I can’t believe it’s been 7 weeks since Lilliana was born. Times goes so fast. I’ve been really trying to soak up these precious moments with a newborn and every time I think that she might be our last baby I start to cry. We have decided to discuss having a 4th baby when Lillie turns one and we’ll decide then.
Leading up to Lillie’s birth I had prodromal labor for weeks. Every night I thought she was going to come and then my contractions would stop in the morning. On December 2nd I had my Mom come up from Chicago to stay with us because I thought she was coming soon. My Mom and Tony share a birthday on Dec 3rd and I thought she might come then, but she had different plans. It was still nice to have my Mom come so we could celebrate both their birthdays. The next day Friday, Dec 4th was pretty much a regular day. I wasn’t having many contractions until we all went for a walk in the afternoon. While we were walking I had a couple of strong contractions which made me excited to think today might be the day. The contractions continued, but I didn’t say much. Allie had her virtual dance class; Tony made dinner, we ate, and then right when I was doing the dishes I started getting really painful contractions around 10 mins apart. I told my Mom and Tony that I should probably call my Doula Vicki and my doctor.
I called them at 6:30pm, quickly gave my kids a bath and started packing last minute items for the hospital. At 7pm my Mom and I leave for the hospital while Tony stays with the kids.
While driving I felt like I started to leak more fluid (I thought I had been leaking fluid for at least a week, but this was more)! The contractions were really painful in the car, but right when we get to triage they slow down, but I’m still excited because I’m hoping my water broke. At 7:30pm Vicki joins us in triage and I tell her my contractions have slowed. At 8:00pm my nurse Erica and a resident tell us I could be sent home if my contractions arent consistent but they will check to see if my water did actually break. At 9:00pm they tell me I’ve tested positive for leaking amniotic fluid – yay! They do a cervical exam and I’m 3cm 50% effaced which is what I was a week earlier at my 37 appointment. At 10:00pm they give me a covid test and thankfully I tested negative. At 11:20pm I get moved to labor and delivery in room #481 and my nurse is named Tina.
At 12:00am on December 5th they start pitocin at 1 and I attempt to rest. 1:00 am they check my blood pressure, temp and increase pitocin to a 2. 1:30am increased pitocin to 3. At this point my contractions were getting really painful. I started walking around, using the bathroom and could not rest at all. At 2:00am I use the birth ball and start swaying my hips. The nurse does not increase pitocin because I’m in a lot of pain and my contractions are consistent. At 2:40am they lower the pitocin back to 2.
At this point, I’m not sure how much longer I can go without an epidural. So I ask the nurse if I can get one soon. She tells me the anesthesiologist is in the OR and it will be awhile. My heart starts racing and I get really nervous. Flashbacks of giving birth with no epidural with Logan come. I kneel down and lean onto the bed with my head in my hands and start breathing. Vicki was an angel during time when I was in so much pain. She rubbed my back and told me how strong I was and kept reminding me to breath.
Thankfully, the anesthesiologist (Dr. Lagman) comes quickly and gives me an epidural at 3:30am. I then try to get some rest, but I only feel a little relief. At 3:45am Dr. Schoenecker conducts a cervical exam and I’m still only at 3cm and 70% effaced and I’m in shock because I was in so much pain and I thought I was progressing. She places the catheter and they realize I’m probably not progressing because there’s a forebag of water so she pops that. I’m still in a lot of pain and getting nervous again so they give me another dose of epidural.
At 4:35am I feel a lot of pressure with each contraction. They give me more of the epidural because I’m in pain and they finally completely turn off the pitocin. I’m feeling a little bit of relief and I can rest.
At 5:00am I feel significant pressure and ask for the nurse to check me. I’m finally 9cm!!!!!!!!!! The nurse calls for assistance because Lilliana will be here soon. At 5:09am I start having the urge to push. At 5:11am the doctor arrives, I get into the position for birth and I push through the next two contractions and at 5:20am Lilliana Kay Larsen is born.
Lilliana is 5 lbs 15 oz and 19.5 inches long. They lay her on my chest and I fall in love with our third baby. She’s absolutely perfect.
My Mom gets to hold her and I’m so thankful she was with me. Vicki stays for another hour and leaves when I get moved up to the recovery floor.
Tony comes and he’s so happy to meet his daughter and that we’re both healthy. We spend the next few hours staring at her in awe.
I had the best experience at Meriter Hospital and I loved all of my nurses. We stayed for 24 hours and since we were both doing well we got to go home early. I couldn’t wait to see Allie and Logan.
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