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  G.abriel's Birth Story
G.abriel D.aniel Born March 12th - Due March 29th 7lbs 2oz On March 8th I had my 37 week appointment and found out I was...

G.abriel D.aniel
Born March 12th - Due March 29th
7lbs 2oz

On March 8th I had my 37 week appointment and found out I was GBS positive from the swab they took the previous week. We set the rest of my appointments for the month and he told me if my water broke to go into the hospital asap for an induction. Over the next few days I noticed that I was losing large chunks of my mucous plug as well as having some painful cramping and back pain that would last hours in the evening. I had a feeling that this baby might come early and I was hoping it would since I was starting to get really uncomfortable and was having trouble sleeping. On Sunday my mom came into town to visit and made eggplant parmasean for dinner. We joked all evening that since it was a labour inducing food that the baby would come that night. We all went to bed and at 2AM I woke up to pee. I was sitting on the toilet and noticed that fluid kept pouring out of me. It sounds dumb, but I really couldn't tell if my water was breaking or if I was just peeing so I just sat there in shock for about half an hour before I finally stood up. I woke up DH and called the hospital and they told me to come in right away and they would check to see if it was amniotic fluid. I went and woke up my mom to tell her my water might have broken and we were headed to the hospital. She got all excited and exclaimed "It was the eggplant!!!!" ha. I was really glad she was already at our house to watch DD since it was 3AM when we left.

We got to the hospital and they discovered that it was amniotic fluid and I was admitted right away to a L&D room. Since I was having no contractions at all they hooked me up to a pitocin drip to kick start my labour I was 2 cm at this time and my cervix was still very posterior. They had trouble even reaching it. Contractions never got that intense or painful I was checked again after 4 hours and there was no progress whatsoever. After another 4 hours my doctor came to check on me and there was still no progress. They kept increasing and increasing the pitocin dose until I was at the maximum dose but it wasn't doing anything. They figured that there must still be a large pocket of amniotic fluid that hadn't broken yet and it was cushioning the baby's head, so allowing the head to come down and help dilate me with the contractions. My doctor got the crochet hook out and broke the rest of my water. this was the MOST painful thing ever. I had tears streaming down my face the entire time. Once my water was broken (around 12:30PM) the contractions got more intense. After another 4 hours (4:30PM) I was checked again and I was only 3 cms. I was so bummed out at this point since I had been there for 12 hours, I had only 3 hours of sleep the night before, I was exhausted and frustrated. My nurse suggested I get the epidural at this point since she knew I wanted one and she figured it was time for me to try and sleep. The anesthesiologist came in to administer the epidural and once it took effect I was finally able to relax for a minute. Suddenly I started getting super itchy. It was horrible. I couldn't stop scratching my entire body and I was SO uncomfortable - side effect from the epidural. I was given some Benedryl through my IV to help with the itching which made me so incredibly loopy that I couldn't even talk or keep my eyes open and I fell asleep. The position that I fell asleep in, didn't agree with the baby and his heart rate started doing funny things. My nurse told me I had to get up on all fours and hug the back of my bed to get him in a better position. Well that was an interesting thing to try and do at this point since I could barely open my eyes and both my legs were so frozen I could barely move. She helped me get there though and then I apparently fell asleep hugging the back of the bed and snored for about 25 minutes in that position. After that i was allowed to lie back down on my side and I napped for another hour or so. At 6:30 my nurse was saying it looks like she was going to miss the birth since it was almost shift change. I was starting to feel pressure and I told her I might be ready to push. I think she thought I was crazy since I had made no progress all day and only 2 hours ago I was only 3 cms. She checked me anyways and exclaimed 'OH MY GOD - the head is right there!!!" She called my doctor and luckily he was close by and came running in. 3 more contractions (about 10 mins later) and he was out! Chord was wrapped around his neck once and I had one small internal tear. They put Gabriel on my chest right away and DH cut the cord (something he always said he'd never do!) I watched the whole deliver through a mirror this time. I wasn't sure I wanted to but I'm so glad I got to see the birth. He scored 9 and 9 on his Apgars and is pretty darn perfect so far.

We had a few setbacks because of jaundice and had to stay a bit of extra time in the hospital. DD loves the new baby and has so far shown no jealousy at all. It has been amazing to fall in love with a baby all over again. Was skeptical that I'd be able to love another child as much as DD, but I do.

Some pictures
Brand new


All bundled up


DD meeting her little brother


Me and my baby


Ready to go home


At home

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