I can hardly believe it's already been two weeks since Lilly Rose was born. The past two weeks have been so much fun, so tiring, sweet and memorable. I jotted down some thoughts while in the hospital since I was sure to forget all the details if I hadn't. I wanted to document Lilly's birth story for myself and our little family book. Here's a little of what happened two weeks ago...
Tuesday, December 20 - Billy and I left our home as a family of two (well, plus Oliver). That day went so fast! We knew we had to check in at 5pm that evening and I couldn't tell you where the day went. We were so excited and nervous. Well, I was nervous...with Lilly being our first, I wasn't sure what I was in for and knew there was no way around it, I was giving birth! By Tuesday evening we were checked in and settled into our room. The doctor gave me a cervidil to help induce labor. A cervidil is a medicine they insert to "get things going". Due to my 'mild preeclampsia' I was being induced at 37 weeks for the health of both Lilly and me.
Moments before we left for the hospital
Wednesday, December 21 - it was a long night with nurses coming in and out of my room, this began our sleepless nights. We are still having them. :) Poor Billy with his height at 6'2 was uncomfortable to say the least on the little couch and so called recliner in the birthing suite but he didn't complain. Wednesday was a day of hope, the medicine didn't do anything (nothing!) through the night and I was told we'd have to go round two. Everyone was positive round two of a cervidil would work and that kept my hopes up. Mom arrived and kept us company and we fully expected to be having a baby...however Lilly and my body had other plans. By 5pm the doctor came by to talk with me, she said we would need to have a third round of the cervidil (which is very uncommon) and that should put me in a place where they could induce me on Thursday. By evening I was very frustrated, tired, anxious and ready to do this...we really thought we'd be holding a baby by Thursday early morning (at the latest) when we started and at this point, I'm still at square one. It's frustrating when you have to make your body do something it is just not ready to do. It's suppose to do this naturally and being forced was frustrating to say the least. I was allowed to get up and move around, shower and refresh myself before the third round began. I felt NEW after being able to get up from that bed. :) Late Wednesday evening we saw progress and I was having contractions about 3 minutes apart.
Thursday, December 22 - just before noon we started the pitocin since the third cervidil didn't do much, I was only 1cm at this point. Mom and Dad were there with Billy and I and we all enjoyed a not so cozy room just waiting patiently. At 12:30pm a nurse came in frantic saying there was a bomb threat (no joke!) on the labor and delivery floor, not to panic. Ha! You can't make this stuff up. She has never known them to have one in the 7 years she had worked at the hospital. Great... a little while later we were cleared of the threat. The fun gets a little more exciting when Lilly's heart rate dropped and a couple nurses ran in the room flipping me from side to side and putting a oxygen mask on me. Okay, now I was scared, emotional and DONE! Everything ended up being okay, they just needed to adjust Lilly and all was fine. At this point I told the nurse no visitors. I was ready to meet my baby and just mentally and emotionally exhausted. At 10pm Dr. Foutz came in to discuss my options; at this point we could 1) break my water and see what happens through the night (possible c-section if body doesn't progress) 2) opt for a c-section 3) wait until morning to see how I progress through the night. This was a tough decision, I KNEW I didn't want to be in this frustrating state with my body at the same hour another day later so waiting was not an option. I seriously debated for a bit a c-section because that meant this waiting game was over and Lilly would be in our arms. BUT I knew I didn't want to go through a c-section unless medically necessary. So, I went with breaking the water in hopes to have a vaginal delivery. I must say, I am SO thankful I did that route. However, that may have been more painful than what was to come! Contractions became stronger within an hour of breaking my water.
Friday, December 23 - Lilly's Birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By 1am the contractions were so strong I called in for my epidural. At this point I had dilated 4cm and was able to sleep a few hours. Dr. G stopped by to see me at 7:30 Friday morning and I was about 5cm and 90% effaced. Yay for some progress! It had been a very long 3-4 days. Dr. G placed her hands on my belly and predicted Lilly would arrive by 11:52. Dr. G would be in surgery at that time but would stop by afterwards to see if her prediction was correct. By 11am I was 10cm and my sweet nurse (I believe I was on nurse #12 or 13 at this point) called Dr. Foutz. At 12:09 Foutz delivered my sweet Lilly Rose. It was such an outer body experience. It didn't feel like a real moment. I remember the movie White Christmas was on TV and the nurses watching the movie in the background. I remember my loving Billy who shared a prayer with me in private moments before Lilly arrived. I remember my mom being by my side as I had wished my entire pregnancy; her love, joy and strength helped me in my weak moments earlier in the day and throughout the process. I remember seeing Lilly for the first time when Dr. Foutz held up her for me to see her sweet face and thinking she looked like her daddy. I remember watching Billy glow by Lilly's side while the nurses worked on her right after birth. I remember Billy encouraging me through the labor and seeing him smile with excitement. I remember praising Jesus the moment Lilly was born because she is such a blessing from HIM. I am forever blessed to now be called a mom to such a precious gift that I will never take for granted. As it ended up, Dr. G's prediction was just a few minutes off. I was blessed with two wonderful doctors who stuck by me and cared for me in such a professional and loving way and for that I am so thankful!!
Saturday, December 24 - Christmas Eve
Due to my preeclampsia I was on a medicine drip for 24 hours after labor so I had to stay in bed all hooked up on a ice-chip diet (this was the theme throughout my hospital stay). By the afternoon Dr. G stopped by and said everything looked good and I could get off the drip. So I was once again feeling human by the afternoon, just in time to get myself together before our visitors started to arrive. We enjoyed our day loving on our baby girl and introducing her to those that came to visit. Christmas Eve night was spent just the three of us in our recovery room; Billy & I and our sweet baby. It was perfect because we were together and healthy.
Sunday, December 25 - Jesus' Birthday!
Our time arrived to go home at 10:30am and we couldn't have been happier! On the drive home Lilly did great, she slept the entire ride. :) Billy walked through our front door with her at 11am Christmas day.
We have been on a journey to get to this moment and I wouldn't change one thing because it lead us to Lilly Rose Bird. We couldn't feel more blessed and look forward to sharing all the fun ups and downs of life with a baby girl!
Lilly Rose Bird
5lb. 15oz. 19in.
Dark brown hair
No comments :
Post a Comment