Sunday, November 4, 2007

I did it! She's here!!--UPDATE

Well, having finished blogging and gone to bed after a contraction or two at 12:30 or so, I was awakened at 3 A.M. (or so) by my toddler whimpering in her sleep :( and another contraction (they seemed only to come at 3 A.M.). This was it! In not too long, I realized that they were coming rather quickly, but I didn't think they were lasting long. Not so, but the tough part was over quickly. I managed pain courtesy of back rubs from my husband (who barely left my side in spite of his efforts to pack things) & an on-the-knees position. I took one bath at 3:15, then another while my husband picked up my brother (the only one of my siblings who could make it at that time) to stay with my other two. I had already had a bath before going to bed (which means that I probably went to bed at more like 1 A. M.--adjusted time). I arrived at the hospital at 4:30 or so, waited for a while to be escorted to Labor/Delivery, where I delivered a beautiful healthy girl at 6:07, with no anaesthesia, no pitocin, no episiotomy, and no stitches. Yay!! Even had I wanted anaesthesia, it wouldn't have been available to me. I'm still a bit overwhelmed by it all. I mean, less than 12 hours ago, I was wondering how much longer I would have to be waiting. Now she's here! The nurse thinks that the only reason I didn't deliver at home or on the way here was because the water didn't break. Hah! Considering that's what happened the first two times. . . The doctor was going to rupture the membranes, but she didn't have to. The baby is 9 lbs. 0.5 oz. Oh, and vocalization helps immensely! At times, I probably sounded like I was doing voice exercises. Anyway, I can't believe I'm blogging this!! Not even 12 hours later! But I couldn't sleep. I'm riding on a serious adrenaline rush.

One regret at this point--they put her on a blanket on my chest, but I haven't been able to breastfeed or really hold her. She didn't cry enough immediately to get the fluid out of her lungs, so they took her to the nursery to observe her. She's O.K. now and sleeping, or so I hear. So I guess I'll see her soon. I keep having, "Okay--I want my baby now" feelings. Hey, I worked hard for that baby (for three hours)!! :)

UPDATE: Okay, I had her weight wrong. *ahem* She's 9 lbs. 8 oz. She beat her brother's record by an ounce and a half. (!!!!!!!!!)

I also did get to hold & breastfeed her, finally. It is 11:40 now and she just left (after a little over an hour) to be re-checked for temperature and oxygen level. But she nursed very well before she left. She's a natural! A little moosette (since her brother was our little moose!). ;)

17 comments:

John said...

Congratulations! I'm so happy that everything went as well as you wanted it to. What a strong woman you are!!! And so quickly with labor; you lucky thing! What a big girl you had too! Her health must make you feel great too. Have a wonderful and blessed day with your newborn. And, don't worry about the breastfeeding. As I'm sure you know, she'll nurse when she's good and ready. Best always!

-C

chrisa511 said...

YAY!! Congratulations :D I'm so happy for you! Wow, talk about fast...that's incredible. Oh, I wish I was there.

Melanie Bettinelli said...

Woohoo! Congratulations! I am so glad to hear it went so quickly and easily. We'll have to offer up some serious prayers of thanksgiving.

sdecorla said...

Congrats!! So glad your little one is here!

Charlotte (WaltzingM) said...

Congratulations! Sounds like you did a great job! Enjoy your babymoon!

mrsdarwin said...

Congratulations! Sounds like everything went just about perfectly. Welcome to the Lit-Chiclette!

supadiscomama said...

Congratulations, Literacy-Chic! I can't believe how big she was--even bigger than Supadiscobaby (9lbs4oz)! I'm glad it went so quickly for you--and the way that you wanted it. Enjoy your new daughter!

Jennifer @ Conversion Diary said...

CONGRATULATIONS!!

Unknown said...

Congratulations.

Kate said...

Congratulations!! Look at you - you did it! I was reading this and remembering this post: http://nmara77.blogspot.com/2007/08/finding-inner-strength-if-you-can-call.html
and I am so happy for you that you finally got that natural childbirth experience - and it sounds like a pretty good experience too! I'm so glad this time didn't follow the previous pattern ;-)

God bless you and itty-bitty moosette.

Kate

Rae said...

Again, congratulations!!! (We'll all wear this word out before we've finished! :) ) God bless you and your new little baby.

Entropy said...

WOW! Happy day and welcome baby!
Congratulations and so happy you and baby are well!

Vitae Scrutator said...

Congratulations!!!!

Pro Ecclesia said...

Many congratulations! Best wishes to you and your growing family.

Dr. Peters said...

Hooray! That's wonderful--you were due for an easy delivery after your first two. I'm so happy for you. I can't wait to see her.

Sarah Reinhard said...

Well, at the risk of echoing everyone else (two days late to boot), CONGRATULATIONS!!!! :) Glad it went fast for you...mine were both fast too, and maybe it makes the pain easier to forget...

Blessings to all of you!!!

Literacy-chic said...

Thanks so much, everyone! We're home now--came home yesterday. I've got various responses to everyone's comments--it was great to read them in the hospital--and I'm hoping to have time to blog about some things, particularly Kate's reminder of my previous post!! I need to do a retrospective.

I am, indeed, hoping that the fact that this was a short labor will make the pain easier to forget--the pain, but not the experience.