So, yeah! Kaley is here!!!! Here's what happened (I feel like Monk right now :))
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| Proud mommy holding baby Kaley (2 days old) |
After the stripping of the membranes, at 38 weeks, I got more cramps and lost more of the mucous plug but nothing seemed too serious or like labor was really that close. On Saturday, the 29th I thought that I was leaking amniotic fluid but it urned out that it wasn't it so we all went to the baby shower/BBQ that Eni and the girls organized for me. It was a lot of fun and quite a few people showed up. I felt tired and big the entire time so I mostly sat down and had food but I had a really good time. Over night I felt ok but I started feeling more contractions, this time more painful. I woke up around 9am and told Davd that Kaley might decide to make an appearance early. We started timing the contractions and they were not very regular and were pretty far apart (15-20 mins) but they were getting stronger. I tried to get some rest which was a good idea. Laying down did help some and I was able to rest a little bit. By the afternoon though the contractions really started to hurt and they were getting closer together. As we were trying to keep Kaley inside before the 1st of July, for insurance purposes, we thought that lying down would be the best option so I spent most of the day in bed or on the couch. By around 4pm though, even sitting or lying down wasn't helping anymore. Every contraction was so painful that I couldn't talk or walk while it was going. We then decided that it was time to go to the hospital. Picked up the hospital bag, kissed the girls goodbye with teary eyes (I just have a really hard time leaving them, especially when I see them cry and being so sad when we leave) and started walking to the car. hat wasn't an easy task as with every contraction I had to stop, bend over and breathe. We did make it to the car and started for the hospital. Man, was I in pain! Contractions were pretty close together now (about 6 or 7 mins) and each one of them took my breath away. Bangerter Hwy was pretty buy too which didn't help, considering that everyone seemed to just be out for a fun, relaxing, slow drive. We eventually made it to the hospital and David got a wheelchair for me. Even while sitting there and on the short ride to the 3rd floor, in Tower 1, I got a few more horrible contractions. They put me in a triage room and said that I was only about 4cm dilated, which didn't seem quite right since a few days before I was 3.5 and have been having contractions for the entire day. Anyway, the nurse, who we really didn't like because she did not seem very considerate or even even very knowledgeable, said that they would not send me home if I don't show any progress but they would make me walk around and make sure that I was in active labor before they admitted me. After the longest hour of my life, in which I was struggling not to strangle the nurse or break David's hand, the nurse said that I did make progress (I was now about 5 cm) so they helped me get into a delivery room. Walking to the room took forever as I was almost unable to walk, but I did make it and got into the hospital gown and in bed. Sitting in bed didn't help with the contractions but at least it was a little better than standing or walking. After another really long hour of blood tests, monitoring the baby and the contractions and two nurses trying to get an IV in, I announced that I was done with the pain and I would really appreciate some pain relief. The relief came in the form of an anesthesiologist who administered the wonderful invention of our modern days, the EPIDURAL! It hurt pretty bad getting it in, which I didn't remember from the previous deliveries, but soon I started feeling less contractions pain, at least on my right side. The left still hurt and we had to call the anesthesiologist after another 15 or 20 mins to see if he could help me get relief on my left side as well. I was worried that I was going to feel the pain on the left side, like it happened when I was in labor with Jane but the doctor put a strong dose of anesthetic into the epidural which soon started working on the left side as well and soon provided the relief I was craving so badly. So, I got to the hospital around 5pm, was admitted around 6:30pm and received the epidural around 7:30pm. From there things just started to pick up and around 10pm the nurse announced that I was getting very close and that they would call Dr. Merrill to come help deliver the baby. He showed up soon after and said that I was at 10cm and that I could start pushing. Pushed twice and Kaley's head was out but as I was starting to tear up, the doctor decided to perform an episiotomy. I really had hoped that I would not need one this time (the pain afterwards is pretty bad) but I did know that getting one would be better that not, so we did it again. Anyway, I started pushing for the third time but the doctor stopped me saying that he needed to help get Kaley's shoulders out and then she would be all here. Felt a little pulling inside my belly and Kaley came out! She cried a bit (got only a 7 in the APGAR score for the first cry, and a 9 after 5 minutes) and make a big poopy mess on the table where they put her to clean her up a little. Real soon they put her on my chest and I was so happy to see her and feel her little warm body. I held her and even nursed her a little and then they finished dressing her and doing a few tests. While they were taking care of Kaley, the doctor took care of my incision with great detail. He did a wonderful job cleaning and checking that my C-section incision on the uterus was intact and prescribed a bunch of medications for pain and antibiotics in case there was any sign of infection. Luckily, the doctor worked really well and in minute detail, so there were no complications. I did have pain and bleeding but all within normal. Speaking of the doctor, I really like him. He is very careful and nice and also a person one can talk with. When I said that I never got to see the placenta, he set it on a table and proceeded with a small lesson about it. He explained what the different parts were and how it worked. It was way cool and interesting and once again showed me how great of a doctor and person he is.
So, back to the story, Kaley was born on June 30th (screw the insurance! LOL) at 11:05pm at the Riverton Hospital, Salt Lake County, Utah. She was 7lbs 14oz and 19.5in long. She had fairly long, dark hair on her head and some on her back and shoulders (hahaha) and blue-gray eyes. She was really soft and squishy, had a cute, round head and loved to look at mommy and daddy.
Kaley and I stayed in the hospital for two days. She passed her bilirubin and hearing tests and I tried pretty hard to go number 2, which didn't happen with all the efforts everyone put into it. :) I also enjoyed fairly good meals, spending time with Kaley and having David with me the first night after Kaley was born.
We are so happy that our sweet Kaley is here and are excited to see her grow and learn new things every day. We love you baby girl, so very much!!!!
