So I am admittedly really behind in writing this. Like all FTM's I didn't realize just how little time I would have after she was born! I mean, just because she is sleeping doesn't mean I have time on my hands. I gotta shower and eat too! lol. Also, this is our first week without family here to "help" so, really, our first week of down time. Anyway, enough rambling. On to the good stuff!

I am sure you have heard me say it many times but, I was one of the few lucky women who's morning sickness does not go away in the second tri... or the third... I was taking Zofran religiously and Prilosec had to be added daily just to make things manageable. Not. Fun. Our EDD was August 27th but at our 37 week OB appointment and second cervical check we were already 1 1/2 cm dilated and about 80% effaced. At the 38 week appt we had jumped to 3 cm and "ripe". My nausea was getting worse. I was going through my Zofran like it was candy just to keep crackers down. At that point my OB decided, since things were moving along so well that we would schedule an induction date for the following week, August 21st, 39 weeks. It wasn't preferable but since the baby was measured at 7.5 lbs and 20 in at the 36 week sono, we were in the clear. She was also very concerned about my nausea and my ability to really nourish myself and the baby and, at this point, there was no real reason to delay it. The baby was healthy and at a good size. We also highly doubted I would make it to the induction date anyway. It was more of a reassurance that that would be the absolute latest we would go. It also happened to be a day she was on call. Deal!

The day after the appt, I went into labor. I was in some mild pain but they were 4-5 minutes apart and about a minute and a half long. So, we called my OB and she had us go in! The nurse hooked me up to some monitors to check me out. Eventually she wanted me walking for an hour... that was one seriously long boring and slightly painful hour. When she rechecked me, I was still at a 3 and the pain was determined to be too mild (Didn't know until later how right they were!) So we were sent home. At the time I was mad. I was so ready to have our Hoglet and I was in labor darn it! Well, turns out my early labor would take me all the way up until our induction date. That's right. I got to enjoy the fun of early labor for an entire week. Oh boy!

My OB was shocked when I showed up to my pre-induction appointment. Nobody thought I would make it to that! But, the induction was on! So, the next day we woke up at 4 am (as if we had slept the night before), got the bags that weren't already in the car from our "false alarm" packed and we calmly drove to the hospital. It was surreal. Aren't you supposed to suddenly scream at your husband "it's time" and watch him clamor for the bags and barely make it out the door, speed to the hospital all while screaming in labor pains because "the baby is coming!"? Nope. We calmly drove to the hospital, let them know we were scheduled, walked to our room, signed some paperwork and changed. I had purchased a labor gown (Pretty Pusher. Look it up. SO worth it!) My first nurse wouldn't let me use it (contrary to what I was told during the tour) and also said I was only allowed 2 people MAX in the room with me (also contrary to what I was told in the tour). Luckily she left pretty quickly. They had trouble finding a vein to start my IV because I was so swollen... I am terrified of needles. Seriously scared of them. I cried like a baby when they had to restick me twice because the vein wasn't good. Sad, I know.

So, at 5:45 the pitocin was started. At 6 I got my new (and totally amazing) nurse. She was thrilled when I showed her the labor gown and helped me put it on. She said she had a woman last week with one and it was the greatest thing on the planet for them because of how easy it was to get to the monitors... take THAT grouchy nurse! At 7 my OB came and broke my water... so weird! I thought I would feel a little pain but she went down there with what looked like a crochet hook and suddenly I peed myself! Or atleast that is what it felt like. The contractions weren't too bad yet. My mom was there at that point so we were all laughing it up and joking around while I could. Let me tell you, laughing while water is leaking (or gushing) out of you is a VERY strange sensation!

Once my water was broken the contractions really started to pick up. I tried so many positions it was insane. I ended up on the peanut which helped a ton but at a certain point I went from "I don't want an epi"! to "When can they get here?!?!" I gotta say, to those women who can do it without one, I am amazed by you. I finally had to make the decision that, if it was this bad already and I wasn't even halfway through, and she was going to get here the same way with or without one, put that horrifying needle in my back!!! Not gonna lie, I cried more with the IV than I did the epi but if somebody tells you the epi doesn't hurt, they are bold face liars! That shiznit HURTS! But, once the pain is gone (which is pretty quickly) it is so worth it. My nurse jumped the gun a little on putting that catheter in. I felt that WAY more than I ever wanted to. But again, once the epi really kicked in, it was smooth sailing!

At noon I had finally made it to 5 cm and the jumped the pitocin WAY up (again, thank god for that needle in my back!) At that point I had my entire family there (In the room with me, take THAT grumpy nurse! All 10 of them!) and it was all jokes and giggles. The epi made me shake REALLY bad. Uncontrollably and it was hilarious. I wasn't cold, just shaky. I think it was my nerves getting to me but who knows. We had hired a photographer and at that point we went ahead and gave him a call. I feel bad now because things were really slow and really boring seeing as how I just laid there for the next 5 hours. Oh well.

At around 4 I thought the epi was wearing off because the pain was becoming unbearable. They sent the anesthesiologist in to give be an extra bolus of the pain killer but it did nothing. Turns out it wasn't contraction pain that hurt, it was the pressure. We were getting close! I made her check me and we were at a 9 with a "lip" so I just had to labor down. Not going to lie, I wanted to punch her when she said that. As if it were her fault. 30 minutes later I felt the need to push really badly. My nurse was delivering another baby so I had another nurse come in, we were at a 10! A bunch of practice pushes and my OB was told to come NOW. My mom and Mr. Hedgie were there holding my legs and helping me, though at a certain point Mr. Hedgie couldn't stop looking between my legs. I saw hair and after that it was all he could focus on.

At some point they had turned off the epi so I could feel where to push. The funny thing is, pushing, while painful, felt good! I enjoyed it! I mean, it wasn't something I want to go do on the weekend but compared to the pain I was feeling before, it felt like a huge relief each push. There were a few times I could even feel her moving down which was crazy! The downside? I felt episiotomy. It came out of nowhere. It didn't hurt but here I am, waiting for another contraction and I feel "Snip snip"... Whaaa.... My mom said my eyes got huge the second I felt the first cut. But, I much prefer a painless couple of snips over tearing!

After an hour and a half of pushing, Miss Kaia Lynn Shef was born! I found out later the cord was wrapped around her neck but it didn't cause any complications. She was immediately put on me and immediately pooped! The surprising thing was Mr. Hedgie watched the entire thing and said it was the most amazing thing he has ever seen and doesn't regret it for a second. I remember seeing her when the Dr. held her up and thinking "Holy crap! All THAT just came out of me!" and "OMG she is so tiny!" at the same time. I wanted a delayed cord clamping and I have to admit, I have no idea if they did it. I was too wrapped up in the fact that my little girl was actually here. Mr. Hedgie happily cut the cord and she was placed on my chest.

We were able to do immediate skin to skin and had to wait for her to breastfeed for the first time before Mr. Hedgie could hold her or before she could get her bath. We just enjoyed that quiet alone time... which turns out lasted 3 hours. (Sorry family waiting to see her. Time disappeared!) I actually don't remember feeding her all. I do remember thinking how she latched on amazingly well! She scored 9's on both APGARS and weight 7 lbs 13 oz and 20 in long. (Although the first time the measured her she was 19 in)

Here is a link to the preview pictures our photographer sent. It gives a general idea of the day.

http://www.ashleylangford.com/1694/birth-photography/kaia-birth-photography-at-mansfield-methodist-medical-center-by-dallas-birth-photographer-ashley-langford/

We also brought a Swaddle Me blanket with us to the hospital and it was amazing since she was a kicker already and needed the swaddle to sleep well. The nurses loved it too! It made everybody's life so much easier.

(Sorry! I just realized the novel I wrote! I can be long winded sometimes.)