Well school is out for us college kids and I figure showing off my new little girl is a good way to start the summer. Mackenzie was born the afternoon April 14th. She was 9 pounds 4 ounces and just over 20 inches long.
Yeah, I look awesome after having a baby 
Labor and delivery was certainly interesting this time. No big problems, just a few challenges. I say that because I think modern medicine took what would have been a life threatening issue a hundred years ago (probably less), and made it no big deal. Here are all the gory details:
I started having contractions at about 1am, which seems to be the time I always go into labor. The contractions weren’t evenly spaced or even all that strong so I decided to just lay on the couch and watch the clock. I figured I would go to the hospital when they started waking me up at even intervals. They kept coming irregularly, anywhere from 8 to 20 minutes. Then at about 6 I had five contractions that were all 3 minutes apart. So I went ‘Holy cow! I better go.’
When I got to the hospital the nurse checked me and said I was already 7 centimeters and my water was going to break any second. She was also certain that as soon as my water broke that the baby was gonna shoot right out. I told her to call the anesthetist because I didn’t want to have a baby without an epidural. She was awesome, she called him down and she got me ready for the epidural super quick. As I sat on the edge of the bed waiting for his arrival I was watched the little screen that showed the intensity of my contractions. Even though I was at least 7 cm, I didn’t think my contractions didn’t hurt really bad yet.
After I got the epidural they called the doctor in and he broke my water. He said he’d be back in 15 minutes and I could push the baby out. Fifteen minutes later he was back, but oddly enough baby hadn’t even dropped (this often happens before labor even begins). They just said to wait a while and as soon as I felt pressure we would start pushing. Well, it never happened. I know I know, you’re thinking ‘Tiffany, you had an epidural of course you couldn’t feel anything.’ I tell you that epidurals are done very well. Even though you don’t feel pain you still feel pressure and you can still feel enough to push.
After a few hours we started pushing anyway. T’his whole time my contractions never came consistently. They even gave my potosin while I was pushing to try to get them to come more regularly. Most of my contractions were between 8 and 12 minutes apart. I didn’t push for very long before they realized that the baby was positioned funny. She was face up and brow first (brow first basically means that she is coming out eyes first). I did eventually get her out, but I had three nurses tell me it was a miracle I didn’t need a c-section. They said that if it was my first baby they wouldn’t even had my try pushing. Since it was my third, and I already knew how to push, they let my give it a go. This is why modern medicine is awesome. Most women with a baby that is brow first are unable to push out their baby, meaning that both of them would have died a hundred years ago. These days c-sections are so routine that we don’t even think of ‘brow first’ as a life threatening situation.
Of course, there are aftereffects to pushing a baby out in the most difficult manner possible. More bleeding than normal, and massive swelling are among them.
Now we have a beautiful baby girl and I am almost healed up. I can even work out again.
Your super ninja skills was what got that baby out. Sorry to hear about the aftereffects. She is pretty, great pictures!
I can feel your pain and sympathize with you. Cooper was exactly the same position and I had the same exact issue as you–except Cooper was sideways and face-up. I had back labor because he was sideways. But once you see your precious little one, all that effort is worth it. She is adorable!!