Where it began!...sort of. So Friday, July 20th in the middle of the night, I was miserable. Shaking, freezing, throwing up, and having contractions. Labor, right? Well, I didn't really know for sure because I was induced with Clark and had back labor, so I never really went through the "I am in labor! Lets get to the hospital!" thing (although the idea sounded really exciting to me!) After being up all night, I decided to call the on-call doctor. She called back and as I answered the phone, I started throwing up, so I threw the phone to Jeff. The doctor said get to the hospital right away!
We were not ready. I was induced with Clark when he was 2 weeks overdue so we figured, what's the rush packing a bag this time? We'll probably be overdue again....plus it was a few weeks before my due date. We didn't have a mattress, a changing pad, hadn't washed anything, didn't have the car seat installed...not ready!
So off we went! Jeff dropped me off and I went in to get a wheel chair so I didn't have to walk all the way. I was in quite a bit of pain and miserable. They found some older man, probably a volunteer, and he was very hard of hearing. The lady asked him to wheel me upstairs to the 6th floor probably 4-5 times. I still wasn't sure he understood and started to wonder if we were going to make it to the right place at all. When he finally seemed to get where we were going, he leaned over, put his hand on my shoulder and said, "It's going to be just a minute, sweetie. I have to tie my shoe." I thought he was kidding. He wasn't. He took the next couple minutes tying his shoe. I was trying hard not to laugh, but the contractions were keeping the laughter at bay.
We made it to the 6th floor and they hooked me up to the monitors to check contractions and the baby's heart rate.
Jeff and I
decided that we needed to settle on the name...now that we were having
the baby! We had talked about it the whole pregnancy and suddenly the
time was now! And still, we couldn't make the call.
Over
time, the contractions started to slow down...which isn't supposed to
happen! They checked me and I was only dilated to a 3, which is what I
had been the day before at my doctors appointment. All signs were
starting to lead to me going home...without a baby. But what about me
throwing up and shaking and having contractions all night? Did that
mean nothing? Basically, the doctor said "yes." They said I was having
Braxton Hicks contractions. I had heard of these "practice
contractions," but never experienced them with either pregnancy. I had,
however, heard that they were not painful and just felt like your
stomach tightening. They must have thought I was a total wus coming to
the hospital with "practice contractions" that "don't hurt." But I
swear, I was in pain and I couldn't imagine what the real deal would be
like if that wasn't pain.
They
did an ultrasound before I left to check on the baby and she got a
perfect score on her test, which was very comforting to mom and dad!
They also confirmed it was indeed a girl, so we went home and washed all
the girl clothes!
This
was definitely a wake up call for mom and dad. We need to get the
mattress, changing pad, car seat installed...etc. so off we went on a
family trip to Babies 'R Us!
I was in rough shape still, having the braxton hicks contractions still and just overall feeling like my body had been through battle. I still had a feeling we could have the baby any minute, but we were determined to have a good time. So we just walked really really slow everywhere we went and tried not to go very far.
We took it easy the whole time and it definitely felt like a mini-vacation (even though I was so uncomfortable). We had a nice hotel room and kicked our feet up and relaxed.
We had dinner at the Mission, which was literally right next to our hotel so that I wouldn't have to walk.
And desert just a block away. We walked really slow...
We are looking forward to our next mini vacation when I'm not so close to giving birth!
I was pretty miserable for the next week, having these contractions on and off and super uncomfortable sitting/laying down/standing/walking/staying still/moving...it was just hard to do anything.
Thursday, August 2nd Clark and I went over to my best friend Kate's parent's pool, where we grew up going for our whole childhood and still do! Kate had invited us over along with another friend of her's and her son. We had a good time but I was not feeling that well the whole day. Even the pool didn't bring me much relief.
On our way home at about 5:00, we were stuck in traffic for what seemed like forever and I started having the contractions again. Clark was getting frustrated being in the car so long and I was in pain.
Once there was a break in traffic, the van started acting up as it had done occasionally over the last couple weeks. I couldn't go over 30 mph on the highway, so I got off, restarted the van and started back on the highway...still only 30 mph. We made it home, finally! And my contractions continued.
I had them all night long, 5 minutes apart, 4, then 3, then 2...I kept waking Jeff up and asking him, "honey, do you think we're in labor? I'm in a lot of pain." And he would always ask, "Does it feel the same as it did before?" And I would say, "yes," and he would say, "no, these are braxton hicks again. Sorry, honey." I must have come into our bedroom 4-5 times (I wanted him to get sleep if we weren't in real labor since he had to work in the morning) and every time I got the same answer.
At 6:00 am I knew I couldn't take care of Clark after being up all night and in the pain I was in. I called my mom and asked her to come right over so she did. She saw the pain I was in and kept asking if I should call the doc, but I said (wincing in pain), "no, Jeff said it's Braxton Hicks contractions," and continued wandering around the house trying to find any position that might be comfortable, even just for a minute.
At about 11:00 I was crying and felt bad that Clark had to see me in that kind of pain. He was bringing me graham crackers and looking at me with such love in his eyes. He knew I wasn't doing well. So I called the doctor's office.
I told them I wasn't sure if I was in labor and described what I was going through (while breathing through the pain--they were 1 minute apart at this point and had been for hours). The nurse said, "yeah you are in labor. You need to go the hospital right now!" Even then, I said, "but my husband thinks they are braxton hicks contractions." She said, "Honey, braxton hicks contractions don't hurt. You are in pain and have been laboring all night. You need to get to the hospital right away." Oh! This IS labor!
The only conclusion I could come to is that I had real contractions the first hospital visit and they stopped and I continued to have real contractions on and off throughout the next weeks. That was the reason for the confusion. They were never Braxton Hicks contractions at all. Either way, I decided that if we ever have another baby, I won't be asking Jeff if I'm in labor. ;)
I called Jeff right away and told him we need to get to the hospital. He had biked to work so he flew through traffic, he says he was going so fast that he was passing cars. He got home in pools of sweat. I was laying in bed moaning trying not to freak out my 18 month old while my mom packed my bag and charged my camera batteries.
We threw ourselves and our stuff in the car and Jeff started racing to the hospital. We were now a little freaked out because my REAL contractions were one minute apart and who knows how far dilated I was or if we were even going to make it in time for an epidural...or worse, have a baby in the car!!
Jeff was driving a little fast around the corners and weaving in and out of traffic. It was definitely a scene out of a movie, getting the pregnant wife to the hospital and all the slow cars are on the road, everyone is cutting you off and every road obstacle you would never normally see on the road was present.
This time we decided to pay the extra money and do valet parking. Jeff jumped out of the car and the valet guy got in...then he looked over at me (still in the car) having a contraction and said,"oh" and started to get back out. I said, "no no, I'll get out," and slowly exited the vehicle breathing in patterns. I'll never forget the look on his face. ha ha Jeff said, "mind if we skip taking a picture outside of the hospital this time?" I said, "nope," and we raced inside.
Jeff was wheeling and carrying all kinds of bags and pillows and cameras and was looking for someone to wheel me upstairs (please, Lord, not that same man from before!) and couldn't find anyone, so Jeff grabbed a wheel chair that was sitting out and wheeled me and all of our stuff like Super Dad up to the 6th floor. While we were in the elevator, one of the doctors looked at my face, saw the pain and had everyone else get off the elevator at the same floor so we wouldn't have to make a bunch of stops along the way. Thank you Doctor!
This time, there were no monitors to see if I was having contractions and no one checked me to see if I was dilated, they looked at my face and saw that we were going to have a baby and admitted me to a room. Boom.
Moments later, they had the epidural ordered and on its way. Thank the Lord we were not too late!
Relief! That epidural was magical. I could almost enjoy the rest of the process because I wasn't in massive amounts of pain anymore.
Things progressed really well, I was dilated to a 7 when we got there and was almost all the way effaced. We were thankful we didn't have the baby at home or in the car...they were shocked we waited as long as we did to come to the hospital and Jeff now thinks I'm pretty tough. :)
We had gone through classes to figure out how Jeff would help me get through labor when the time came...he could help me with my breathing, count down the contractions, rub my back, cheer me on...and in the end, he was asleep and I was battling it out by myself while watching the Olympics! I don't blame him, he would have been the best coach ever...had we known we were in labor.
For several more hours, I was in labor watching a fuzzy screen of the Olympics with Jeff while the doctor and nurses came and checked on me. Things kept progressing and eventually they broke my water. My stomach kept shrinking and by the time the water was mostly out, I didn't look nearly as pregnant! I think even the doctor was shocked. We had a little peanut inside...and a whole lot of water!
There was one part of my cervix that wouldn't "thin out" which apparently is very dangerous when you get to the pushing part...you could end up in emergency surgery. So they started giving me petocin. Then they upped the petocin. That stuff is intense. My somewhat comfortable post-epideral labor changed to feeling more and more pain labor in a short period of time...but I knew the end was near, so it was great motivation.
I really wanted to avoid a repeat C-section if at all possible. I had my heart set on a V-BAC and things were looking really good and going in that direction! We started pushing, which was way further than we ever got with Clark, so I knew it was all happening. I pushed through about 4 contractions and they started noticing that the baby's heart rate was all over the place.
They pretty much made an immediate decision to do another C-section.
My heart sank. Of course the ultimate goal is to have a healthy baby, but I couldn't believe I had been through labor and a C-section twice! I apparently specialize in the "2 for 1."
They put me on oxygen for the baby and got Jeff into his scrubs. Once the initial shock and disappointment wore off, I was just excited to meet my little girl.
I feel like I hardly had a minute to think about what was happening, it was just happening.
Sorry if this is graphic, but I think this picture is beautiful. Jeff took it and what an amazing thing he captured. I'm jealous that he got to see our baby girl being born! But so glad he captured this moment. Breath taking.
And there is our beautiful baby girl letting out her cry.
One of the hardest things for me with my C-section with Clark was that they didn't show him to me right away. I requested this time that they just lift her up, even for a second, so I could just see her face right when she is born...and they did. I love this picture, baby girl peaking up over the curtain to say hi to her mama for the first time. Love at first sight. I also love that Daddy's hand is where it is.
7 pounds 9 ounces.
They brought her over for my first kiss. They pretty much set her cheek on my lips and I just kissed away. It was wonderful. She had the softest cheeks.
Our baby girl. Love Love Love.
Getting checked over.
Oh, I guess the world is not so bad!
First time I got to hold her.
My little baby girl.
We still had this decision about the name to figure out. My real name is Rachel Leigh...my parents took the "R" from Rachel and Leigh and put an "A" in front of it to make "Arleigh." There are 9 generations of Rachel "L" in my family and I knew someday if I had a little girl, I would keep the tradition alive. I love being a part of it, it is so unique to have such a long standing tradition--especially with women! But what would the "L" part be?
I have thought of this question literally my whole life. I have never been sold on any one name and thought maybe I would have a nickname for her, like I do...but never came up with one I loved. Once we found out it was a girl, Jeff and I started looking up "L" names. One of the first ones we saw was "LaMiracle," so that became her nickname...Rachel LaMiracle. But I was hoping that wouldn't end up being it ;)
It all came down to this moment. We have a baby girl, what will we call her? She's already born and I am not a wait-until-you-see-the-baby-to-name-them kind of girl. But that's exactly what we did.
We were between two choices and I was leaning towards Lilah, but wasn't really sure. This is about when Jeff said, "I think she's a Lilah." I couldn't have agreed more. We were totally at peace with our decision and loved her being named Lilah instantly.
We were trying to figure out how to spell it, I was leaning toward "Lylah" because it looks obvious how you pronounce it, but Jeff quickly changed my mind when he said he wanted it to be be spelled "Lilah" because she can put a heart over the "i." Well, I melted and it wasn't much of a discussion after that...Lilah with an "i" it is!!
Clark, the Big Brother, came to meet his baby sister and see his mama. He was a little hesitant at first, he wanted to stay in his stroller! The last time he saw me, I was in a ton of pain and now we were in a strange place and I was hooked up to all kinds of strange things and there was a new strange little person we were holding and talking about. Eventually he did want to come over and sit on the bed with me.
The first family pic didn't turn out so well, but its still captured :)
My dad, Gramps, getting to meet Lilah.
Grandma (Jeff's mom) excited for her newest playmate!
The two grandmas with their two grandkids!
Great picture of Phil and Michele with Lilah
My mom, Bama, with Lilah
Three of the four living Rachel L's :) Rachel Lynn, Rachel Lilah, and Rachel Leigh. My grandma is Rachel Louise.
Proud Mommy and Daddy :)
Lots of kisses!
Jeff with his parents and the kids
My BFF Kate meeting Lilah
Jeff with his BFF Matt holding each others' baby girls, Lilah and Hazel. They will grow up together down the street! So fun!
Daddy time :) I LOVE this picture.
Skin to skin. Best thing ever.
Doesn't get much sweeter :)
It's a girl!
Little narrow feet, long toes
Love this pic! It was scanned and don't know how to crop it so I'll work on that :D
Lilah is a mouth breather, like her mama :o
Holding Daddy's hand
Love
Daddy and his little baby girl
Love this picture and the lighting
Having a good cry...although she really doesn't cry much!
Lilah in her "going home" outfit
Lilah's first time in her crib, I think she likes it!
Good one of my parents with Lilah
Story time with Daddy, Clark and Lilah!
We are
loving every minute with our precious baby girl and Clark is so in love
with his baby sister. He says her name all the time, I think it might
be his favorite word. If he hears her make a peep over the monitor, he
makes us immediately go and get her...even if he is playing outside (his
favorite thing to do!) He wants to give her kisses all the time and
touches her little fingers. He is patient when mommy has to nurse her
(for the most part) and gives her the pacifier when she needs it.
