It all started on Monday March 12th. Abby didn’t come on her due date much to my disappointment (the cause of many tears haha), so I ended up having to go in for my scheduled non-stress test. The doctor told me to pack my hospital bag just in case they had to induce me, but he didn’t think it was likely to happen. Right before the appointment I was throwing things in my bag that was already partially packed thinking how stupid it was to have to pack when I’d most likely be coming home in an hour.
When we got to the hospital they strapped monitors on me to watch the babies heart rate, and they also did an ultrasound. Her heart rate was a little low, and she wasn’t moving around very much, so they gave me some food and juice to see if that would get her going. I was STARVING, so I was grateful to get some food. After awhile the ultrasound tech came back and tried to get Abby to move around more using a sound machine. She still wasn’t moving much…by that point Dustin and I were thinking that I might have to be induced. Right we were! The doctor there thought it was best to start my labor even though she looked okay just to be on the safe side. My emotions were a mix of terror and excitement. I was SO ready to have her, but at the same time labor sounded pretty scary.
The next stop for me was labor and delivery. They took me to my room, told me to dress down, and started my labor using a little pill they inserted into my cervix or uterus after I had eaten some lunch (remember I was STARVING). I didn’t feel my contractions when they started. I just sat on the bed, watched TV, and got up to pee what seemed like every 10 minutes…not a fun task when I was hooked up to an IV and monitors (side note: the nurse hit a nerve in my had while putting in the IV. OUCH!).
I started to get bad back pain after awhile, which I thought came from sitting uncomfortably. Little did I know that I had back labor, and that I wasn’t having hardly any time between my contractions. Because my contractions were so close together they didn’t want to give me another one of those little pills or pitocin because it might stress out the baby and my uterus. You can imagine my frustration when after several hours I had hardly dilated…like from a 1 to a 2. The pain started to get bad and it was night time…no sleep for me! They kept giving me some drug that took the pain away and made me tired…I liked that drug 
After awhile they told me I could’t have that drug anymore and that I needed to get an epidural. The anesthesiologist came in and got it ready (really didn’t hurt that bad!), then realized I was still at a 2 and didn’t want to start it yet. Frustration!! It was getting painful and I was ready.
After awhile they came in and broke my water to get things going (that really hurt) and by that time I was at 3cm so they started my epidural. The 15 or so minutes that it took to kick in were brutal. After my water was broken my contractions were terrible. A mix between really bad menstrual cramps and really bad back pain. I don’t know how people do it naturally! Let’s just say I love drugs…Daddy you make so many people happy (My Dad is an anesthetist for those who don’t know).
A few hours later my epidural started to wear off…the pain wasn’t terrible, but I could feel myself dilating which was uncomfortable. I asked for more drugs, and boy did I get them! I was so numb I couldn’t feel anything and was even more uncomfortable…my mistake. Tuesday morning around 9:00am the nurse came in and told us I was at a 10 and it was time to push. Time to push?! I was so excited! It only took forever to get to this point! Dustin started getting very nervous and wasn’t feeling good…I was afraid he might not make it haha. He actually did great! At first he didn’t want to look, but when the head stared coming out (sorry graphic) he looked and couldn’t stop looking. I hadn’t planned on watching it, but they offered the mirror and I accepted. So cool! Being able to see helped me push. It was difficult because I was still so numb, but I did a great job (no really…the doctor and nurses were impressed
Little Abby came into the world at 10:05 am on Tuesday March 13th 2012. I pushed her out in a little over an hour, and would have gotten her out sooner but we had to wait for the doctor. She was so perfect and beautiful! Maybe I am biased, but I was expecting an ugly newborn and she was so cute
Getting all cleaned up!
She came out screaming!! She has a great pair of lungs that we get to enjoy often haha
She was 21 inches and 8 pounds 9 ounces…big baby!
A daddy daughter moment
So happy to have her in my arms after all those months!
Getting checked out by the doctor
Oh yes…she can scream…
Blissed out under the heater after her first bath
Wrapped up like a little burrito!
Meeting Grandma and Grandpa for the first time
They came again the second day. Three generations!
Proud Mamma and Papa! Feeling a little better after some rest.
On our way home! They let us keep her!
So sleepy
We love our little Abby soo much! More pictures to come!
