Anniston Rudd
I like to record the "birth story" of my kids. All the crazy details that I'm sure I'll forget one day. It's really mostly for me, but you are welcome to read it if you wish. :) So, here is how our baby girl Anniston arrived...
I was scheduled to be induced on Monday morning, Valentine's Day. But, with Adam's limited number of days off, preschool, and my mom already in town, I was really hoping she would join us sooner. My doctor said he would be more than willing to help me along on Saturday as long as I was having enough contractions for the hospital to admit me. He gave me a list of all the things you can do to start contractions and I pretty much tried them all! :) I had been having constant contractions all week, but of course none on Friday night or Saturday morning. Saturday around 10:00, Adam and I decided to go to some stores near the hospital to do some walking and see if that would get enough contractions going to head in. We actually had a great time together walking through stores, holding hands, and eventually timing contractions. I'm pretty sure we walked through every strip mall in Germantown and by 1:00 my contractions were finally regular and close enough to head to the hospital.
I was so nervous that the contractions would stop while we were checking in at the hospital and waiting to get things started, that I even jogged around the room a bit while the nurse was not there. I really did not want to get sent back home! Luckily, they checked to find me dilated to 4-5 cm and admitted me to the hospital. The contractions had been very mild up to that point and they stopped completely once they started my IV, but I was in! :)
Before they would start the Pitocin or break my water, we had to wait for 2 rounds of antibiotics to get into my system. So, for the next 4 hours we did a whole bunch of waiting. This was definitely the only boring part of the whole day. Of course, once they got my labor started, it got exciting really fast...
6:00 Dr. Byrd breaks my water and they start the Pitocin. I was surprised at how long it took the contractions to get going this time.
6:30 I finally start having some strong contractions. I had decided to try this delivery without an epidural and was determined to be more "zen" about it this time. Adam was fantastic to rub my back through the contractions and I was feeling pretty good about how I was handling them.
7:05 The contractions get a lot stronger and the pain reaches my tolerance level. I am definitely no longer "zen" :). If this is going to last much longer then I am ready for the drugs. I ask the nurse to check me and find out I am still only dilated to 5 cm. Planning on labor lasting a lot longer, I ask for the epidural.
7:08 The nurse walks out to order the epidural. My next contraction starts and I am immediately calling for her to come back. I'm pretty sure the intercom conversation went something like this...
Me: I need to push!
Nurse: What Ma'am?
Me: I'M PUSHING NOW!!
One thing you don't experience with an epidural is the intense/uncontrollable urge to push. As hard as I tried to wait, she was coming right then! The room quickly filled (luckily my doctor was standing right outside the door). With that samecontraction, I pushed her head out. There was a scary moment because the cord was wrapped around her neck, but the doctor was able to cut it quickly and unwrap it even before I pushed her body out.
7:11 With the next contraction and one more push she was the rest of the way out and definitely the tiniest little thing I had ever seen! The relief that comes from the complete absence of pain combined with the emotions of seeing and hearing your new baby for the first time is definitely one of the most incredible feelings I have everexperienced. It's hard to explain, but absolutely amazing.
I am still in shock at how tiny Anniston is. Cameron was 7 lbs 3 oz, Brooklyn was 7 lbs 1 oz, and she was only 5 lbs 15 oz. It's amazing the difference a pound makes. Luckily, she is a strong and healthy little 6 pounder! I was able to keep her with me in the hospital more than any of my other babies and after 24 hours we were both ready to go home.
Anniston is such a little sweetheart. She is so content! She eatswell, sleeps well, and barely cries. We are all absolutely in love with her! The kids have been sick, so I haven't let them hold her yet, but they have been wearing out a track in the carpet heading to her bassinet every few minutes to peek at her. Yesterday I went in to find her wide awake staring up at them both while they brought in different toys to show and tell her about. :)
I am feeling fantastic! One of the reasons I chose to try without an epidural again this time was because of my easy recovery after Brooklyn. This one has been even easier. I am definitely spoiled when it comes to labor/delivery and I can't believe how lucky I am to be blessed with 3 incredible children! Life is wonderful! :)
