Layla's Birth Story, finally! (pics, too)
You all can feel free to remind me how I lose my mind the last two weeks of pregnancy if we do this again ... lol.Man, am I in a good mood now! I can play on the floor with Lydia, I can see my feet, apetite is back, I can sleep, AND, I have a gorgeous little 7 lb baby to show for that 40 weeks! Layla is now 13 days old, and completely amazing! She is very much a different little soul than her sister, and I am loving getting to know her.
So, here it is:
Last Wednesday the 21st was a rough day. I was ill all day, highly emotional, and I couldn't stop pacing ... no way could I sit still or stand around. Had to keep moving. For the three days before that, I had been losing a great deal of cervical fluid and having pretty severe period -like cramps consistantly. At 7, we decided to load Lydia into the new stroller and we walked about three miles around our neighborhood. Still restless, DH put her to bed and I began pacing again. Lots of lower back pressure, felt like I had to pee all the time, but no contractions to speak of. DH went to bet at 8:15, and I decided to lay on the couch and read. At 8:30, POP! There went my water, only given my bladder issues, I totally thought I peed my pants. Again. SO I woke DH and of course had to debate it. I posted here, and ended up waiting until 11:30 to go to the hospital to check and see if it was indeed my water, or another lovely pants-peeing episode. They didn't get us into a room until 2: am and didn't check me until 2:30. Sure enough, it was the bag of waters, and after the nurse checked me (2 cm 80% effaced), I began contractions on my own. They weren't steady, so out came the pitocin as it had been 6 hours since the waters broke. If you've had pit, you can imagine the next two hours as my contractions became more regular. I got an epidural at 4:30 and was able to sleep. Nurse said she would be back at 6 to check me, and she started to laugh when she did. I was totally effaced, completely dialated, and baby was at a station -1. If I pulled my legs back, you could see her head. I began pushing at 6am , Layla was born after 5 pushes at 6:25. She was 7lbs, 11 ounces, and 19 inches long and absolutely perfect. BF is a struggle as my milk supply will not come in (I know I know ... I drink the tea, I pump, I swing dead cats, I pray ... I am not the mom with the big milk supply. I have to supplement.) I am loving having two girls, every day is a new challenges that brings new rewards. But, I am more exhausted than I have ever been. In my entire life. Ever. But I love it.
Here are some pics.
You can follow my journey at mandaschange.blogspot.com
