I'm sorry it has taken me so long to update the blog. Let's just say this hasn't been the easiest week of my life. It has been one of the most wonderful! Baby Grey joined our family on Sunday, August 22, 2010 at 10:55 p.m. He came into the world at a relatively modest 7 lbs. 13 oz. and at 19.5 inches long.
For those of you interested in the gory details ... On Sunday morning, we headed to church. After 2 hours on a hard bench, I was pretty sure I was leaking some amniotic fluid and was having some regular contractions but they weren't really strong or picking up very rapidly. At 2:30, we went to the hospital (Charlotte stayed home with her Mimi) to get things checked out and while they weren't sure whether I was actually leaking fluid or not, they decided that my contractions were regular enough and that I was dilated enough (still at a 4) to keep an eye on me. I insisted that they let me get up and walk for a while even though they were trying to keep me pinned down in bed with monitors all over me and after a nice, rapid walk around the hospital my contractions picked up and I got to a 5 so I was admitted. The doctor (Dr. Champion at Care for Women, who was AMAZING) came in before long and broke my water and then my contractions started becoming really painful within a few minutes. Thankfully, I got an awesome epidural right away--just the right amount so I was numb but could feel when I was having contractions. After an hour on pitocin, I went from a 5 to a 10 pretty much painlessly.
Of course, that was when the "fun" started. I started contracting irregularly and the doctor thought that the baby might be experiencing some compression of the umbilical cord so they had me start pushing as soon as I hit a ten even though the baby was still at a -2 position (not descended). I had quite a time getting little Grey out since he was in a posterior position (coming out face-up) and was a bigger boy than his sister. After about 45 minutes of hard pushing and intense pressure, I started feeling exhausted and like I wasn't going to be able to get him out. The doctor turned and told the nurse to get the vacuum ready. The thought of his little head being sucked out and pushed into a cone shape inspired me to give it everything I had left and (after a lot of prayers, a strategic episiotomy, and tons of good coaching from Adam, my mom, and my sister Ashley) Grey came into the world.
For those of you interested in the gory details ... On Sunday morning, we headed to church. After 2 hours on a hard bench, I was pretty sure I was leaking some amniotic fluid and was having some regular contractions but they weren't really strong or picking up very rapidly. At 2:30, we went to the hospital (Charlotte stayed home with her Mimi) to get things checked out and while they weren't sure whether I was actually leaking fluid or not, they decided that my contractions were regular enough and that I was dilated enough (still at a 4) to keep an eye on me. I insisted that they let me get up and walk for a while even though they were trying to keep me pinned down in bed with monitors all over me and after a nice, rapid walk around the hospital my contractions picked up and I got to a 5 so I was admitted. The doctor (Dr. Champion at Care for Women, who was AMAZING) came in before long and broke my water and then my contractions started becoming really painful within a few minutes. Thankfully, I got an awesome epidural right away--just the right amount so I was numb but could feel when I was having contractions. After an hour on pitocin, I went from a 5 to a 10 pretty much painlessly.
Of course, that was when the "fun" started. I started contracting irregularly and the doctor thought that the baby might be experiencing some compression of the umbilical cord so they had me start pushing as soon as I hit a ten even though the baby was still at a -2 position (not descended). I had quite a time getting little Grey out since he was in a posterior position (coming out face-up) and was a bigger boy than his sister. After about 45 minutes of hard pushing and intense pressure, I started feeling exhausted and like I wasn't going to be able to get him out. The doctor turned and told the nurse to get the vacuum ready. The thought of his little head being sucked out and pushed into a cone shape inspired me to give it everything I had left and (after a lot of prayers, a strategic episiotomy, and tons of good coaching from Adam, my mom, and my sister Ashley) Grey came into the world.
This sweet little boy just whimpered and fussed a little bit after he was born--a real change from his roaring lioness of a sister!
The look of serious relief mixed with exhaustion.
A couple of pictures from the next day at the hospital.
Of course, we have taken a ton of pictures since Grey came home. I promise to post more soon!
