The hospital was amazing, a heck of a difference from the deliveries at Lutheran
but that's another post.
I had been contracting for several weeks so on Thursday, I didn't expect to be in labor. Around 5 they were becoming consistent but the gaps would vary and get closer...THEN farther apart, it just kept changing. By 11 I decided it was time to go. I was 3 cm and 100% effaced. I was settled into my room by 1. I don't know what took so long, but it didn't feel long. Contractions weren't so bad and I knew an epidural was coming so they were bearable.
At least, I thought. He broke my water right away and I was at 5 cm. I asked again for that epidural. It was too late. Suddenly, the contractions felt 100x worse. With every one I cried and pleaded for medication.
El couldn't stay. He pretty much just dropped me off. I think that's in part why I was emotional. Not only was I in tremendous pain, but I was going through it alone. The nurse stayed the entire time. She tried her best to calm me, but her saying, "Just relax and breathe," was doing nothing more than pissing me off. At 2, she said I was too tense and labor couldn't progress so she was going to get me something, I just had to make it through this contraction. Once again, the contractions were bearable. She left just for a moment and came back with a syringe, saying, "This will take the edge off." I started falling asleep and just as quickly was awakened by excruciating pain. All she gave me was a sedative. It didn't help! It only put me to sleep between contractions... and gave me weird dreams.
Thankfully labor was quick. She was born at 2:30 in the morning weighing 8lbs 6oz and 21 1/2 inches long. There was no episiotomy, which I was not looking forward to even if I'd had an epidural. I didn't even tear! So pain hasn't been pretty much non existent in that sense. Cramping with nursing finally stopped, but I'm really sore and it seems to be getting worse. I just feel bruised and it hurts to get up and walk.
The family came to visit and stayed til 2 in the afternoon. The nurse bought each of the girls a bag of goodies, stickers, coloring books, and crayons. Seriously, I can not say enough good things about this hospital and the staff.
Though the DR that delivered her was a little cooky. The next day, El and the girls were there til 5:30. I think that's been a major reason jealousy hasn't been an issue. It became more of a family thing and less of a mommy ran off to find a replacement baby kinda thing. Maddy has been so good and I'm sure it's because of how involved she was during my recovery. Madelyn just adores her and is always trying to help.
All the girls are smitten with her. If there's any jealousy, it's amongst themselves over who gets to hold her next. Maddy usually wins, she can not keep her hands off her and won't stop kissing her.
"MINE!" She protests. It's precious, but overwhelming, especially on days like today...every time I put her down for a nap, Maddy came to kiss away and woke her.
We had agreed months ago on Isabella. It was El's turn to name her. However, I found out that it was number 1 last year and also appeared several other times in the top 100 with alternate spellings. So it was back to the drawing board. We never did agree on another name, so I bought my list with me. He didn't like any of them and said, "Let's just do Isabella." I was completely caught off guard and totally unprepared. All this time I could have been thinking about a middle name that flowed well. How was I gonna do it in two days? My mind was blank so I just picked one of my favorites. She was almost a Clover.
So July 2 at 2:30am we welcomed Isabella Daisy to the world. Our first night home looked as though it was going to be rough but she finally went down at midnight and slept past 5! The next two nights were hard, but last night was another good one. I hope tonight holds the same.
