Eliana Grace is here!

smbenevides1989 · September 2014

My birth story:

On Friday, Sept 12, I started having a crampy feeling that didn't go away. It was a constant 4 hours of being uncomfortable, but it was nothing I could time. Since my last labor and delivery was quick once the Pitocin hit, I was afraid of laboring at home too long so I went in to get checked. I was still 4 cm and 50% effaced so they had me walk the floor for an hour to see if I would progress. I didn't. They did tell me I was in active labor, contracting ever 8 minutes. They asked if I wanted to stay for 2 more hours to see if there was any change or go home to rest it out. I opted to go home and sleep in my own bed.

On Saturday, DH took care of Lexi and Sherlock (Our puppy) while I relaxed in bed. DH made me breakfast and the three of us hung out before I got up to shower. I was still a little crampy, but I didn't feel any different than the night before. At about 10:30 am, I started washing dishes. All of a sudden I felt wet. I seriously thought it was discharge so I didn't think anything of it. Then I felt another little gush. Come to realize the gushing was constant for an hour. I finished cleaning the kitchen and told DH, he got himself ready while I called the on call OB. She told us to come in, that it really sounded like my water did break. We said our goodbyes to Lexi, and headed straight there.

After being checked in, it was confirmed my water did break. By 1:30, I was getting my IV placed in and we were sitting in my room for labor and delivery. We relaxed, played games, and started watching tv (Disney movies FTW). By mid afternoon my contractions were getting stronger, and they were finally a consistent 4-5 minutes apart. I was trying my hardest to avoid the epidural, but I couldn't. I was only at 6 cm by 6:00 pm and almost completely effaced. I decided to get it even though I was freaking out over my issues with ITP. There was a chance of me bleeding once the needle went in and there could be no way to stop it. If that happened, I would have to be rushed to OR. The nurse was amazing and she knew my fear, but told me to get it anyways. I did start to bleed in my back and one of the nurses had to apply pressure to stop it. Luckily it did. As soon as the anesthesiologist finished placing the epidural in, I started getting lots of pressure. I could still feel the contractions and they weren't getting any better. I told the nurse and she checked me. I was at 9 cm, fully effaced with a little lip. She told me I could start pushing. After only 10 minutes of pushing, Eliana Grace entered the world at 7:15 pm, weighing in at 7 lbs, 3.6 oz, and 19 1/4 inches long. She was a little blue and it took forever for her to cry loud enough, but she did. Silly girl peed while on the warmer. She was beautiful. Lexi was able to come and see her that night before I was wheeled off to my room to rest - 12 hours after my water broke. If it wasn't for the epidural I wouldn't have labored so quickly. I was grateful for the nurses the helped me out in every part of the day.