This is me...
3 days past due. Uncomfortable. Tired. Excited. Nervous.
That morning, Rob and I went to see our OBGYN, Dr. Sharp, and found out that we'd be induced first thing the next morning. We went home and enjoyed some quiet, alone time for the rest of the afternoon. That evening we stuffed our faces at the Chinese buffet. At that point, I knew the Doctor couldn't/wouldn't lecture me about gaining any weight or my sugar levels or anything. So, I wanted food. Sure, it wasn't a romantic, candle-lit dinner, but it was our last dinner out together before entering the world of parenthood.
Fastforward about 12 hours or so, and we're arriving at the Jersey County Hospital at 7:00 AM. Time for needles. Time for monitors. Time for contractions. Time for waiting....and waiting...and waiting. Tuesday, January 29, 2008 was a crazy day as far as the weather was concerned. When we got to the hospital that morning, it was cool, but not freezing cold. When Rob left to go get lunch mid-day, it was in the mid 70s. As I sat in the glider rocker by the window that afternoon while the Pitosin did its job, I could feel the temperature drop. By that evening, the temperature was back down into the 20s. I witnessed a beautiful, warm winter day from inside my hospital room. Finally, by that evening, my water had not broken but I was having regular contractions. At about 7:00 PM, they broke my water since it apparently wasn't going to happen on its own and we hoped it would help labor progress. About 8:00, I asked the Doctor if she thought the baby would arrive before midnight. I'll never forget the look on her face when I asked her that question. She gave me a sheepish shake of the head and an ever-so-delicate "No". My response was one word - "EPIDURAL". That is a decision I will never regret. Nor will I forget the older, burly male who was sent in to see my bare butt while I slumped over the side of the bed and leaned on Rob. Had said burly, older man not been bringing me the much-desired pain relief, I probably would have told him to take a hike. So, my water was broken, the epidural in, and the doctor had gone home. At that point, we had no clue what a long night we would be in for. Before the doctor left, she told the nurses to increase my Pitosin as often as possible to try to help me dialate more and keep my labor moving. What we hadn't planned on was the baby's heartrate dropping to a scary low every time the Pitosin was increased. I can still hear the sound of the alarm on the monitor every time her heartrate would plummet. The scariest feeling in the world is to know that your almost born baby is in danger. Luckily, decreasing the Pitosin and eventually stopping it altogether helped smooth out her heartrate after about 6 long hours. Rob and I tried to sleep sporadically during the times when everything was calm.
Early on the morning of Wednesday, January 30th, 2008, Dr. Sharp (of course she was well rested) came in to check on us. She was headed to her office, but reassured us that she would be called back soon. Soon? Like how soon? Like 30 minutes soon or 8 hours soon? Unfortunately it wasn't 30 minutes soon. It was more like 4 hours soon. About 8:00 labor really began to progress and of course I got sick. About 9:30 the doctor was called to come back. It seemed like it took her forever to get back to the hospital. Finally, at 10:52 AM, our beautiful Arabella Marie Kirbach entered the world. It was the most amazing moment in my life.
Thank you, God, for my baby girl.
