I was scheduled for an ‘elective induction’ Monday, July 12th. We arrived at the hospital a quarter-to-8am and Jessica was born just before 11am. It was a whirlwind labor and delivery to be sure! Baby had been riding low (0 station) & I’d been dilated 3cm with a ripe cervix for several weeks, but I didn’t ever dream things would go so quickly! The three hours broke down as follows:
- 1st hour: check in and get all background paperwork done/IV & start pitocin drip
- 2nd hour: labor contractions regular, break water, and pain mild/moderate/more
- 3rd hour: Epidural, phone calls & delivery in 3 pushes
Once my epidural was in place, the nurse waited till I was comfortable to check me. Since I was ‘only’ dilated 5 cm, she went to set up another patient. After only 10 minutes I started feeling pressure, but didn’t want to bother anyone since I thought it hadn’t been long enough for any major change. Well, after 15 more minutes of the same pressure I rang my call button. A different nurse came to see how I was progressing (I think she thought I was being a bit silly & I wondered the same thing). She was all relaxed until she went to check me. “Don’t move!” she warned. Basically baby was crowning! In moments my original nurse was back with my doctor and another nurse for baby. They broke down the bed, suited up, and pulled out their ‘gear’.
The moment of truth was upon us: son or daughter?
On the third push, out came baby. “Dad tell us what it is,” called the doctor. Nate was silent as we looked down at our baby. “Its a girl?” I stated a bit stunned. “Its a girl!!!” I rephrased. Of course it was. A perfect baby girl was in my arms.
On the way out, Jessica swallowed some fluid and none of us could get her to cry. So, Nate accompanied her to the nursery for some observation time. Each of our girls have had to do this. With Allie she was a bit too early (4 wks) and Kylie came out blue and not breathing, so this was standard procedure for us. After the required hour, I was moved to my recovery room where I walked to my bed since the epidural hadn’t been in long enough to make my legs completely numb. Things had gone so quickly that I didn’t even miss lunch.
The big sisters were so excited to find out if they had a sister or a brother. They were quite taken with her and like her name: Jessica Jo. I have been surprised at how maternal Kylie has been. She wants to hold baby all the time and is my runner for diapers, blankets, ect.
Every day, for the first week, we had to have Jessica’s blood drawn to check her bilirubin level. This we’ve had to do with Allie and Kylie, but this time Jessica stayed just a hair under the danger line. NO LIGHT BED! Halleluiah!!! Jessie did LOVE sun bathing on my bed.
