A New Chapter Begins

 So this was me a week ago. 39 Weeks pregnant and heading off to my doctors appointment. I was beyond impatient to get my labor started and I had been having contractions for over a week. I felt like with this baby I was on a time schedule to have her and I needed her to come like now. Both my girls were starting school on the 13th, my parents were driving out from Maryland to come see the baby, and Jacob starts school on the 19th and I really wanted him to have some time with our newest little girl before he was gone all the time. At my appointment I was still only dilated to a 2! I was beyond disappointed about that but I was pretty much totally effaced which was awesome. My doctor offered to induce me the next day because it was the only day he was on call at the hospital. Now those of you who know me know I'm not a fan of inductions but I was so overcome with the feeling of yes do this that I agreed and we scheduled me to be induced at 5:30 the next morning. I felt calm and so peaceful about the decision, I didn't really have to do anything to get ready because I was already all ready to have this baby. My house was clean, all my freezer meals were made, mine and the girls bags were packed. Our last day as a family of 4 was spent hanging out watching TV and playing together. I got up the next morning and got myself all ready to head over to the hospital, a friend came to stay at our place till the girls woke up and then they would be off having a blast playing with friends and having a sleepover. I started having a panic attack on the way to the hospital. It was like all my memories of labor and childbirth came rushing back to me and I thought I might throw up on the 5 minute car ride to the hospital. I ended up not getting my induction started till around 8:30 and I began to remember how much I didn't like pitocin at all. They started me off slow and my contractions started coming regularly and with some intensity. I had it under control and was in my zone, I was totally proud of myself. The problem was I wasn't dilating. They upped my dose and had me go for a walk for 30 minutes around the hospital. That was all it took, when they checked me next I was almost to a 4. By now it was around 1ish, Jacob left for about 30 minutes to get some warmer clothes because he was freezing in my room and he needed to get some lunch. Right before he left I was also told that my doctor wanted me to be tad more dilated before I got my epidural. I always contemplate having my kids naturally but I've never had the guts to do it. I enjoy my epidurals and I enjoy child birth as much as you can because I'm drugged up. At 3:00 I was dilated to a 6 almost 7 and the anesthesiologist was called to come give me my epidural. I swear it took him FOREVER to come seriously! What I didn't know was he wasn't in the hospital so he was coming from somewhere else. After each contraction I kept thinking oh this is the last one I'll feel, he'll walk threw those doors any minute and I won't have to go threw this anymore. Remember I'm still on pitocin and its up to a 9 which is pretty high. FINALLY the anesthesiologist comes in, I'm having the worst contractions I have ever experienced out of all my labors. I am not in the zone to say the least. At one point I begged Jacob to make it stop and I told him I didn't think I could do this anymore. Jacob was amazing. He encouraged me and gave me the support I needed threw out the entire experience. (To some this next bit may be a bit graphic so you may want to skip to the pictures.) As I was sitting on the edge of the bed getting my epidural I knew something wasn't quite right. I was feeling lots of pressure like the baby was coming, I was having the most horrid contractions, and all while having a needle placed in my back. While my epidural was being placed my water broke. It was just like with Olivia and it got all over the floor and Jacob. He was a champ and didn't say a word even though I know he was totally grossed out. I kept saying I was sorry in between screaming in pain. The epidural was set and the anesthesiologist was fiddling with the dosage, I was moved to my back and I started feeling the head crown. I told the nurse who looked under my sheet and then ran out of the room. Next she come running back with a handful of nurses and my doctor. My nurse tells me how to breath and not to push. Have you ever tried to not push when your babies head is crowning? I did good following that direction but my body didn't. My doctor literally just got suited up and put his hands down there when out came my baby. I didnt' have to push at all because my body just took over and out she came. I had her at 4:02, so in about an hour I dilated 4cm and had a natural child birth since my epidural hadn't even taken effect yet. We finally decided to name her Abigail Lynn and she weighed in at 7lbs 8oz and was just over 20in long. She's perfect in every way. Jacob and I were talking afterwards and we both said how grateful we were that I had been induced because were both nervous that if my water had broke at home that I might have delivered her on the car ride over to the hospital. Whenever Jacob tells someone about my labor he says how proud of me he is and how he felt helpless watching me go threw so much. I won't lie, I'm still a bit traumatized after giving birth which is very new for me. I had nightmares the entire first night in the hospital. I'm proud of myself for doing something so hard when I wasn't prepared for it at all. Good for you women who have natural childbirths but I have no desire to do that again ever. The end result made all the pain worth it. I love looking at our beautiful new daughter, holding her, and smelling that incredible new baby smell. We're all in love with little Abigail. After she was born her jaundice levels were already quite high so she and I ended up staying in the hospital for an extra day. We were very lucky that we were able to get in under control fast and on Thursday afternoon we got to come home. At her check-up on Friday afternoon her levels were still a bit high but they were in a safe enough range for how old she was that we didn't have to take her back to the hospital. She's still doing really well so we should be out of the clear. Our chances of future children having jaundice are also high since 2 of our 3 kids have all had high levels and I also had high levels when I was born.

 Overall everything is going really well. I'm healing a bit slower then I did with Olivia but much faster then after Savannah. I've already gone on 2 outings which was fantastic. I go stir crazy staying in the house for too long. I don't think I have the baby blues but it is a bit easier to make me cry, I did the same thing while pregnant too though. My mom is still here visiting and will be here for another week. My dad even came out this time and got to spend 4 1/2 days with us before he flew home yesterday. The girls are totally in love with Abby and just can't seem to get enough of her, especially Savannah. Honestly I just feel so blessed that I've been able to bring 3 beautiful and healthy girls into this world. That I have an amazing husband who adores us and works so hard for us. That I have an amazing family who is willing to help me make this transition from 2 to 3 kids. I feel so lucky that I get to be a mom even on the days when my kids drive me nuts. So here is to a new chapter for our family of 5. Its definitely going to be a crazy ride but I really wouldn't have it any other way.