This pregnancy was a bit rough I would say. Near the end of January, my legs and feet began to swell. It was so early, I didn't even realize the epic proportions they got to until just this past week when all the swelling was finally gone. And Nate kept commenting how I seemed to be carrying this baby differently. Like, way in front, like a beach ball. Anyway, the swelling was beginning to do me in. I was particularly alarmed when one leg and foot seemed to be soo much more swollen than the other. I called my doctor and finally cried mercy. I hadn't been having other complications, but it felt like I was walking on glass and no amount of laying down was making any difference. Dr. Smith told me to come in the next morning, the 1st, and we would start an induction. Oh how I was so torn about this! I have always gone into labor before and really believe that it's generally best to let your body do what it needs to do, but realized that things weren't going to get any better until the baby was born. It was very strange showing up at the hospital not in labor. I actually looked around a little and saw where things were.
When we were all admitted the nurse and I talked a little bit about my last three births and how things had gone. Usually I have short labors and everything goes pretty smoothly. I told her because my last baby was so fast, I had been reading up and preparing to not have an epidural. But that was just because I had been so fast with Sophie, I wanted to make sure I knew what to expect. I had read a book on Hypnobirthing and felt so so about that. Some of it was really great, some I just had a hard time going along with-having been there done that. Anyway, turns out the nurse is a Hypnobirthing instructor and was very excited I had read the book and seemed to know a bit about it. I did point out that I had never had pitocin before or been induced, so we would see how things went so far as pain management goes. She then set up the pitocin and off and away we were. For a while, contractions were pretty mild and manageable. Then they suddenly picked up and were very hard and about two minutes apart. We had the pitocin at really low level because I am pretty sensitive to meds. My lower back was really hurting, more than I remember with labor before. So the nurse made the bed into a chair-like position and had Nate press hard on my knees to relieve the pressure in my back. This worked really well and I think he kept at it for almost two hours. She also brought in a birthing ball in the event I wanted to sit on that. Every time I would change position though, the contractions really intensified, so I was not so much into sitting on the ball or moving a whole lot. At that point I was about five centimeters dilated and the nurse said the baby was posterior and needed to turn around to be born more easily. I was ready for an epidural at this point, but the anesthesiologist was in a c-section and I would need to wait about an hour. I then turned around in the bed to lean over the back and try to get the baby to flip over. The nurse and Nate put a lot of pressure on my lower back and helped me really breathe and focus. I also got a little fentanyl to take the edge off and relax and they turned off the pitocin. My body took over contracting on its own, and those contractions were much easier to deal with that the pitocin
Nate never slipped or spilled the beans, I am so proud of him! I had been prepared for her to be pretty messy because there was meconium in my water when I broke, but she was surprisingly clean. I was also prepared for her to be pretty big, which she was, 8 lbs, 11 ozs. and 20 inches long, our biggest baby. She was so strong when she was born, they nurses all commented how she grabbed my gown and lifted her head and looked side to side. She had a great loud cry and had no complications due to the meconium or anything else. I held her for a long time before she got all cleaned up and diapered. I have heard there is quite an adrenaline rush after natural childbirth and would say that is true! I think a lot of it has to do with the relief that the majority of the pain is over and my excitement over finding out the baby was a girl after all those months, and the sense of wonderment that I didn't die! Because part of you thinks you just might for a time there. Even delivering the placenta didn't bother me. My main nurse was very excited, Nate was pretty sure I made her day. She said I did such a good job, no screaming or hitting or freaking out. She was really complementary about how in control I was and how relaxed I remained. It was nice to hear because my inner dialogue was not that calm. She said I had all the hard things, pitocin, posterior baby, having to wait for the doctor, but I did a great job working through them. She was clearly the nurse that needed to be there. She was with us most of the labor and really kept me focused and calm. I am not really relaxed most of the time, so I think she had a magic touch getting me to be so. I really trusted her and am grateful she was there. She saw us again just as we were getting discharged and was still really excited about the delivery. Anyway, so that is the birth story-it was exciting and I do feel a sense of accomplishment after it all.
Then the next two days were spent in the hospital going over names. Nate and I really seem to wait until the last minute to decide. We had suggestions from all the nurses and all our visitors. I made a list and we went through all combinations we could on that. The fact that she was born in June helped decide her middle name. Isabella really liked June as well. And Tessa seemed to fit. It's always hard for me to name a baby, it's such a major thing! Anyway, we managed to fill out the paperwork for the birth certificate before we left, which was the goal. I ate about 20 packages of Lorna Doone cookies in the hospital and had more Fresca and Orange/Cranberry juice that I can admit to. Nate took the rest of the week off and would come hang out-which was really great. My mom and the kids came up and they all love Tessa and want to hold her as much as possible. Alta View now does a dinner for two the night before you leave, which was nice. You choose from a nice menu and they bring in a table that is all decorated and fancy for the hospital. Also they give you a plush robe. I am sure all these things are on the bill somewhere, but it was nice. I had to take lasix to get the swelling to go away in my legs and feet and I can't believe the difference. They had been swollen for so long, I had just become accustomed. Now to see my normal feet is a bit shocking!
Tessa is a great baby, she nurses well, sleeps well, and is super snuggley. She has had to get her bilirubin tested more than any of my other kids, but isn't jaundiced, I think we are just being way cautious. She still seems pretty little even though she's the biggest of the four. She has the lightest hair at birth, but the least as well. She is pretty alert and strong. We are so blessed to have her in our family and I love how quickly you can't remember not having each child there.
