So again, I cannot believe it's been almost a year since we welcomed our precious miracle into our lives. As part of my "mommy reflections" on this special time, I've decided to recount Augusta's birth story. This is just because I love to think back on it and don't ever want to forget that special time. So bear with me, and excuse the long post. Feel free to skim or ignore!
To my sweet girl:
Your birth story actually starts on on Tuesday, November 29. This was the night I was admitted to the hospital. Daddy and I had to check in to the ER by 6:00 for a scheduled induction. (This had been decided at an appointment on the Wednesday before your due date, 11/23, because you were almost a week overdue at this point and not showing signs of wanting to join us on the outside just yet. Guess you were pretty warm and snuggly in there!) Anyway, Mommy had to eat before I checked in, and then wasn't allowed to eat anything else until you arrived. It wasn't as bad as it sounds, especially since throughout this pregnancy I wasn't super hungry. I filled out tons of papers and then a nurse finally came and wheeled me up to the fourth floor (Labor & Delivery). My room was ready, pretty sure it was delivery room 3, but don't quote me on that. I had to change into a gown and Daddy had to wait outside with our things while they asked me tons if questions. Finally he was allowed back, and he found me all comfy in the hospital bed...well, as comfy as you can be in a hospital bed. He stayed while I had my IV line put in. And also while the nurses placed the cervadil. (Medicine to help the cervix soften.) The IV imade me a little woozy (I hate needles!) so he stayed a little while after to make sure I was alright. Then he went to the cafeteria for some food. (We ate some before we came, but it was so early he needed something else!) Once he was back with his food, we settled in to watch The Big Bang Theory on TV. (This was our current tv obsession.) And then it was time to try and rest, because we knew it wouldn't be long till we got to meet you!
Sleep was hard to come by. I say it was mainly anticipation of meeting you, but I'm sure the hospital bed, contraction monitors, and the pain from the IV didn't help! Before 8 am the nurses were there checking my dilation progress...not much to report, almost 2 cm which was up from 1 cm the night before. And not long after that Dr. Harper was there to break my water. And whoa, it was a lot of water! (Maybe TMI, but I said to skip this post if you didn't wanna know!) After my water was broken, it was no getting out of the bed for me. I was stuck until you made your debut. I was catheterized, had my pitocin drip flowing, and was ready to have a baby!
Gammie and Pappy came to visit first. They got there around 9 or so. Gammie was all into it--checking the contraction monitor, talking me through actual contractions and about pain levels; Pappy not so much. He left many a times to do things like let Rowan out, pick up Aunt T from school, get food...
Finally when I was around 4 cm dilated, I couldn't wait anymore and had to get the epidural. They administered that around 11, and surprisingly it wasn't as bad as I was fearing, what with the huge needle and all. Daddy did almost pass out though! He got light headed and had to sit down. But once I had that epidural, I was feeling great! No more pain, or feeling, at all!
Throughout the day Aunt BB came to visit, as did Mims and Paul-Paul, Aunt Lys, Whitney, Chris, and Becca. Mommy was confined to the bed, trying to find something to watch n tv, praying for progress to be made, and trying to work through the pain I was starting to feel. I got to 5 cm and stayed that way for awhile, so the nurses had me sit upright in the bed, almost completely vertical. Daddy, Aunt Lys, Aunt T, Mims, and Gammie kept me company most of the day.
I had been sitting up for a few hours and was feeling a lot of pressure. I just knew something had to be happening. I knew I was making progress. I even felt the need to bolus my epidural (give myself another dose). This wasn't the best idea, because not even five minutes after I had to throw up! (Gross!) But then I brushed my teeth and was fine. Only problem was I never went completely numb again. And all that progress I thought I was making?? Yeah, I was stuck at 5 cm. Not fun.
The nurses kept coming in a checking for progress pretty much hourly, and nothing was changing. People were waiting in the waiting room, just waiting patiently. People were waiting with Mommy, some patiently, others not so much! Ha!
Dr. Harper was even waiting. My pitocin had been upped many times and was pretty much at the max level. She checked and then went to pick up her kids and said she'd be back to check again. When she got back, around 6 o'clock, Mommy was still stalled out at 5 cm. Dr. Harper was not impressed...she said since I had been there for so long, that we needed to think about a c-section. She said she wasn't sure why we'd stop progressing--it could have been that you were just too big a baby for me (since we already knew from ultrasounds you were around 7 pound...not big at all). She said c-section would have to be in about 2 hours though bc there was a lady who had just arrived at the hospital and her baby was breech, so she was ahead.
At this point, Mommy was fine with whatever got you into my arms. A section was not ideal, but I was so tired. And I was feeling so much pressure. I was shocked, and almost wanted to argue, when the nurses came in a upped my pitocin once more. I remember telling them, "Dr. Harper said I'm having a c-section." This Momma didn't want to feel any more contractions, let me tell you!
But I did feel more contractions, and not only that, but pain. Lots of pain in my hip bones. And I couldn't get comfortable. I was wiggling all over the bed trying to get a good position. It was not fun. I even bolused my epidural again, but it felt like it wasn't helping with that bone pain.
Well time went on and the nurses came back to make sure I was ready for my section. Well she checked my dilation and when she did she looked up at the other nurse all surprised and said, "She's complete." They basically said no section for us, and it was gonna be time to start pushing. We weren't taking the easy way out!
With the amount of babies being born that night, they were short staffed, so both Daddy and Gammie stayed on the delivery room. There was one nurse there the whole time. Dr. Harper came and gave us the go-ahead and we began to push. It wasn't as bad as I though it would be. Actually, compared to the bone pain I was feeling before, It was actually pleasant. And Daddy was so sweet, I remember him feeding me ice chips between pushes. Dr. Harper came in at the end and have us a little help with the vacuum.
Then at 8:56 pm, the most previous angel entered this world and completely stole my heart! I pulled you to me and kissed your sweet face and cried happy tears! I was so emotional! Your Daddy was so proud! And Gammie got some great shots of him showing you off. As well as some videos of your first encounters with this world!
And there you have it, the best day of my life! Complete with blood, sweat, and tears...literally! It's a day I will always remember and wouldn't mind reliving if it meant I got to meet you all over again! I love you sweet girl and cannot believe it's almost been a year since I first held you. I look forward to many more years together!
Love,
Mommy
