Rosie wasn't due until October 11th. Denver was 4 days overdue and we had to induce him to get him to come then so I wasn't planning on her being a minute early to this party. I had low appetite and kind of upset stomach for several days prior. The night before she was born I had hardly eaten anything and Erik went to the store and bought me a frozen pizza because that's all that sounded even remotely edible. The morning of the 6th, about 3 in the morning I got up and took a shower because I was sore, achy, and had horrible stomach cramps (not contractions) and couldn't sleep. By 4 in the morning I was having diarrhea and throwing up. I continued to feel crappy (literally) until we got up for the morning. I debated calling my doctor about 7 in the morning but they didn't open until 8:30. Erik needed to go to work, but we finally decided to just get in the car and go to labor and delivery to have someone there check on me and make sure everything was fine.
Side note: A week earlier at my 38 week appointment Roseleigh's heart rate was higher than they wanted so they sent me to L and D to have a non-stress test to make sure she was alright. After 2 hours there they decided she was just fine. Because of this experience though, I was concerned that the stress of me being sick/throwing up would be problematic if she DID have some stress and high heart rate to begin with, hence the reason we decided it would be best to go in to the hospital to be checked.
Erik quickly packed up a bag for us just in case (I hadn't even started packing for us, luckily Denver was mostly packed and I had the diaper bag packed with the things I wanted for the baby.) He threw in some clothes for Denver, called Grandma (who was already planning on coming for Denver that day) to tell her to meet us at the hospital instead and hopped in the car. While leaning over a bowl to keep from puking in the car Erik carefully, but quickly drove us to Jordan Valley Hospital. When we arrived, they checked me in to a room and started monitoring me. Grandma arrived soon after and Denver got to go on his way. This was the last time I would see him as my only child.
They checked my cervix (I was only at a 2) and blood pressure. They put a monitor on my belly to track Roseleigh's heart and my contractions. They gave me ice chips and popcicles to settle my stomach and try to rehydrate me. I started feeling slightly better, but was still struggling. My stomach was still cramping and I was still going to the bathroom frequently. By 11:00 they decided to check my cervix again to check for more dialation to see if I was actually in labor and I was at a 3! This meant that they could officially check me in and consider me in labor. I begged for a little bit of solid food (I got 3 packages of saltines) and that was all I got to eat to get through labor even though I had nothing in my stomach. They put in my IV, gave me antibiotics for my group B strep, and waited.
The afternoon was long and hard. I got a fever, threw up some more, shivered under nothing but a sheet (they were trying to cool me down to get rid of the fever, but a I was SO cold.) The bed was uncomfortable and I was achy like when you have the flu and super pregnant so sleep was all but impossible. Finally around 5 my doctor arrived to break my water. When they did this they discovered meconium in my water so they planned to have a pediatric team on hand to clear out her mouth before she cried and got it in her lungs. My fever finally broke and within a half hour of breaking my water we had the anesthesiologist in to give me my epidural. Just as a reminder, my epidural with Denver was horrible, it was great for about an hour and was completely gone by the time I pushed him out. This epidural was less fun to get in (electric shocks down my legs) but it worked so wonderfully. This did slow my progression a bit however, so by about 7:30 I agreed to let them give me some pitocin. An hour later I was in pain and was asking for more epidural. I felt extreme pressure quite low and felt fairly confident I was fully dilated. They finally agreed to check me and sure enough, I was ready to push. Soon after, the anesthesiologist arrived to give me more medicine since I was in pain and he numbed me up good one more time before I actually needed to push.
When I had Denver I pushed for SIX hours, largely unmedicated. I started pushing and the nurse said to an other nurse that we might be pushing for a little while. My first thought was "oh heck no" so the next couple of pushes I did everything I could to get her out. They quickly called in the doctor and a few pushes later she was out! It was such a different experience. It wasn't painful, it didn't include me screaming at my doctor. We chatted between contractions and laughed as the doctor gave Roseleigh a little mohawk mid-delivery while we waited for another contraction. It ended up being about a half hour total of pushing. Piece of cake.
They warned us that because of the meconium they weren't going to try to make her cry immediately so they could clean her out before she sucked it in. Erik cut the cord and they quickly took her over to be taken care of. Erik went with her and they cleaned her up, sucked out the gunk and she finally let out a little girly cry. It was absolutely beautiful. At that point I thought they would give her to me, but they went on to measure and weigh her and all I wanted to do was to put her on my chest and hold her. My doctor could sense my anxiety I think and asked if I wanted to do skin to skin. I told her yes and she hurried them up to bring me my naked little babe to snuggle. She looked so much like Denver, but was also so different, but I loved her the same. You always wonder how you will love another baby like your first, but it is so very possible. Your heart just grows to make room for each tiny little human you have. She was so good and nursed right away like a champ. I gave her over to Erik and he got to love on her and take her to the nursery for all of the rest of her checks and shots. Meanwhile, I lugged my half numb body onto a new bed to go to our new room and finally got to eat a sandwich.
How very lucky we are to have her. Our little family feels so perfect with her. She is such a sweet little girl with a wonderful disposition. She likes to snuggle but can also be content in her swing and sleeps well in her own bed. (most of the time.) Things worked out so perfectly with her delivery and I am so grateful she arrived safely and is a happy, thriving little baby. We feel truly blessed.
