Chaos in Paradise

Sunday, October 26, 2008

Birth Story...

(This post is a little out of order, but wanted you to share with you how our Friday afternoon/evening went...)

heather's water broke friday around noon. fortunately we had just returned from from the grocery store, so there was no "clean up on aisle 3." we gathered our bags and went into the hospital. she wasn't having very strong or regular contractions and was only 2cm, so they started her on pitocin around 2pm. heather's plan was to see how it goes and take drugs or epidural only if she decided she needed it.

she had a pretty easy first 6 hours as they turned up the pit. then around 8:30 or so they started getting really strong and lot more painful. she was a champ and breathed calmly through each one while clinching my hand with a death grip q2-3min.

around 10pm, she'd had enough and got 10mg nubaine and 12.5mg of phenergan. her next words were "whoa....i'm so high. don't let me go apneic." the relief only last about 15 minutes before she was more miserable than before and put up no argument when i suggested perhaps she might like an epidural.

so they checked her before the epidural and she was 4cm. she went through the worst of the contractions as they placed the epidural. she was so focussed on the contractions and her breathing that she really didn't notice the honkin' needle in her back. after a little trouble, the CRNA got it in and relief was on it's way.

so after the epidural kicked in, they checked her again about an hour after the last time and she was now 9.5cm! she labored probably through 4-8cm in about 45min and without any epidural assistance.

so the funny thing was our OB had the day off. his son was playing in a high school football game, so he came in at 8pm before the game and then when it was time to start pushing, he called from the stadium and said to hold on b/c there were 3 min left in the game. he arrived just in time as her head was starting to show. heather had to push less than 30 min total before she popped her out.

heather birthed like she was a G10 P9. i think the next time there is a good chance i could be catching the baby at home she might go so fast....

Saturday, October 25, 2008

Eleanor Margaret Crane Hall

October 25, 2008, 12:52AM. 8lbs even. 21.5 inches.

....after enduring 8 hours on the Pitocin "naturally," Heather decided to use a lifeline and went for the epidural. She cruised right on past the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th parts of labor, and pushed out the little one in no time. All are resting comfortably in their new environs.