Jane's Arrival

My initial induction date, 7-11, came and went. We beat the heat with some free slurpees.

There were still no beds available the next day either, so we were able to celebrate Karen's birthday while she was staying with us.

I had to go in for another non-stress test that night, since the baby still wasn't here. Everything looked good, so I was going to be sent home, but it would be a few more days of waiting because the OR was closed the next day. I was in a lot of pain and Karen's time with us was being frittered away, so we opted to go to a different location instead. We drove right over and everything was calm and welcoming from the start.

(My last pregnancy picture ever. Hallelujah.)

I had a midwife who really listened to my whole history and asked how I was hoping everything would go. I was barely 2cm dilated, so we tried cervidil for 4 hours. It was just painful enough to keep me awake. Since things hadn't progressed much and the contractions were tapering off, she patiently explained my options and I decided to try pitocin to get things going. We started on a low dose, 2ml and she left it there for four hours. The contractions picked up and lasted longer, but were still just uncomfortable. I forgot how miserable it was to be attached to so many things and on an IV because it's so much work getting to the bathroom and then set back up again. I was also exhausted because it was morning at this point. The nurse turned the pitocin up to a 4 and the pain was more intense, but very bearable. Then my water broke and John called my mom and sister to come. I expected things to progress quickly, but after 2 hours of increasingly more painful contractions I felt some pressure and the new midwife came in to check me and I was only 6cm. I was extremely defeated because the pain was strong and I felt pressure, so I was hoping to be near the end. I think the pitocin was making my body try to push when it wasn't ready. I tried laughing gas, but I was yelling and couldn't keep it on, so I asked for the pain shot instead. It made me really hot, but the peaks were slightly lowered and I could manage the contractions better. As soon as I started to relax, I felt pressure and sent John for the nurse. The midwife was going to check how much progress I made, but instead saw her crowning. A couple ring of fire pushes later, Jane was born! 

Jane Harriet Crapo
Saturday, July 13 at 9:43am.
7 lbs, 5.8 ounces, 20 inches of perfection.

The midwife told the intern it's not usually so fast. I think the fentanyl helped me relax enough to progress because it was only a half hour from being 6cm to born.

 We were in the hospital 13 hours, in labor about 11. I was so grateful for the midwife's gentle approach. Even with the low pitocin dose and slower induction, it took less time than Perry's induction. I was never pressured to get an epidural and didn't need stitches. I felt listened to, in more control, and just had a great experience overall.

 And my reward was this little angel.

 She wasn't breathing at first and I know the medicine can make the baby drowsy if it's within an hour of when you get it, so I was trying not to panic. Then she started screaming and didn't stop.

She was happy nursing, but I wasn't making milk yet, so John gave her a little bottle of formula and she stopped crying and went right to sleep.

My mom and sister came in right after she was born and got a quick snuggle. 

We were all fighting over her.

Then they moved us to the mother and baby room. I was really exhausted after being up all night, but relieved that everything went so smoothly. I wasn't out of the woods yet, but I made it through the delivery without getting pre-eclampsia and didn't need a c-section.

Plus we had a healthy, beautiful baby girl.

 I wasn't 100% convinced we were having a daughter until she was born and that was also a relief because I had a closet full of dresses just waiting for her arrival.