I started receiving pitocin at 8:30 a.m. to start labor. I was already 3 cm dilated and 80% effaced. Although they were pumping a lot of pitocin through my IV, my labor wasn't progressing as fast as the doctor wanted. At 9:30 a.m. the doctor came in and broke my water. After my water was broken, the contractions became quite painful. I laid on my side, rocking, and trying to breathe with each contraction (which seemed to come a lot more often with lesser breaks in between each one). When I did finally get a break it was so wonderful and I would pretty much fall asleep until the next one hit.
Around 1:00 p.m. I was able to get an epidural, which was the best invention of all times! It took the aesthetician four tries to get the epidural to stay in my back. He said that the space in between my vertebrae was very small and he had quite a bit of difficulty getting it in the right place. But once he did I was amazed! I could actually think straight and was able to talk to those around me. Before, while I was having hard contractions, I didn’t even want to open my eyes, I just wanted to lay there and try to soothe myself. After receiving the epidural, I truly enjoyed the rest of labor. I could barely feel the contractions, and I enjoyed being able to talk and hang out with family (my parents and Sam’s parents were in the room pretty much the whole day).
Once the epidural began to work the nurse came in and checked and I was only 5 cm. dilated. The nurse said that it could be several more hours because most people dilate about 1 cm an hour and push for 2 hours. Around 2:30 p.m. (an hour and a half later) the nurse came in and checked and I was 7 cm dilated! Again I was checked at 3:30 p.m. and I had dilated another 2 cm. Around 4:45 p.m. they came back in and checked me and said that I was 10 cm and ready to go. The doctor and nurse began to get things ready for delivery. My dad and Thom went out to the waiting room, while my mom, Nellie Jo, and Sam stayed in the delivery room.
At 5:10 p.m. I began pushing. I pushed for 55 minutes and at 6:06 Maggie was miraculously born. Pushing was pretty tiring, but it was all worth it! I threw up once. Once Maggie’s head started to appear the doctor allowed me to feel her head, it was so cool! We couldn’t wait for Maggie to come out… she was so close!
After Maggie was born the doctor placed her on my stomach and Sam cut the umbilical cord. Then they took Maggie over to the warmer and wiped all the vernix off. They then weighed Maggie and she weighed in at 7 lbs 9 oz, quite a bit more than I was expecting! They measured her and she was 20.5 inches long. We got lots of pictures of Maggie with grandparents, her dad and I, and the doctor. Doctor Green delivered Maggie, and he was so sweet… he came in and prayed with me earlier in the day. I got to feed her right away, and she latched on so well. Overall it was a wonderful day!
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| Our family with Dr. Green |
