Welcome Colette Sophia

Colette Sophia
-7/26/12
-10:55 pm
-8 pounds 7 ounces
-20 1/2 inches long

Amelia and her sister Colette for the first time.  Watching cartoons :)  She loves to hold her sister!

She's here!  She arrived 3 days shy of her due date on July 26, 2012.  I had an appointment early afternoon with the midwife Kelly.  She checked me and said I was 3-4 cm and 50% effaced.  She said that she didn't strip my membranes but that she stirred things up a bit.  After the appointment, I started having some irregular contractions and some bleeding.  She had given her opinion that I might have her later that day or in the next few days.  I went home and tried to do a few things to see if the contractions were real or false labor.  We took a walk, I took a bath, ate dinner and packed our bags.  The contractions were all in my lower back, so I wasn't sure if they were real.  They seemed to have let up when I took a walk, so again not sure if they were real or not.  Around 5 pm, they were getting stronger and closer together and I decided we should call the doctor.  I called and the nurse said that he would call me back in an hour!  So, I decided that we should just head to the hospital, and if it was false labor, I would be sent home.  We arrived at the hospital around 6 pm.  I was checked by a resident and was dilated 5 cm.  I was admitted and moved to a room.  My doctor came in and said he wasn't sure if I really was in labor.  What?!  He came and checked me around 9:30 and said I was in labor and at 6 cm.  My contractions were getting more and more intense, but all in my back still.  I was debating getting an epidural, and decided I would....which was the biggest mistake!  The CRNA tried getting the epideral in my back 3 or 4 times.  I felt sensations in my legs and I got a terrible headache and neckache on her last try.  I was told that it was because I was so tense and how I was sitting.  WRONG...she gave me a spinal headache that I wouldn't know was a spinal headache until 3 days later.  Anyways, she finally put it in place.  They told me to relax and watch some TV.  I had a few contractions and the resident came in to break my water.  He broke my water and said I was at an 8.  As he was walking away, I had the urge to push.  The nurse said that there was no way.  Next contraction, my body took over and just pushed.  She told me to stop pushing and wait for the doctor.  I felt her moving down the birth canal, and really thought she was coming out.  Dr. Minnec rushed in and checked me and said that I was complete and she was on her way out!  Her heart rate dropped...this was really scary for me because I did not know what was going on and could see panic on Dr. Minnec's face.  He ended up using the vacuum and helped get her out.  Total pushing time was 5 minutes and total vacuum time was 1 minutes.  The time from the epidural to having her was only 30 minutes!  What a waste!  Next time, I hope this will be motivation for me to not get an epidural.  Besides the epidural mess-up and the vacuum, I think it was a pretty good labor and delivery.  It was quick and I got my VBAC!!!

We got to go home Saturday night.  I was back at the hospital the next night for my headache.  We decided to go home and do things naturally and not get the recommended blood patch.  I did not want them poking in my back again.  I laid flat and drank Mt. Dew for 3 days and the headache went away.

I love that things are easier this time around with breastfeeding.  She latched right away and nurses like a champ!  I feel more at ease and relaxed with everything this time.  I still can't believe I have 2 daughters!  What a blessing...it's way more than I deserve.  Thank you Lord!!!