Monday, August 1, 2005:    At my 35 week appointment,  I told them I had been feeling funny over the weekend and that my blood pressure at home had been kind of high.   My blood pressure was 155/85 and I had trace to +1 protein in my urine.  It is usually 100/60.  That was enough to put me on bed rest at home for one week then we will reevaluate.  Later, I had a pressure reading of 162/95.  The cut off for the preeclampsia was 140/90.  So I went in the next am and had an ultrasound done, which showed a healthy baby and that she, weighed about 7 pounds or so.  I stayed on the couch all weekend missing the family reunion in Alabama and tried to take it easy.  On that Monday, at 36 and 2 days I saw the Dr  again and we decided it would be best to induce on Thursday of that week.  So I finished getting all of my stuff together and enjoying the kids for a few more days.  Then we went to the hospital at 6am on Thursday, June 23^rd.  (My first THREE kids all broke their collar bones and had issues with shoulder dystocia at birth, so we hoped an early induction would solve those issues too.)

6am: arrival and registration process.  I 'm not really all that nervous, just ready to get the show on the road!

7:20am: I met Jennifer my labor nurse.

7:30am: Pitocin started in my IV.  My blood pressure was 132/75 and I am surprisingly 1 cm dilated and 40%effaced.  The contractions I had yesterday must have been doing something.   Lily's heart rate was 150s and Jennifer said she would increase the Pit every 20 minutes.

8am: I just had my first real contraction.  Not bad at all though. 

8:45am:  I'm having contractions every 3-4 minutes and they are starting to feel productive.  I'm still able to sit down thru them but I don't talk thru them.  I will probably have to stand up soon.  A friend just came by to visit and check in on me.  The contractions are lasting 45-60 seconds long now. 

9am: I just put my headphones on and I am starting to breathe thru them. 

10:30am:  I am 3 cm and Lily is having late decals.  The contractions are stronger now and I have to wear an oxygen mask to help Lily's heart rate come up.  The Pitocin seems to be affecting her badly.  So the Dr  said to maintain, not increase, the Pitocin and see what happens.  My contractions have slowed down now and I am not having any trouble dealing with them. 

11:30am Pitocin upped again since 8:30 ish. 

1pm:  Still 3-4 cm so Dr Brody broke my water to get things moving.  It was very painful to have my water broken this time. I think he missed the bag of waters a few times!  Contractions are really intense now.  I have used the bed, the rocking chair and the birthing ball to help with the pain.  So far no pain meds or anything.  1:30pm: I am starting to lose control and am having a hard time focusing.  I am 5cm and decide to try and wait for 2 pm to get checked again and decide on an epidural.  I don't want one but the pain is definitely increasing. 

2pm: The Dr  came into the room to wait.  I am really getting vocal now.  I had no idea the pain could be this intense.  The contractions are really one on top of another. During the few seconds of my break I lie there and fall asleep.  I have to squeeze John's hand during a contraction and later on he has lots of red marks from my grip.  There isn't enough time for an epidural now but that doesn't stop me from asking for one. 

2:20pm:  I started pushing a few minutes ago on my own because I just had to do something.  After a couple of pushes, the Dr  guided the head out then the shoulders and then I pulled her out and laid her on my stomach!  I was so relieved it was over.  I couldn't believe I did it all natural and delivered her myself!  I finally got the birth I was dreaming about.  I'll have to say though that I did not recognize transition.  I got real hot and antsy so I should have known.  I couldn't believe how much yelling I did though.  Of course you'd have to be dead to not say something about the pain.  Looking back on the experience though I will definitely try to do it again.  I have such great memories of the labor and delivery. Yes transition was a devil but it only lasted 20 minutes and I felt great immediately afterwards.  I even took a shower in the labor room.  The best part was being able to deliver her myself. I was the first person to hold her.  John got to cut the cord this time also.  Oh and no broken collarbone!

Lily weighed 7 pounds 3 ounces.

I'll post soon about how Lily became our first reversal baby!

Happy Birthday Lily!