Well after 3 miscarriages and almost 4 years later, we finally got to experience one of life's greatest and for us, most anticipated joys. We brought a little girl into the world.
My pregnancy was overall an enjoyable experience. I did have a few weeks of morning sickness, but it was during the summer when I could literally do nothing and get away with it so that was a blessing. I did have pizza cravings, sweets, and breakfast was something that i actually wanted. Pop tarts especially...weird.
Thanksgiving I was 7 months and according to my mom and sister I looked only 4. At 9 months, I looked like I swallowed a basketball, but I turned out to be one of those women who got lucky enough to not show from behind and when I sat down my belly kind of did a disappearing act.
I had occasional heart burn but not nearly as bad as others I'd heard about. The most peculiar part for me was back pain because of where it was and what it felt like. Middle top, and felt like someone was jabbing a wooden spoon in my back, or more familiar to most...when you swallow something that was too big and it gets stuck in your throat...that was super comfortable.
But overall, I was really lucky and am forever grateful.
My doctors Merideth and Codd were AWESOME!!! As were the Seasons womens center nurses. I recommend them to EVERYONE. Codd performed my surgery that we believe is what made this possible. Merideth delivered Lucy.
The Induction
Lucy was due Sunday Feb 7th but we went to the hospital Monday Feb 8th at 630 to induce her. The first thing I said to the nurses was that I wanted to schedule my epidural and they all started laughing. I told them I wasn't in pain now but I planned to avoid it as much as possible. My nurse Jill was awesome, in fact they all were :)
They got me hooked up to an IV and Meredith broke my water. That was an interesting experience and not painful but surprising. I didn't even know it had happened until my whole bed was soaking, which was fine because the hospital had towels and sheets for all that. Then they started me on pitosin. They wouldn't give me the epidural until I'd experienced some major contractions on my own for some reason. I got to a 4 and had to go the bathroom and that's when I started to experience painful pressure. I think the worst part of a contraction is it's inescapable pain/major discomfort. The only thing that helped was being bent over and at one point I thought I'm just going to give birth on the potty lol.
To get my through the contractions Thomas and I started watching NCIS to take my mind off things which turned out to be a bad idea because I had to focus too much during a contraction. So we put on a bugs life and Princess bride. Both I'm super familiar with and they were my saving graces.
Fortunately they ok'd my epidural at a 4 and the anethesiologist was really good. He said if I could handle the IV no problem then getting the epi was no big, and he was right. Then again I was going through according to Thomas one of the biggest I'd had yet so perhaps it was masked. I'll never know. Either way it wasn't bad at all.
They told me to sleep as much as I could since I was going to need my strength for later. BOY were they right. It was actually really pleasant listening to familiar movies while falling asleep.
It started to work by making my feet feel like lead, then my legs, then tingling, then totally dead. The hardest part honestly of the whole experience was not being in control of my lower half and that was totally weird and scary. I knew no one would but I felt like I could have been taken advantage of. The epidural also made me really sleepy. I could move my feet, but the scariest part was when Thomas and the nurse would hold my legs to check dilation and empty my bladder, I literally felt nothing and it was just weird...your eyes seeing someone touch you and not feel it. It just totally weirded me out and I had to close my eyes and plug my ears for some parts. It also worked with gravity so where ever was pointed down the most got the most numbing.
I was amazed and nervous when they would come to check my dilation because I seemed to jump so fast. By 4 pm I was a 9.5 and I thought oh my gosh I'm about to have a baby...augh!!! Though as exciting and all it was, I was getting super sleepy and by the time it was time to push I had my eyes closed until I felt pressure during a contraction and then the deep breath, and then pushing hard even though I couldn't feel where I was pushing for 10 seconds each time for 3 times.
I pushed for about 2 hours and they got an oxygen mask on me and they gave me stuff for nausea and low blood pressure. It was interesting because I felt like at one point I knew when to push and pretty much directed it. The changing of the guard happened just before I delivered so all the sudden I went from 1 nurse to 5 in my room. They all introduced themselves and I was like, yea, uh huh, hi I'm in lala land. Anyway, I got a little too good at pushing because just before she was fully out Dr. Meredith told me to stop pushing and I didn't hear him, so Thomas had to tell me to stop due to the cord being wrapped around her once....yay only once!
They also told me since she had pooped in the womb they didn't want her to cry so they could suction out her lungs and when she came out she started crying and I immediately started to say Don't cry!! Don't cry! Cuz I didn't want her to get an infection.
The only thing birth plan wise was I wanted a clean baby and they didn't give me a clean baby but that was ok because once they put her on my chest I grabbed her and just wept. I wasn't sure if I was going to be one of those that instantly was in love with their child or if it would take a second....I wept uncontrollably with joy and disbelief. I was so grateful she was here and healthy and even cooler I started to soothe her and she soothed immediately with my touch. Nothing beats it. Welcome to earth life Lucy Araminta at 7 lbs 1 oz, 21 inches long, 6:32 pm!!!
Thomas was a total champ during the whole thing since he was on my right side holding my leg and he got to see the whole thing...I'm sure an experience he'll never forget. He cut the umbilical cord and when they said the placenta was coming out I turned away. I didn't want to see it.
Dr. Meredith stitched me up after telling me I'd torn a 2 and I thought how interesting sine I didn't feel it. Still didn't feel him stitching me up. Well done everyone!
Coming home and first night back
The most note worthy part about staying at the hospital was my inability to sleep because they said they'd only bring her to me if she needed to be fed...in my mind that was every 2-3 hours. So I anticipated it and it never happened til 5 in the morning so I didn't sleep because of it. Although it was annoying because around 1 I needed help going to the restroom but I didn't want to wake Thomas who was already on those stupid modern couch bed things and probably wasn't sleeping well anyway, and when I finally got brave enough to call for the nurse, the first time she didn't hear me and so the second time I buzzed twice so there would be no mistake.
As I said on a different post, the drive home was weird because everything familiar to me seemed new from the city to our house.
When we went to bed we put her in my sisters sleep and play and like a paranoid new mom I watched her like a hawk to make sure she was still breathing. Getting her to sleep was hard unless I put her on the crook of my arm and laid in bed with her. Probably not the safe thing since I could have crushed her or smothered her with blankets or something, but alas that was the first night.
The next night Thomas couldn't wake me one morning early early to feed her(which I was still getting the hang of and was super sore) and I felt rested when I woke, leaving him totally exhausted and I felt supppppper guilty because I let her go 8 hours without food because of my comatose, so the whole day she got even with me by snacking more...equaling painful feeding.....
Happily!....we tried setting alarms for 3 and 7 am for feedings and by this point Lucy was used to the sleep and play from my sister so sleep for her wasn't a problem, if we fed her prior to bed. We woke up that 3rd morning feeling so good! Lucy ate like a champ and we felt like we'd found the key...or at least I had. Thomas is still catching up on sleep.
Favorite things about her thus far
Unfortunately she got a little jaundice but that's an easy fix if caught early and she is probably at the peak now coming down.
She does what we call the motorcyle legs. The girl is all legs...wonder where she got it :)
She also whimpers and squeaks and it's super cute.
Obviously, she and I get the most cuddle time out of anyone and she smells so good! Except when she fluffs or farts and then she is pepi le pew.
When she gets a burp up or is able to poop I say "good girl!"Well you could tell I'd been around her for 3 days because when Thomas burped I almost said "Good job Thomas!" in a baby coo but I caught myself. We got a good laugh out of that.
Either way we love her. People ask us where we got the name. I loved the show I Love Lucy growing up because she was funny. Thomas and I both love the movie While you were sleeping with Sandra Bullock who plays Lucy-no need to explain..just go watch it if you need explanation. We also love Lucy from Lion Witch and the Wardrobe because of her faith and conviction but still human quality.
Araminta is Thomas's great grandma's name from his mom's side and that's where Lucy got her middle name.
Lessons learned from the hard past just make her more worth it now.
As many of you know, Thomas and I experienced 3 miscarriages before we got lucky enough to have Lucy. Those were painful experiences but I learned compassion, empathy, and more faith in the plan of salvation because of them.
During the pregnancy when I thought something might be off I didn't freak out. Instead I told the Lord that I had no control over what was happening inside me and that I was going to put it in his hands. Talk about peace as a personal choice and the blessings from it.
I also felt patient during most of the pregnancy because it had taken so long to get there that I reveled in the experience and was finally one of the girls that walked around town with a belly. To each their own right?
Even more I don't freak out about things yet that might be wrong and I feel it's a tender mercy from the Lord. I know there will be PLENTY of days where I want to pull my hair out or will feel overwhelmed, but for right now, I have support a plenty and an awesome husband who I love seeing with Lucy.
Life is not easy and sometimes just down right sucks, but I know that when we put our faith in God's plan things are much easier for us, peace of mind and heart are invaluable.
