I really believed that this labor would be much different than the others considering I had made some progress on my own this time, but instead it was very reminiscent. We arrived at the hospital at 12:30 to be admitted. They started me on pitocin at 1 pm and we waited. At 5pm, they check me and I was dialated to 4 cm. Wait, didn't I start at a 3? This process was slow going. They administered my Epidural which was the best one I have ever had because I still had control over my legs but it made me horribly sick and caused my blood pressure to drop and my lips turned blue and I had to be put on oxygen. This oxygen then became my security blanket for the next few hours.
Finally at around 6pm my doctor showed up worried about some dropping in the baby's heart rate. And so it began. My anxiety levels began to rise as I began my worries over yet another baby with heart rate issues during labor. My poor husband has dealt with these anxieties for weeks leading up to this day and now they were coming true. My doctor checked me and decided I was at a 7 but something was keeping the baby from dropping and I couldn't progress anymore unless the baby could drop to put pressure on my uterus to keep things moving. I mentioned the trouble with the umbilical cord wondering if it could possibly be that (although all the while praying that it couldn't possibly be that again) when the doctor re-lived those births with me and realized that was exactly the problem. Yes the umbilical cord was wrapped around her neck which was preventing her from dropping and also causing her heart rate to drop. I have had umbilical cord fears since I found out I was pregnant and really ever since I had Porter. I began to cry but trusted that the incredible blessing Tom had given me the night before would be true and she would be okay and strong and healthy and that everything would work out. To complicate things further, this little girl was also posterior. Luckily my incredible Doctor whom I am wholeheartedly grateful for and trust handled both of these issues in his calm and business like fashion. I began into my anxious over-reactions worrying about doing a C-section and other complications while he came up with a better solution. He had me lie on my back and had the nurse and Tom push my knees up to my chest while he essentially reached in, turned her the right way and helped her find her way down. I didn't even know that you could do that without forceps or any sort of instrument but my doctor has obviously had a lot of practice and wasn't going to let either of those issues keep this baby from a healthy delivery. (can we just imagine for a moment where I would be in life without modern medicine? I'm not sure I would have any babies at all and I might just be dead) And I must say I am definitely feeling those drastic measures in this recovery.
And then, we were ready to push! This caught me off guard and I was a bit terrified to all of the sudden have this moment here after all those hours of waiting and making no progress. So although I was just at a 7, I gave three pushes and she was out with a tightly wrapped umbilical cord, a grey face and blueish hands and feet. The only calming element was that she was crying (well that and the beautiful dark hair!) She definitely has a set of lungs. They whisked her over to the nurses station where they had concerns over body temperature and heart rate while the doctor stitched me up and informed me that the chances of having all three kids come out with tightly wrapped umbilical cords was something he had never had in his career (after Tom discussed with him he concluded that in his life he had delivered enough babies to populate a small town) and was quite rare.
Adelaide Gwen LeBaron
was born at
7:41pm
weighing in at
8 lbs. 9 oz. and 21 inches long
Her temperature was quite low so I snuggled her against me under layers and layers of heated blankets and we have been snuggling her ever since. I'm still in a bit of shock that she is mine, that I have this new little life to care for and that I have a little girl.
Porter absolutely adores his new baby sister and loves to hold her and nuzzle her. Jack is smitten with her as well. . . for about 1 second at a time until he's ready for something new. I can't even comprehend the craziness that will now be my life and am incredibly grateful to have Tommy home for a week while we try to adjust to this very different life.
Thanks to everyone for all their love and support. I've had incredible friends that have helped with my children the past few months and especially the last couple weeks and I don't know where I would be without them. I am also incredibly grateful for my amazing husband: for his worthiness to hold the priesthood and for the calming and comforting blessing he gave me the night before I went to the hospital. He's already been great at running errands, taking care of the kids and doing anything he can to help me. Our parents have also been wonderful through all of this and I'm grateful to have them all here so close.
More real pictures to come, these are just from the phone!
