was only 3cm.  She said I could get the epidural if I wanted it, and I said yes.

Trying to breathe through the pain

After that it becomes pretty blurry.  Baby's heart rate began to drop so I had to lay in bed on my side while the contractions increased in strength.  I hate laboring in bed. I was gripping the side of the bed and doing my best to breathe.  At this point I was begging for anything to take the edge off the contractions.  Nurse checks me again and I am 6.  Baby was moving fast, and they were trying to help me.  Shortly after that they tried to get an epidural, but they couldn't sit me up due to the heart rate.  The doctor was failing at getting it in since I was lying on my side.  At this point, I needed to push. I could feel her and I needed to get her out.  They said I was only 9, and to wait.  Finally, they sat me up and I received a spinal.  However, I was immediately rushed to the OR where they prepared for an emergency c-section because her heart rate dropped to 50.  My doctor decided to have me push a few times in the OR to see if I could get her out.  He did use forceps to help her along.  Luckily, it only took 6 pushes and she was out so no c-section was necessary.

I couldn't believe how crazy and chaotic it was.  It is such a blurry experience, but now I know what labor without pain meds feels like.  I always thought I could handle it, but it hurts like a bitch.  I am glad I had the spinal for the last 30 minutes.  It is pretty amusing though.  The doctor and the nurse told me at noon there was no way I was having a baby that day since I was only 1cm.  My husband wasn't even there yet. He didn't show up until 2pm.  I am so glad he decided to skip Hannah's nap and come up to the hospital otherwise he would have missed the whole thing.  Meeghan was stubborn, but when she was ready to make her appearance she did it in grand fashion.  She shocked the entire staff and me.  She is perfectly healthy.  Her face is a little bruised and scratched.  She came out with some long fingernails, but I guess that is what an extra week will do to you.  We were able to go home the next day which made me so happy.  I hate staying in the hospital.  Every one is doing great.  Hannah is having a few jealousy issues and is trying to adjust.  I know it will take some time for her to really understand what is going on.  The dogs aren't thrilled about having a screaming baby around the house, but they will adjust as well.

Hannah and Meeghan

Meeghan and I heading home