So as I sit here getting ready to type out Finley's introduction I realize I
should be getting ready to write a 40wk post. Crazy how my kiddos tend to exit early... I am
not complaining though! Let's do this.
Wednesday, May 1st. I have my 36 wk appointment. I am tired. I am done. I am curious to see if any progress has been made. I am also secretly wishing my doctor "accidentally" breaks my water so we can just move on with our lives. I know, I'm a serious pregnancy wuss. Turns out I was almost 50% effaced and dilated 1cm. I'm just happy something has happened. I'm super paranoid that I'll go into labor at school or that I'll have a ridiculously fast labor and not get my epidural. Yes. There are plenty of super moms out there that can do this without drugs. I am proudly
not one of them. Adam and I talk with my doctor and go ahead and schedule being induced on May 21st. The idea behind it? Well that I have a deadline of when sweet girl has to come out. And, that we're all together when labor starts. Harrison was born 6 hours after my water broke. The nurse notified me that sweet girl could come in half that time. God help me.
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| Right at 36wks. Only 6 days from baby girl's exit! |
Thursday, May 2nd. I start having weird crampy feelings. Not painful but definitely can tell they come in waves. I'm not going to lie. I freaked out. My water broke with Harrison - there was no guessing. He was a-coming. My biggest fear (other than not getting my epidural) was that I would be in labor and not even know it! After many texts to numerous friends I was reassured they might be contractions but unless they were regular I was fine. Nothing hurt me. Just scared me. I chose not to tell Adam because I didn't want to get him worked up too. Nothing became of the contractions. They just faded away. I found a good contraction app to help me time them but honestly, they weren't much of anything.
Friday, May 3rd. Hello fake contractions again. Really. Why are you bothering me. At this point, I was getting nervous. Two days in a row. That has to mean something... And are these really contractions?! No pain. No discomfort. Just a big ol' preggo freaking out. I did call my doctor and the nurse reassured me these were most likely Braxton Hicks. All is well. I did tell Adam finally since I now knew they were nothing. I was super pumped for my Thursday 37wk appointment just to see if I was at least progressing.
Saturday, May 4th. Nothing happening today. Crap. I'll be pregnant forever.
Sunday, May 5th - Happy Cinco de Mayo! All the women math teachers (plus one of the guy's wives) planned a pedicure day. I jokingly said to my manicurist, "If you put me into labor, that would be excellent. Just saying." We had a great time relaxing and getting beautified. I went by a friend's to pick up some baby girl clothes she was getting rid of. By the time I got home, I was tired. We ran one more errand to Babies R Us. I think we went to pick up the new rocking chair. Of course the arm had a tear in it and we didn't discover that until we were home. At this point I was exhausted and cranky. I started feeling crampy again. I actually laid down for an hour or so. I tried to time these "contractions" or whatever they were but right when I thought I had them figured out they were gone. Oh well. When is that next appointment?!
Monday, May 6th. I am 36wks and 6 days. 5:17am. I know. I do not wake up this early for anything. I woke up to those darn "fake" contractions. Except I wasn't so sure they were fake this time. I could time them clearly. I could feel the start and stop. They were starting to get painful - like the annoying achy feeling. If I was walking and one started, I had to stop and wait it out. I woke Adam up. I debated on whether I should call in sick to school. I decided to stay home just in case. As I worked on my sub plans I kept timing. Around 5:45-6am I called my doctor to let her know. I was having clear contractions every 3 minutes and they were lasting 45-60 seconds. They were not fun. She said to wait another hour and we'd go from there. I literally hung up from her and said to Adam, "I just wish my water would break so I had to go to the hospital." Sha-bam. My water broke. I of course called my doctor back and we started running from there. I called our birth photographer (yes, you read correctly). Adam took a shower and got poor sleepy Harrison ready. The plan? We would meet my parents at the hospital and they would take Harrison to daycare.
We loaded ourselves and our suitcase. Off we went! Within 5 minutes, my contractions weren't playing. It was terrible. I kept yelling at Adam to drive like I was going to have a baby in the car. I couldn't stand the radio being on. I was scared we wouldn't get to the hospital fast enough. We got there around 6:45am. I could barely stand up straight. Adam dropped me off and I hustled up to the maternity floor. I literally dropped off my license and insurance card at the desk and they whisked me to a room.
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I call this death by contractions.
Photo by Cate Eighmey |
Nurse Pam was not messing around. I got all fixed up - yes for the blood pressure cuff (I hate it!). Nurse Pam notified me that I was at 4cm. My parents came to get Harrison. Cate our photographer got settled in. And I nicely begged for my epidural. Nope. I had to get my Strep B antibiotics (really? I didn't have that with Harrison...). I had to get my IV. I had to wait on my labs... Nurse Pam. I love you but I'm starting to wilt here. Everyone that knows me pregnant knows my birth plan is "GIVE ME THE EPIDURAL!" After lots of whining, a cold washcloth, breathing (or lack thereof), squeezing Adam's hand to the point of no circulation, I kindly asked Nurse Pam if she could check me. Pressure was a-building. (PS the pressure is the worst.) I think it was between 7:15-7:30am - a short 45 minutes after we arrived - and I was between 8-9cm. WHAT?!
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FYI squeezing does not help with the pain.
Photo by Cate Eighmey |
Nurse Pam had the guts to say, "You may not have time for an epidural." I almost lost it. I gritted my teeth and asked if we could try. Nurse Pam came back with "Well 7:30 is when most of the surgeries start. There may not be an anesthesiologist available." Um... Nurse Pam... WHAT?! I'm pretty sure Cate was even thinking "oh no she didn't." I must have looked something terrible or pitiful because Nurse Pam made a call and Dr. Mandy (yes, I asked for this angel's name) came up immediately.
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At this point, I'm pretty sure I'm not going to make it.
Photo by Cate Eighmey |
Dr. Mandy notified me that if I felt the need to push I had to let her know so they could lay me down. Um... Dr. Mandy, I will hold this child in. Give me the meds. (Serious wuss, I told you!) About 8am, my epidural was in and working. I told Dr. Mandy I loved her - pretty much - and it was game time. I was ready to roll. My doctor came in and stuff got real, fast. Since I was so numb (no complaints) my creative doctor played tug of war with me - we used a baby blanket - to help me push.
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Game time. Let's do this.
Photo by Cate Eighmey |
Although I was numb I could feel when little Miss was eventually right there. A few more big pushes and TAH-DAH we had ourselves a sweet, angelic, perfect baby GIRL!! I was so afraid all of those sonograms were wrong but no. There she was. My daughter. My Finley Kay Peak.
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There she is. My Finley.
Photo by Cate Eighmey |
I remember her right there on my chest getting cleaned. She did not look like Harrison. She had chunkier cheeks and a chunkier body. Her legs and arms weren't as long - they weren't flailing like his were. She had light brownish hair, dark blue eyes. It was amazing.
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Survival is sweet.
Photo by Cate Eighmey |
Finley was cleaned up and Adam went to cut her cord. I couldn't believe it. She was here. My pregnancy was over. I survived.
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Hello sweet Finley.
Photo by Cate Eighmey |
Finley was born at 8:33am, only 3 hours and 16 minutes from when I woke up. She was 5lbs, 15oz and 19in long. EXACTLY the same size as her brother.
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Proud Daddy.
Photo by Cate Eighmey |
I was so happy Adam was there. Hopefully he was proud of me - I mean, I didn't cuss anyone out. My parents were there within 30-45 minutes.. I think. Of course, my mom was crying. Even Jack came by before work.
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I love how they both have their head tilted.
Photo by Cate Eighmey |
Luckily our hospital had recently renovated and we were able to stay in our labor/delivery room - SO much bigger than the postpartum room we were in with Harrison. I ordered breakfast. Sat cross legged (finally!!). And we just enjoyed our newest little bundle.
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I just love how my doctor - not related to me - looks at my baby.
We were surrounded by love.
Photo by Cate Eighmey |
I had to keep pinching myself. Sweet Finley was here.
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| Those little toes. Some day they will be painted pink! |
My mom was in and out of our room helping as Adam still had a few things to get done. (However we were way more prepared than with Harrison!) Friends and family came by with hugs, kisses and extra hands to hold her.
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| Look at that HAIR!!! |
I stayed the first night on my own. Miss Finley did go to the nursery so I could pretend like I would sleep. Night #2 Adam stayed with me while Harrison had Nana over for a sleepover. Our nurses and lactation consultants were amazing! Finley figured out how to nurse way faster than her brother which was a huge relief.
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That is called a headband. That color is called pink.
This is so new to us!! |
We were discharged after our 2 night stay. Finley did battle jaundice. We did have a 24 hour stint at the local children's hospital so she could get some treatment.
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| Finley's tanning bed. I like the eye cover the best. She HATED that. |
We also earned the privilege to have a phototherapy paddle at home when her bilirubin number went back up.
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| Glow worm anyone? |
After a week of fighting the jaundice, Finley had finally started to lose that yellow, was eating more and had gained weight! As of last Tuesday she was still at 5lbs 13oz so we have some work to do. (Her lowest weight was 5lbs 4oz.)
Pregnancy in itself is a crazy emotional time. Then you throw in an early baby, a fast delivery, a trip to the children's hospital and a baby that has to be plugged in... I was on the verge of being a mess. Adam and I are very grateful to have family and friends close by to stay with us and for all those that offered us words of encouragement. Life is always easier when you have others around.
Harrison loves Finley or Baby Finley as he calls her. He helps me "watch" her when I need to use the restroom. He sings to her when she's fussing in the car. I swear that he's adjusted better than Adam and me.
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He's been such a help.
Photo by Cate Eighmey |
It's amazing how one little creature can change your life. I feel so happy. So full. So, so blessed. I'm not sure I deserve all of this but I gladly accept it.
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| I have a daughter! |
I'm so happy we decided to go with a birth photographer. I was in too much pain to document anything myself. Adam was busy keeping me going so he wasn't taking any pictures. I had no concept of time either. Cate took amazing pictures and included pictures of the time so at least I have an idea of what happened when. Cate put together this amazing photo montage for us. It's nothing too graphic but I will warn you, I look a mess!
~Emily
