Needless to say, I left that appointment totally freaked out! No epidural?! Sounded awful. I called Scott at work to tell him what she had said and we both were concerned. We were KINDA prepared prior to this appointment. I had written out all the info for someone to take care of Cooper, packed a few things, and made a few lists but we both agreed that that night we needed to get super organized in case I went into labor. I called my sister and my mother in law to nail down the details of taking care of Cooper. And I went home and got organized. That evening Scott came home from work and he packed his bag. The night went on and Scott fell asleep on the couch as I was doing more laundry, and finishing up my hospital bag and more lists ( I write down everything even how to turn on Cooper's favorite shows on tv!) I was JUST about to head to bed myself feeling like finally if I did go into labor we were fully prepared to drop everything and get the hospital pronto as Dr Thomas suggested.
AND THEN IT HAPPENED!
I was leaning over to put something away (it was about 10pm) and as I stood up I felt a little pop and a gush of water. My gut knew immediately that my water had just broke but it took me about 5 minutes to really accept it! I went to the bathroom to make sure it wasn't just me peeing on myself (which let's be honest can happen when 9months pregnant!) and I had always imagined so much more water than what had just happened. But in the bathroom the amniotic fluid just kept coming and coming. At which point I shouted out to sleeping Scott, "Honey, I think my water just broke!" We put our newly well laid out plan into action. I immediately said Oh my Gosh, I gotta call Emily! When she answered she said, "Did your water break??!" She just had a feeling! Dan came over right away so we didn't have to wait for Lynn to arrive to watch Cooper. Emily was getting herself ready to join us. And so in about 15 minutes we were out the door! It was so spontaneous, unexpected and FUN. Such an adventure. I joke now that I would happily relive that night over and over. On the way to the hospital reality did start to set in. I started feeling contractions and tried timing them. I was still leaking amniotic fluid and we were both just a little giddy and shocked at what was going on. I had a few nervous moments, too. Were we ready for our baby to come home?! And I dreaded that we were already starting the anticipated sleep deprivation as I knew we would be up all night once we got to the hospital. Of course, all of that subsided and we were just full of joy once we met sweet Charlotte.
When we arrived at the hospital I got out of my wet clothes and into a hospital gown. I announced from the moment I got there that I would like an epidural (and was praying we would have time, I'm telling you Dr. Thomas scared me!).
The nurse checked my progress and I was 5-6cm on arrival to hospital. They just had to do some paperwork, get my IV started and draw some blood and we could get the epidural. Luckily, the anesthesiologist was also eager to get me comfortable and was calling the nurse to make sure to let him know when we able to proceed. We really liked him and he made sure to warn Scott that this little girl was about to steal his heart :) After the epidural (YAY) it was about midnight and Dr. Link (doctor on call for my practice) came to see me and check on my progress. The epidural had slowed things down and I was still at 5-6cm (bummer). So, he ordered pitocin to get the contractions going stronger. I asked the nurse when she would check me again and she said not until we have a sign that its necessary. I figured that could be awhile so we all decided to try to rest. Emily was with us by this point and had run to Walgreens for me because in my haste to leave the house (and depite all my prepping and lists) I still managed to forget some stuff. She was just as giddy as us and we all knew we really wouldn't be able to sleep.
A couple hours passed and we "rested" when I started to feel some intense pressure. I hit the call light, the nurse checked me and sure enough I had reached 10cm and baby was right there. That pitocin really got things moving! Dr Link was notified and the crew came in to set up the delivery equipment. It was probably about 3am. I practiced some pushes and tried to get in a good position to get this sweet girl out! I even took a peak at what was going on with a mirror. Scott and Emily stayed at the head of the bed. The doctor arrived after we had made some progress pushing and then it didn't take much more pushing (i'm a pretty good pusher if I do say so myself!) and they told me her head was coming out. Dr. Link had her head, told me to stop pushing, suctioned her mouth and we heard what was the sweetest little whimper of a cry come out of Charlotte! I'll never forget that precious little noise. He guided her out the rest of the way and then she really started crying! As they handed her to me I had tears in my eyes and remember saying Happy Birthday, Charlotte!
Words really can't describe the emotion and feelings you have seeing and holding your baby for the first time. She was born at 4:01am, weighed 7lbs 0.4 ounces and was 21 inches long. Just PERFECT!
Scott was overjoyed as well, but they keep the baby on the mom for an hour for "kangaroo care." The doctor had rushed out right after he delivered Charlotte for an emergency next door unfortunately, so we had a new doctor come in to finish up where Dr. Link left off. We also stayed in our labor room for a couple hours after while things settled down on the unit. My parents had arrived to the hospital about the time Charlotte was born and got to come visit in the delivery room.
Charlotte's temperature was a little low (she's gonna be cold natured like her mama!)so they took her in a little buggy up to the nursery where she stayed for a couple hours under the warmer. They finally got us settled in our mother baby room around 6am where we finally (after more paperwork!) got to get some sleep. I really was still running on adrenaline and hormones and don't think I really slept again until later in the day.
Charlotte warmed up and was reunited with us about 8am. I was eager to hold her again! She didn't leave our side from then on.
She was an angel and really just slept an breastfed the whole time we were there. We had some visitors during the day including our pediatrician and my OBGYN. I let her know how glad I was she had gotten me so prepared that day! Everyone that met Charlotte kept saying how beautiful she was. And we had her changed into a pink outfit and a bow from the start! Fun!
But the one visitor I really cared about was big brother Cooper!!! He had made it to preschool that morning, took a nap, and then by early evening Lynn brought him to the hospital to meet his new sister. I had worried how this would all go prior to her arrival, but sure enough everything went great!
Daddy was gonna take him to chick fil a where they have an indoor play area, so that helped, too! I had some alone time in the hospital with Charlotte while they were gone which I loved. They did take her away for her first bath, so I just enjoyed some peace and quiet. It felt like a vacation! haha Scott put Cooper to bed and came back to me at the hospital. We had a great night and the next morning we somehow convinced everyone to let us go home a day early. We were all doing great and were healthy, and we just wanted to be at home with Cooper. We were discharged about 1pm.
On the way to the car we actually got a phone call from my sister to let us know that my grandad had just passed away. Again, there were alot of emotions that week, but Grandad was told and knew before he passed that Charlotte had arrived! She was with us that week at his funeral and we introduced her to him there. She was mentioned in the eulogy and even let out a little cry to let everyone know she was there!
When we got home we were greeted by the stork! and a light dusting of snow :)
Cooper was trying to give Nanny a hard time not wanting to nap (what's new!) so as soon as he heard us he came bounding down to greet Charlotte and welcome her home. Let the fun begin!
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