Unfortunately I waited a long time to get to this post (thank you retro-dating!) and I've lost many of the details of this precious day, but I want to share what I can remember.
My heart rate has been crazy high with Heidi's pregnancy, so Dr. Bruce Rajala, my OB, decided that I would be induced the day after Easter, although I've been 3 cm dilated and 90% effaced for about 10 days now. He did tell me not to ruin his Easter weekend, haha.
Mitchell and I reported to the hospital at 5 am for my induction. I had my IV and pitocin by 7:30 and decided to get my epidural as soon as the anesthesiologist was available. He came in around 10 and Mitchell put on his headphones and focused on his laptop - the epidural needles freak him out a bit. I explained my previous difficulties with the epidurals and he said that was an easy fix by going up an additional vertebra (FOR FUTURE REFERENCE)!! I reminded him again that I have a history of heart complications with epidurals but he just poo-pooed me and told my nurse to let him know if I developed any problems. Sure enough, a few minutes later, she had to page him back. He gave me a shot of adrenaline just as my OB walked in to check on my progress. My HR/BP improved for a couple minutes and the doctors started chatting. After a couple minutes, my HR/BP dropped again and the nurse had to interrupt them with a stern "hey," haha! After another shot, I started breathing more easily and my HR/BP stabilized again. Whew! Mitchell was thankfully oblivious the whole time I was throwing up and struggling to breathe, but I'm glad my doctors were able to sort it out.
My mom, Amy and Kelly showed up about an hour later. Kelly had to head back home to teach school the next day, so we all took bets on when Heidi would arrive... hopefully before 2! I wasn't dilating though... I was still only at 4 cm at noon! Dr. Rajala came in and broke my water to get things moving at noon and, when my nurse checked me about 15 minutes later, Heidi had crawled back up higher into my uterus!! We had just been joking that Amy had done the same thing during her delivery, but it wasn't really funny to be the one delivering. ;)
At 3 pm, I started to dilate and was 6 cm. Bella called her principal and he gave her permission to take the next day off. Woohoo! The nurse started to get things prepped to go and told me to let her know when I felt any pressure to push, since the epidural was working beautifully. Around 4 pm, I felt like there was definitely something happening and, sure enough, Heidi was fixing to make her debut!! My mom grabbed my camera and snapped all these pictures. Thank you so much, Mom!! The nurse quickly got me set up to push and the work began. Val nonchalantly strolled into the room after the second push, quite to the startled amusement of the nurses when Bella told them she was another sister. After three more pushes, Heidi was born at 4:23 pm!! She was 7 lbs, 7 oz (just like Clara!) and 20.5 inches long.
Mitchell had asked me a few hours earlier what I thought of Amy cutting the cord this time and I agreed that would be a neat experience for her. Dr. Rajala didn't even bat an eye when we asked him to hand her the scissors. It took two cuts to get through the thick umbilical cord, and her wide-eyed expression of awe was very sweet to see.
Dr. Rajala sunctioned Heidi's nose and mouth and then the nurses set her straight on the bare skin of my chest. The hospital required one hour of skin to skin immediately after birth and I loved every minute of it!! She was so sweet and cuddly and calmed down almost the second the nurses covered us with a warmed blanket. She was content to curl and uncurl her fingers and just lay there listening to my heartbeat and the world around her. It's always a surreal experience to finally hold my babies and hear them make all the newborn snuffles and noises that I love so much.
I'm so, so glad that my sisters and my mom were able to be present for Heidi's birth! There was a sweet spirit present as she entered mortality and I hope they were able to feel that joy and wonder. Even with the epidural removed for over an hour, my legs were still pretty dead so they wheeled my entire bed into the recovery wing. Heidi was cleaned up and everyone got to take a turn snuggling her. She is so calm and sweet and we're already smitten.
Traditional last-time-we-have-to-hug-bending-over pic!
Bella and Amy waiting for things to get going (and soooo glad they missed the epidural, haha)
PUSH!
She's out and she's crying... thank heaven!
Aunt Amy cutting the cord
We've waited a long time to cuddle you, sweetheart
The first time I felt the overwhelming rush of mother love and joy with Heidi
Val made it just in time!
She liked to snuggle her face into my chest, so I had to check to make sure she could breathe
Shaking hands with Dr Rajala. He was very quick and efficient about the whole process.
Mom and baby
I love this picture. My mom and Amy are so happy, Mitchell is smitten, and I'm so glad she's here and healthy... and I get the first snuggles this time!
Heidi on the warmer getting her shots and measurements. She cleans up nicely!
Welcome to the big, wide world sweet girl! I just love soft newborn skin.
Under the watchful eye of Daddy
Daddy and his "Treasure"
Auntie Val and Heidi
Auntie Bella and Heidi
