The Birth

I woke up Sunday (the 25th) having contractions but I'd had lots of contractions before that didn't lead to anything so I went to church as normal. They mostly went away during church until 11:30 am when I was in sharing time. I was having enough that I decided to write them down to see how far apart they were. Right around 12 minutes. By the time we got around to leaving they were coming much closer together. They were so close that I had 2 on the car ride home (its only about 10 minutes). I think that was when I realized this was probably the day. At one point they were 5-7 minutes apart so we called our friend Monique who was going to look after Liam and Jonas for us while we went to the hospital. She came and picked them up to stay for the night so I could labor at home as long and I needed and then leave for the hospital when we were ready. I was sure that with contractions 5 minutes apart we would be leaving soon but for the next 7 hours I only had around 10 contractions an hour.

Mid-contraction

By 8:30 pm they were close enough together and strong enough that I wanted to go to the hospital. I really didn't want to have the baby at home because we waited too long to leave. When we got to the birthing suite there were no other ladies there. I was shocked how quiet it was. They got us settled in our room and then we waited for the midwife to come in. We talked about pain options (nitrous oxide, pethidine and epidural), my birthing plan (or lack thereof) and then waited. She said they liked to see that you are having 3 contractions in 10 minutes and I was not so there was a little talk of sending me home. I wanted her to check me and see if I had dilated at all. I could tell she didn't really want to but agreed to check me at 10:30 pm. I was only dilated to a 4. I thought for sure I would have been a little further! The contractions were getting much stronger and although I was thinking I would try it without an epidural I was having my doubts that I could do it if I was only a 4 (maybe that's why they don't like to let you know how far dilated you are?). I decided to try the Nitrous Oxide even though it seemed like the strangest thing to me. You suck on this tube of gas during contractions. It didn't really do much for me so she turned it up more. After probably an hour of sucking on the tube and still not feeling like it was doing anything for me, I gave it up. It was mostly just annoying me. I felt like I had done a pretty good job of controlling my breathing and staying relaxed and calm through the contractions on my own but while breathing in the gas you have to breathe in hard. It was making me more tense than anything.

All of a sudden there was no break between contractions. They were really intense but because I had been only a 4 not too long before I thought I still had a long way to go. I was debating whether or not to try the Pethidine but I remember having it with Jonas and not liking it. It mostly just made me drowsy. Before long it was too late. During contractions my body just started pushing - something I never experienced before because I had epidurals with both Liam and Jonas. The midwife shouted out, "Are you pushing?" I thought I was in trouble because I wasn't dilated enough. I said, "I'm not trying to!" but she told me it was fine. A few contractions later I could feel her coming out. At 12:18 am (July 26th) she was born. I couldn't see her because I was turned backwards leaning over the back of the bed but Nate said, "It's a girl!" I almost started crying right then because I was so excited it really was a girl.

I got to hold her while the midwife took care of things (no tearing!). We were amazed at her dark hair and dark eyes! From 1-3 I fed her and then after that was able to take a shower while they weighed and measured her. 7 lbs 12 oz and 19 inches long.

Adele's first picture!

We had to move to another room for the rest of the stay. I had been worried that I would have to share a room with another woman or other women but because things were so slow that night I had the room all to myself. Nate still wasn't able to stay even though there was an extra bed. Poor guy didn't get home until after 4 am. After she got settled, Adele slept pretty well. I know I should have slept too but I mostly just wanted to look at her. I think I only got 2 hours of sleep that night. I told them I wanted to leave that day (the 26th) so they made arrangements to get the hearing check and baby physical done early that morning. By noon we checked out and were on our way home after only 15 hours in the hospital total.