Finally, over 6 months later, I've been able to get everything down and actually read it without feeling close to tears. I'm not sad about it, it was just an extremely emotionally charged experience. It's weird looking back at it now. It feels like something that happened in a different life. So here it is for all the world to see, MJ's arrival.
February 27, 2012
4am: Woke up with contractions every 8 - 10 minutes.
5am: contractions increased to 7-8 minutes apart
6am: The Hub woke up, I updated him and we decided that since it was so close to my due date this may very well be "it".
7:00am: Called our good friend Katie who would be watching E and let her know we were on our way.
7:30am: Left for the hospital with a stop on the way.
7:45am: Dropped E off.
(For the last time as a family of 3)
(Bye bye Mommy. This was the first time i'd be away from her for longer than a few hours.)
She got their before Katie's girls woke up so she had all the toys to herself.
YAY!!!
8:00am: Arrived at hospital
8:30am: Was checked by doctor 4cm dilated and 10% effaced. Was told to walk around, get something to eat, and they would recheck at 11:30.
8:30-11:30am: Walked EVERYWHERE. Contractions increased in intensity and frequency.
11:30am: Returned to L&D. Was rechecked and there was no progress. Doctor left room and we waited...
12:00pm: and waited...
12:15pm: Doctor returned. At our request she did a membrane sweep and said they weren't going to admit me yet and I could go home.
12:30pm: The Hub went to work and I drove myself to Katie's because home was too far to risk going into deep labor by myself.
1:00pm ate lunch
2:00pm: put Ellie down for a nap
2:00-3:30pm: Contractions increased in intensity to the point that i couldn't talk through them and were only 3 minutes apart.
4:00pm: called my doctor's office and spoke to my nurse. I briefly explained what had transpired that day so far. She advised me to come back to L&D and she'd let them know I was coming.
4:10pm: Katie's husband returned home
4:15pm: Katie drove me back to the hospital
4:25pm: We parked and walked to L&D. We met the Hub on the way. Katie last timed my contractions as being 1 minute 15 seconds apart and one minute in length.
4:30pm: Arrived at L&D and was put in a L&D room rather than triage.
4:45pm: was checked by same doctor from this morning and measured 5cm and 80% effaced. They were admitting me and would start an IV to run a litre of fluids and we'd probably have a baby in the next few hours.
5:00pm: Was put on monitors for the baby
5:10pm: IV tech came to start line
5:15pm: While tech was starting IV line my blood pressure dropped and the baby's heart rate dropped from 140s-150s to 60s-70s.
5:15-5:20pm: Tried bringing up baby's heart rate by rolling me on my left side, then to my hands and knees. They gave me a shot of terbutiline to slow/stop contractions.
5:20pm: After all attempts to bring the baby's heart rate up failed, I was rushed to the OR for a stat c-section under general anesthesia.
5:23pm: MJ was born
5:25pm: Daddy called E to tell her she had a baby sister.
The Big Sister
(Anika reading to E and telling her all about what it's like to be a big sister.)
5:31pm: Delivered to daddy in the recovery area
8:10pm: I was brought to recovery
8:14pm: Lili holds MJ for the first time.
8:20pm: MJ get's a well deserved bath!
"From the fullness of His grace we have received one blessing after another." -John 1: 16
I know it's a little late, but welcome to the world baby girl!
Till Next time,
