Running Backwards in High Heels: birth

Monday, January 12, 2009

Claire Bear is here!

We started our Friday off bright and early, having to be at the hospital at 5:00. Yes, that is a.m. When we got there, we got settled in our room and the nurse started my IV of pitocin to induce my labor. The contractions got pretty intense pretty quickly. My Mom and Bill arrived around 6:30 and they were great company. The nurses changed shifts at 7:00 and I found out that the nurse that was with me through most of Addison's delivery( she wasn't the one that actually delivered Addison b/c of a doctors appt) has signed up for Claire's delivery. She was totally awesome during my labor with Addison and I really appreciate everything that she did for me. I could dedicate a whole blog to the "fabulous-ness" of Miss Connie, but I won't. :) Anyway, Dr. Cris, my anesthesiologist came around 7:00 and did my epidural, and I felt MUCH better after that! I swear, that is REALLY the to go! Dr. Franklin came in around 7:30 and checked me and broke my water. We had been hoping Claire would make her grand entrance before lunch, but around mid-morning, it wasn't looking that way. I was dilated 5 around 10:00 and Connie was thinking it would be more like mid-afternoon. She wasn't planning on checking me until Dr. Franklin made her rounds at lunch, but around 11:30, Connie checked me and I was dilated 9! They started getting the room ready so, we could push when Dr. Franklin came over at lunchtime. I was starting to feel some intense pressure from Claire, so I knew she was getting ready too. Connie didn't think I was going to have to push long at all, which I was thankful for, since I pushed for an hour with Addison. My family all left to go eat lunch over at Andy's office while I was going to push. I pushed for 2 minutes! Literally!!! It was 3 contractions and Claire was welcomed into our world!! It was so amazing. After they got her cleaned up, John was going to go to the door and show her off but no one was there! He had to call our family to come over to see her! They came running through the hospital like a bunch of mad men!! Everything about Claire's birthing experience was so much easier! Everything was so calm and quick! We got to go home on Sunday, and we are trying to get settled into our routine. Addison is in love with Claire and is so good with her. She is learning to be gentle when touching her. She loves to hold her. Claire is sleeping a lot, but waking every 1 to 2 hours to breastfeed. Addison loves to watch her nurse. She tried to latch one of her baby dolls onto me when I was feeding Claire! Mom has been such a HUGE help these past couple of days. It is so great to have family so close.