SHE is finally here! Zoey Elizabeth was born 7-11-08 at 3:21pm via C-section. She weighed 7lbs 11 oz and was 20 1/2 inches.
And...here it is - my birth story. It's super long and really I just wrote it all out more for myself so that I won't forget. It's crazy how quickly you start to forget things so I started hand-writing it when I was in the hospital and I'm finally getting around to typing it out. Here goes...
Thursday night I went to my monthly GTG with the nest girls. I didn't feel anything out of the ordinary that night (but maybe the spicy chicken fingers I ate helped to get things going?). So I came home and went to bed and woke up at about 4:00am with back pain. I thought it maybe felt like contractions, but I wasn't really sure since I really had only been having the tightening/hardening of the belly Braxton Hicks contractions up until that point. The pain wasn't really that bad, I could still walk through it, so I tried to walk and drink some water to see if things would get better or worse. It seemed to stay about the same, so I decided to try to time the contractions. They were coming really quickly, about every 2-3 minutes, but only lasting about 15 seconds. I woke up Joe and said "I think I'm having contractions". He opened his eyes really wide and just said "Oh my God, seriously?!" The look on his face was priceless. He didn't get out of bed right away - he tried to convince me that I was having diarrhea pains! I kept walking around the house, seeing if anything would change, and decided to call the doctor around 5:00. I explained the situation and the nurse on call told me that if the contractions were only lasting for about 15 seconds, they weren't long enough to change my cervix so I should keep monitoring them and if they got stronger or longer to call back. I kept track for about another hour and they were still coming very quick - only about 2-3 minutes in between and they started to last about 30-40 seconds, and were feeling stronger and more painful. So I called the doctor and they told me that I should go to the hospital.
So we left for the hospital around 6:00 am. My contractions started getting really strong in the car, and by the time we got to the hospital, I felt like I could barely walk - they were so painful and close together. I couldn't even walk into the hospital, they got me a wheelchair and wheeled me into L&D. I changed into a hospital gown, and was examined and was about 3cm dilated. I kept having really strong contractions and was feeling them mostly in my back, so they told me that I was having back labor and that I should sit on the exercise ball. Joe sat behind me and rubbed my back and tried to help me relax, but I was in so much pain, and not feeling much relief at all because they were coming so close together. The nurses recommended the epidural and I got that at around 8:00 I think. At that poi int, all the hours seemed to blend together. After the epidural, I was feeling so much better, was able to relax in bed, call my mom and let her know what was going on, and she decided she would come. They were thinking it would be a fast labor because I seemed to be progressing quickly. Since my water hadn't broken yet, Dr Erk came in to break it. He examined me and I think I was about 5 cm dilated at that point. He said that everything looked good and predicted I would have the baby at 3:15. I think maybe it was about 10:30 am at that pint, but my memory starts to get fuzzy at this point because so much happened in the next few hours. I remember I was just resting comfortably in the room for a while. Both my mom and Joe's mom were in there with us, and they were looking at the screen, watching the monitor for my contractions, and shocked that I wasn't feeling anything because I was having a lot of contractions, really close together. I was not feeling anything, so I was just thanking God for the epidural. At some point (I have no idea what time it was) the nurse decided it what time to examine me to see if I had dilated anymore. They did the exam and said I seemed to be about 7-8 cm, but that the baby was facing up rather than down. Midway through the exam, one of the nurses got a bit frantic and said "We need to get her on her side - turn her over", and then they started moving me from side to side, rocking me back and forth. Then she yelled for Joe to hit the call button, and when he did she said "We could use some help in there, and maybe a call to Dr. Erk. So then they put an oxygen mask on my face and I got really scared and asked what was happening. All of a sudden there were about 10 people in the room, and the nurse told them that the baby's heart rate was dropping. They continued to rock me back and forth, and to press on my belly to try to get the baby's heart rate up. I was so, so scared and of course it seemed like hours went by until the heart rate went back up.But eventually it did. The nurse reassured me that they baby was fine and they said that they thought that I was having a really strong contraction and my cervix was dilating at the same time that they were examining me which stressed the baby out. It was so scary, but they kept reassuring me that everything was fine, baby would be fine, and I didn't have to worry.
The next few hours are all a blur to me. It's crazy how fast your forget things, but I really only remember bits and pieces. We were focusing on trying to get the baby into the right position, so they kept switching me from one side to another, and I was starting to feel really uncomfortable. I was so hot , and I started to feel like the epidural was wearing off because I could feel my legs and move them. And I was starting to feel pain in my back again. I couldn't get comfortable no matter what I did. Joe was so great - massaging me and putting cold washcloths on my face and neck. But I was just so exhausted and miserable and finally one of the nurses told me that Dr. Erk was on her way and she was almost positive the she would recommend a C-section since the baby didn't show any signs of turning. At that point, I was so relieved because I was so exhausted from everything that I went through that I was happy to know that the end was in sight. While we waited for Dr. Erk, she said that there was one last thing that she wanted me to try, so I got on my hands and knees in the bed, using a medicine ball, and tried rocking my hips back and forth, in hopes that the baby would turn around. It was very uncomfortable for me and at that point, I was really just wanting the C-section. I was so miserable and frustrated. But we were still waiting for the doctor, and for some reason the nurse decided that she was going to have me try pushing. I'm not really sure why since she had already told me that she was pretty positive that Dr. Erk would want to do a C-section. I tried telling her I didn't want to, I couldn't, I was too tired, etc...but she insisted that I had to try. At this point, I was so exhausted that I was feeling pretty delirious, so what happened next is kind of blurry...
I tried pushing a few times, and the next thing I knew, they were rolling me on my side and putting the oxygen mask one me again and Joe was next to me to try to relax, everything was fine, and the baby was still okay,etc. It took a while before I realized what was going on and that the baby's heart rate was dropping again. I don't remember much of what happened next, except Joe reassuring me that everything would be fine, and the baby was fine so I didn't need to worry. He was so calm throughout the whole thing, reassuring me so that I wouldn't freak out. I don't know what I would have done without him, he really helped to keep me calm.
So, the next thing I know, Dr Erk is in the room, all calm and reassuring, and said "How about we have a birthday party?" I can remember I said "Is there going to be cake?" LOL, I guess I must have been hungry! :) So, they wheeled me into the OR to prep me for the surgery, and left Joe in the room to change into scrubs . Then Joe got there and they started the procedure. It wasn't really all that bad, but I did feel lots of pressure and tugging and basic discomfort. The worst part was that there were some medical students in the room , so she was explaining everything she was doing as she did that. So that was freaking me out and I told Joe that I needed him to talk to me, about anything - so that I wouldn't hear all the details. I really have no idea what he said to me, but he just kept talking and the next thing I knew someone was saying "Okay, get ready Dad, we're going to take the baby out". So Joe stood up to watch. Once they got the head out they said to Joe "Well what do you think Dad, is this a girl face or a boy face?" And he said "Oh, that's definitely a boy face!" But then a few seconds later, I heard him saying "Oh my God, it's a girl!". Then they held her up over the sheet so I could see her little face, and then took here to get cleaned up, weighed, etc. Joe went with them to take pictures and then out to the waiting room to tell our families. I really wish I could have been there to see their reactions, but I was being put back together. It really wasn't too bad. Just lots of pressure and pulling again, and I was just trying really hard not to think about it.
When I was all stitched up from surgery, they brought me back to the birthing room, and I had to wait for my room where I would be staying to be ready. I really don't remember that much about the rest of the night. I was pretty loopy and exhausted I think. Our families came to see us, and everyone was so anxious to know here name, but I didn't want to decide before I had a chance to hold her. I felt like I had to wait forever. Joe held her and sat next to me for a while while I was in the OR, but I wasn't able to hold her since I was still all numb. The, they had to take her to the nursery and monitor her - watch her temp, etc. Joe was able to go into the nursery and take pics and then come show me. Most of our family was glued to the nursery window just staring at her and waiting for them to bring her out. Finally, they brought her to me and I was able to hold her. It was such a great feeling to finally have my little girl in my arms. The nurse left and Joe and I had a few minutes alone, so we had a change to decide on her name. WE had pretty much narrowed it down to Mya or Zoey and had a few others in mind just in case neither seemed to fit. When I first saw her in the OR, I immediately thought "Zoey", but I wanted to see what Joe thought before I said anything. So, while I was holding her, Joe was sitting close next to me and said "What's your name, is your name Zoey?" and she made the cutest little sound. Just a little whimper, but we took it to mean "yes" :) To be sure, he also said "or is your name Mya?", and no response. So we decided it was a sign and Zoey it is!
A little later our families came in and we told them the name. Everyone likes it, or at least pretended well! Then, they all fought over who held the baby and took lots of pictures. It's really all a blur to me because I was still feeling really groggy and loopy. Finally, they had a room ready for me. My parents and sister stayed with me while Joe went home to shower and take care of the animals. He came back a few hours later and we were finally able to go to sleep. It seemed like the longest day ever, but so worth it because we had our beautiful little Zoey!
Thursday night I went to my monthly GTG with the nest girls. I didn't feel anything out of the ordinary that night (but maybe the spicy chicken fingers I ate helped to get things going?). So I came home and went to bed and woke up at about 4:00am with back pain. I thought it maybe felt like contractions, but I wasn't really sure since I really had only been having the tightening/hardening of the belly Braxton Hicks contractions up until that point. The pain wasn't really that bad, I could still walk through it, so I tried to walk and drink some water to see if things would get better or worse. It seemed to stay about the same, so I decided to try to time the contractions. They were coming really quickly, about every 2-3 minutes, but only lasting about 15 seconds. I woke up Joe and said "I think I'm having contractions". He opened his eyes really wide and just said "Oh my God, seriously?!" The look on his face was priceless. He didn't get out of bed right away - he tried to convince me that I was having diarrhea pains! I kept walking around the house, seeing if anything would change, and decided to call the doctor around 5:00. I explained the situation and the nurse on call told me that if the contractions were only lasting for about 15 seconds, they weren't long enough to change my cervix so I should keep monitoring them and if they got stronger or longer to call back. I kept track for about another hour and they were still coming very quick - only about 2-3 minutes in between and they started to last about 30-40 seconds, and were feeling stronger and more painful. So I called the doctor and they told me that I should go to the hospital.
So we left for the hospital around 6:00 am. My contractions started getting really strong in the car, and by the time we got to the hospital, I felt like I could barely walk - they were so painful and close together. I couldn't even walk into the hospital, they got me a wheelchair and wheeled me into L&D. I changed into a hospital gown, and was examined and was about 3cm dilated. I kept having really strong contractions and was feeling them mostly in my back, so they told me that I was having back labor and that I should sit on the exercise ball. Joe sat behind me and rubbed my back and tried to help me relax, but I was in so much pain, and not feeling much relief at all because they were coming so close together. The nurses recommended the epidural and I got that at around 8:00 I think. At that poi int, all the hours seemed to blend together. After the epidural, I was feeling so much better, was able to relax in bed, call my mom and let her know what was going on, and she decided she would come. They were thinking it would be a fast labor because I seemed to be progressing quickly. Since my water hadn't broken yet, Dr Erk came in to break it. He examined me and I think I was about 5 cm dilated at that point. He said that everything looked good and predicted I would have the baby at 3:15. I think maybe it was about 10:30 am at that pint, but my memory starts to get fuzzy at this point because so much happened in the next few hours. I remember I was just resting comfortably in the room for a while. Both my mom and Joe's mom were in there with us, and they were looking at the screen, watching the monitor for my contractions, and shocked that I wasn't feeling anything because I was having a lot of contractions, really close together. I was not feeling anything, so I was just thanking God for the epidural. At some point (I have no idea what time it was) the nurse decided it what time to examine me to see if I had dilated anymore. They did the exam and said I seemed to be about 7-8 cm, but that the baby was facing up rather than down. Midway through the exam, one of the nurses got a bit frantic and said "We need to get her on her side - turn her over", and then they started moving me from side to side, rocking me back and forth. Then she yelled for Joe to hit the call button, and when he did she said "We could use some help in there, and maybe a call to Dr. Erk. So then they put an oxygen mask on my face and I got really scared and asked what was happening. All of a sudden there were about 10 people in the room, and the nurse told them that the baby's heart rate was dropping. They continued to rock me back and forth, and to press on my belly to try to get the baby's heart rate up. I was so, so scared and of course it seemed like hours went by until the heart rate went back up.But eventually it did. The nurse reassured me that they baby was fine and they said that they thought that I was having a really strong contraction and my cervix was dilating at the same time that they were examining me which stressed the baby out. It was so scary, but they kept reassuring me that everything was fine, baby would be fine, and I didn't have to worry.
The next few hours are all a blur to me. It's crazy how fast your forget things, but I really only remember bits and pieces. We were focusing on trying to get the baby into the right position, so they kept switching me from one side to another, and I was starting to feel really uncomfortable. I was so hot , and I started to feel like the epidural was wearing off because I could feel my legs and move them. And I was starting to feel pain in my back again. I couldn't get comfortable no matter what I did. Joe was so great - massaging me and putting cold washcloths on my face and neck. But I was just so exhausted and miserable and finally one of the nurses told me that Dr. Erk was on her way and she was almost positive the she would recommend a C-section since the baby didn't show any signs of turning. At that point, I was so relieved because I was so exhausted from everything that I went through that I was happy to know that the end was in sight. While we waited for Dr. Erk, she said that there was one last thing that she wanted me to try, so I got on my hands and knees in the bed, using a medicine ball, and tried rocking my hips back and forth, in hopes that the baby would turn around. It was very uncomfortable for me and at that point, I was really just wanting the C-section. I was so miserable and frustrated. But we were still waiting for the doctor, and for some reason the nurse decided that she was going to have me try pushing. I'm not really sure why since she had already told me that she was pretty positive that Dr. Erk would want to do a C-section. I tried telling her I didn't want to, I couldn't, I was too tired, etc...but she insisted that I had to try. At this point, I was so exhausted that I was feeling pretty delirious, so what happened next is kind of blurry...
I tried pushing a few times, and the next thing I knew, they were rolling me on my side and putting the oxygen mask one me again and Joe was next to me to try to relax, everything was fine, and the baby was still okay,etc. It took a while before I realized what was going on and that the baby's heart rate was dropping again. I don't remember much of what happened next, except Joe reassuring me that everything would be fine, and the baby was fine so I didn't need to worry. He was so calm throughout the whole thing, reassuring me so that I wouldn't freak out. I don't know what I would have done without him, he really helped to keep me calm.
So, the next thing I know, Dr Erk is in the room, all calm and reassuring, and said "How about we have a birthday party?" I can remember I said "Is there going to be cake?" LOL, I guess I must have been hungry! :) So, they wheeled me into the OR to prep me for the surgery, and left Joe in the room to change into scrubs . Then Joe got there and they started the procedure. It wasn't really all that bad, but I did feel lots of pressure and tugging and basic discomfort. The worst part was that there were some medical students in the room , so she was explaining everything she was doing as she did that. So that was freaking me out and I told Joe that I needed him to talk to me, about anything - so that I wouldn't hear all the details. I really have no idea what he said to me, but he just kept talking and the next thing I knew someone was saying "Okay, get ready Dad, we're going to take the baby out". So Joe stood up to watch. Once they got the head out they said to Joe "Well what do you think Dad, is this a girl face or a boy face?" And he said "Oh, that's definitely a boy face!" But then a few seconds later, I heard him saying "Oh my God, it's a girl!". Then they held her up over the sheet so I could see her little face, and then took here to get cleaned up, weighed, etc. Joe went with them to take pictures and then out to the waiting room to tell our families. I really wish I could have been there to see their reactions, but I was being put back together. It really wasn't too bad. Just lots of pressure and pulling again, and I was just trying really hard not to think about it.
When I was all stitched up from surgery, they brought me back to the birthing room, and I had to wait for my room where I would be staying to be ready. I really don't remember that much about the rest of the night. I was pretty loopy and exhausted I think. Our families came to see us, and everyone was so anxious to know here name, but I didn't want to decide before I had a chance to hold her. I felt like I had to wait forever. Joe held her and sat next to me for a while while I was in the OR, but I wasn't able to hold her since I was still all numb. The, they had to take her to the nursery and monitor her - watch her temp, etc. Joe was able to go into the nursery and take pics and then come show me. Most of our family was glued to the nursery window just staring at her and waiting for them to bring her out. Finally, they brought her to me and I was able to hold her. It was such a great feeling to finally have my little girl in my arms. The nurse left and Joe and I had a few minutes alone, so we had a change to decide on her name. WE had pretty much narrowed it down to Mya or Zoey and had a few others in mind just in case neither seemed to fit. When I first saw her in the OR, I immediately thought "Zoey", but I wanted to see what Joe thought before I said anything. So, while I was holding her, Joe was sitting close next to me and said "What's your name, is your name Zoey?" and she made the cutest little sound. Just a little whimper, but we took it to mean "yes" :) To be sure, he also said "or is your name Mya?", and no response. So we decided it was a sign and Zoey it is!
A little later our families came in and we told them the name. Everyone likes it, or at least pretended well! Then, they all fought over who held the baby and took lots of pictures. It's really all a blur to me because I was still feeling really groggy and loopy. Finally, they had a room ready for me. My parents and sister stayed with me while Joe went home to shower and take care of the animals. He came back a few hours later and we were finally able to go to sleep. It seemed like the longest day ever, but so worth it because we had our beautiful little Zoey!
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