My labor story!!!!! (LONG)

I have been meaning to write this for a while. . . but it has beena busy week!

Anyways. . .here it is.

I got to the hospital at 7 on Sunday morning. They started a pitocin drip, and I just had to sit around and wait. I managed to pass the time pretty quickly with some extra sleeping, and some reading before I started getting big contractions. By about noon the contractions werepretty strong. I could still talk and walk through them. The doc checked me and I was at a 4. Not much progress. I convinced myself that it was going to be a LONG ordeal. WRONG. haha.

The doc then broke my water to get the contractions going faster. so by about 4 my friends Erinn and Shelby arrived at the hospital and I was still getting through the contractions and still holding a conversation. I got checked and was at about a 5. Still not a lot of progress. The doc then put a internal fetal monitor on the babys head. There for a few minutes there were decelerations in the heartbeat. But they soon passed, and didn't make their appearance again.

Then all of a sudden at about 5 the contractions became really intense. REALLY INTENSE. And if it hadn't been for Frank I would not have made it through. I guess I was going through transition and didn't realize it. But he was so strong. He kept me focusing on him, and blocked out all the other distractions. The nurse came in and gave me the epidural speech. I was prepared for that, but not when I was in so much pain. Then my mom came in cryinig telling me to get the epidural. I was wearing down, and really fast. I didn't know how fast I was dialating, or else I wouldn't have caved. All I knew was that I couldn't take 4 or so more hours of this pain. So I told them I wanted an epidural.

By the time the anesthesiologist got there, my Doc came in to check my progress, and right there started yelling for nurses and tying on his mask. Haha. I TRIED to give in, but I just didn't get to. So the nurses start bring in the table with all the instruments on it. And my doc is getting his gown on when I start screaming that I need to push. I was yelling at the top of my lungs, and the urge to push came really fast and strong. The doc told me to hold on till the next contraction. So my mom, and my friend Erinn got in there, and started helping me get ready. Frank held my hand the WHOLE time, he never left my side.

So I finally started pushing and about 10 minutes later I was done! I dialated from 6 to 10 in a matter of about 15-30 minutes! I have never felt pain like that, but I have also never been prouder of myself. I almost gave in, and looking back I am SO glad that it didn't go down that way. I was so alert after I had her, and experienced everything. The cord wasn't around her neck, and she was born crying and active. Frank cut the cord, and then they put her in my arms.

It was the most beautiful experience I have ever been a part of. My mom cried, Frank balled like a little girl, Erinn cried. It was wonderful.

I am so lucky that I got a good birth experience. My baby girl is beautiuful, and perfectly healthy!

This is me and Avery Renee about 20 minutes after she was born!

aww, congrats mama!! What a beautiful little baby girl!! Here's to a quick, easy recovery!!

You are so strong Anjulie.
Avery is freaking gorgeous and you are beautiful! I have been wondering, what piece of advice did Bethany give you that helped?

She's beautiful, congratulations!

Congrats! She is beautiful!!! I am glad everything went well for you!

She is adorable! Congrats mama. 

Daaayum! MAJOR props to you, Chica!! I punked out and got an epi with both of my boys. LOL c0ngrats, She's beautiful!  

you look really good! congrats mama  

Quoting MamaNatasha:“ You are so strong Anjulie. Avery is freaking gorgeous and you are beautiful! I have been wondering, what piece of advice did Bethany give you that helped?”

I just asked her opinion about the different positions to labor in, and what worked for her. She told me the things that helped her, and what worked. I mean, you never know what is going to work best once you get there. It is kind of a trial and error type thing. That is basically what she told me, and it really helped me to get through the pain. Out of all the breathing and coping methods I learned, I just had to find the one that worked. THAT is where Frank really helped out. He wrote down the different things, and went through them with me.

Yea!!!Congrats on your beautiful baby and natural delivery!! Thats an awesome accomplishment!!!!

Congrats on going natural! She's adorable!

WOW!! Natural!! WOOOOO! You look fabulous as ever!! Congrats again mama!!

Avery is gorgeous! congrats!

Awe sweetie! That's beautiful! I am so glad you made it naturally... the pitocin's not that bad, right?! Your story sounds a lot like mine! Congratulations, I am so proud of you!

great job mama!! she is perfect!!