As most of you probably already know, Neil and I welcomed little Adalei Grace into our family last Wednesday night. And can I just say...I LOVE LOVE LOVE having a newborn in my house. I had forgotten about all the sweet little newborn things until Adalei came---the random smiles, the cries that are so sweet--I'm even enjoying our night time feedings and the cries that wake me up. Although, this one doesn't cry much--only when she's cold (must get that from her mommy...I HATE being even slightly cold).
So the birth story...
I had written several months ago that I was going to try to go without having an epidural--not for any reason other than the health of Adalei and just to see what it felt like. As the time got closer and I had read NOTHING on natural childbirth, I started getting nervous. Let me back up...I am not one to read and study methodology--it stresses me out because I am one of those people who like to follow all the rules. So, with the birth of both Layla and Adalei, Neil and I decided it best to not do birthing classes and not read too much on the birth experience and just let instinct take over.
So we checked into the hospital at around 2:00 on Wednesday afternoon. The doctor broke my water at 3:45 and I was 6 cm dilated. By 4:45 the contractions were SO close and the pressure was INCREDIBLE. At around 5:15pm I really entertained the idea of giving up and taking my medicine :-) The doctor came back in and checked me--8cm and moving quickly. By 5:30 I was ready to push...and I think I had started hallucinating a little (strange--probably out of pain and out of hunger--I hadn't eaten anything but dry cereal all day). I only lost my temper with one
little nurse who kept asking me questions during YES DURING contractions. Neil said I was perfectly polite and graceful, but I knew the thoughts that were behind my short "yes" and "no" answers...I wanted to strangle the poor girl!
Neil did great through the whole thing. I think this showed me what a great team we make. He held my hand and was quiet most of the time--only offering encouragement just when I needed it. Amazing how he knew exactly what to do--I could not have asked for a better "wing man". He was perfectly strong and gentle at the same time. Just what I needed.
I started pushing at around 5:45 and Adalei came at 5:55--5 lbs and 15 oz--and 19 3/4 inches long. I think I pushed through 4 contractions with no tearing--YIPEE. The doctor said I was free to start running in two weeks (so if you are keeping track--that's one week from TODAY!). I'm already on the elliptical and feeling great--so fingers crossed that this is an easy transition.
So was it worth it--the whole pain thing. Absolutely. I loved the feeling of Adalei coming into this world--a feeling I didn't entirely have with Layla. It forced me to be 100% present...100% in the moment. Adalei was alert enough to nurse and nurse GREAT for the first 45 minutes of her life. I was able to hold her without her being rushed to the nursery. I also declined her Hep B shot--which I'm sure she appreciated.
Do I feel empowered? Nope..no more than I felt empowered by running hills or nursing my babies or cleaning poopy diapers...or making a dinner that Neil loved. I do feel grateful that God gave me a body that could endure childbirth easily. I feel grateful that the whole experience makes me want to have more (Neil asked in the hospital when I'd be ready for more...HA! I love that he loves babies in our house!). So grateful...not so much empowered.
I will say this to all of you who are thinking of natural childbirth--make CERTAIN you specify to the nurse that you want your delivery table set up when you get to 6cm. That was the loudest banging and clanging I have EVER heard...and not very pleasant when you are in pain.
AHH...I hear that sweet little cry in the bedroom...I think its milk time! Moo!
I'll post more later...I'm dying to get my thoughts down on sweet little Layla and how she's doing with the new baby! She's great...better than expected--mommy on the other hand...having a pretty hard time seeing my first baby looking so big...
8 comments:
I'm so excited for you Lindsey that you got to experience natural childbirth. You worded it perfectly. I've never been able to put the greatness of the experience into words. Congratulations on Adalei's birth she's beautiful. I can't wait to meet her Friday.
Wow! You are so incredibly fortunate to have a quick labor! I hope I can be as fortunate one day!
I laughed about you feeling impatient with the nurse. Sometimes we nurses are so focused on what WE need to get done that we may not put as much focus on the patient as we should. Thanks for that insight!
Congratulations to your family!
Congratulations! I love the pic of you and Adalei! Enjoy that sweet newborn...almost makes me want another one! I think I'll go try to cuddle my kids!
I'm very proud of you and Neil - you definitely make a great team, but...wait a minute...we already knew that just by watching you two raise precious "beans". Thanks for sharing your story - what a miracle! We are all grateful to have sweet Adalei here with us. I can't wait to hear how Layla is doing - I imagine that she has become the perfect big sister. :) Congratulations again to all of you! God has proven again how wonderful he is!!
Oh how this makes me SO READY for our baby to come. I'm trying to talk God into letting him/her gestate more quickly, but I'm thinking He's gonna make me wait the full 12+ weeks before we meet our smallest miracle.
Congratulations! I can't wait to hold her and smell her sweet head!
Wow, that is great that you had such a smooth labor! I can only hope mine will go the same. I told myself I was not going to read obsessively and freak out about every little thing with this pregnancy (like I usually do with everything else), and I've been pretty good so far, but I was kind of kicking myself for not researching the prenatal testing more before I had it done. Now that I've read about it I don't think I would consent to it again as it's just given me one more thing to stress about and there are so many false "positives"... anyway, it has made me want to do more "research" because I like to be my own health advocate! I am planning to take a birth class so I know what to expect and feel confident and prepared.
CONGRATULATIONS again on your little one! I can't wait to see more pictures and hear more about your new life with two angels.
Praise the Lord for another healthy baby girl. We're so excited to see what He unfolds in her precious life....and how He continues to bless your family with such wonderful children.
i love reading birth stories. great work, mama.
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