Labor

Well folks, we did it! My husband and I gave birth to little Eliana Catherine on August 8th!! I say my husband and I because, let me tell you, this was the biggest joint effort of the century. Of course, if you ask Zach, he will say I was such a trooper, and what I did to get this baby out was the bravest, hardest, most self-sacrificing act he has ever witnessed. All that might be true, but I know I could not have done half of it without my best friend beside me, and he deserves just as much credit as I do. :)

I want to write about my labor for future posterity, but I'm choosing to leave out all the "excruciating pain" parts. Anyone who has ever had a baby knows what it's like, and anyone who hasn't had a baby does not want to know. Plus, if I ever have hopes of another child someday, I certainly don't want to remember the really, really bad parts. ;)

It all began Wednesday morning when I went to my final check-up. The doctor wanted to see if I had dilated any more than the 1 centimeter I was a few days prior. It was 8 days past my due date, and the induction was already scheduled for Thursday morning. The doctor looked, but since no progress had been made, she asked that I check into the hospital that night to begin dilation with "cervical balloons" before the Pitocin in the morning. Zach and I kept joking that sticking a bunch of "balloon animals" in me was not exactly the restful night I had imagined before the birth of my child! Alas, nervous as hell, we checked into the hospital at 6:00PM Wednesday night, and the nurses began prepping me for my long stay. I got into the oh-so-flattering hospital gown, got violated with 3 attempts at a successful IV, started the antibiotics and fluid drip, and, yes, endured the horrible experience of "balloon animals." The doctor left me to sleep for the night, offering me an Ambien just in case the cramping that sometimes occurs with these "animals" was too painful to sleep through. You can imagine my surprise when a short while later, I was having full-on contractions! The nurse said I could no longer take the Ambien, so hours later, once the contractions became absolutely unbearable to me, (and my husband's hand,) I finally got some Stadol after a 2:00AM call to the doctor had to be made.

That sleepless night was pretty rough, but Zach helped me through the pain, and the drugs were very, very nice. The Stadol finally wore off a few hours later, and the nurses began to prep me for the Pitocin that morning. After what seemed like an eternity of painful contractions, nurses coming in and out, vitals being taken on me and the baby, internally and externally, the wonderful man with the epidural was finally called in. By this time I was 5 centimeters dilated, and although the baby was not lowering, we kept laboring in the hopes of progression. I'm not sure what time it was when the doctor first hinted at the possibility of a cesarean, but I remember it being the best potential news of the day! Poor Zach started to get super nervous, as no one wants to see their wife in pain, let alone cut open on an operating table, but after the long night and day I had just endured, the thought of it ending soon was well worth the extra recovery time.

When the doctor finally made the call, I agreed with a giant smile on my face. It suddenly became very real to me that I was about to meet my daughter for the first time. Zach got dressed in some sexy hospital gear, and I got wheeled down to the operating room. My body was shaking like crazy, but my mind was somehow calm. I just kept breathing deep and praying hard that all would go smoothly, and my little peanut would be safely delivered. The doctors were fantastic, and everything went off without a hitch. I was surprised by how quickly it all went down! After I was prepped, Zach came in the room and held my hand tightly as I felt what can only be described as an out-of-body experience. I couldn't feel anything below my arms, but I knew I was being filleted like a fish! For someone who has never so much as broken a bone, being awake and operated on was quite the ordeal! I want to say within 15 minutes of beginning, my sweet baby girl was out of my womb, squirming and crying, and being oh-so-perfect. Daddy was able to be right next to Eliana as she got cleaned up, weighed, and assessed. Vitals were great, everyone was happy, and all of a sudden, we were parents. Just like that. Pregnant one moment, and a mom the next. As of 6:09PM, our lives were officially changed forever.

The next 4 days in the hospital were a blur, or at least that's what it feels like now. Recovery was no picnic. Getting in and out of bed to use the bathroom, or feed my child, or really do anything at all, required lots of help, even when I was maxed out on pain killers. Visitors came streaming in, which broke up the days nicely, but getting used to the pain and all-night feedings on very little sleep was tough. With the Lord's blessing, we made it through. We were all packed and ready to leave on Sunday afternoon, but Eliana developed a little jaundice, and we had to stay an extra night. Watching my little one all alone in an incubator was incredibly sad! I know it's normal, and many babies get treatment after birth, but feeling like I could do nothing to help is not exactly the most fun "new mom" experience. :( I'm sure moms who have been there can agree, even when we know everything will be alright, it's still hard to watch. Thank God all was well the following morning, and we were elated to finally take Eliana home. 

There's nothing quite like walking into your own apartment after staying in a hospital for 5 days. Everything looked prettier and felt happier than before. I was experiencing all of life differently, as cliché as it sounds! But once again, life as I knew it had officially changed. I was no longer responsible for just myself, and that humbled me quicker than I imagined it would.

This past week since we brought Eliana home has been fantastic. My husband was able to take off work and help with everything the baby and I needed. My mom has been here almost daily to lend her hand in shopping and cleaning, and more family members have given us meals and visited with us to help break up the days. I'm getting so much love and support from everyone I know, and it has meant so much to my husband and me. I'm healing well from surgery, and while I just took the last of my pain killers tonight, I think I've been managing the pain and discomfort like a boss. :)

Daddy went back to work this week, and Eliana and I have been doing great on our own. I still appreciate the help I've been getting, but it's nice to also do some things on my own with my little girl. I do need to remember that I'm not wonder woman, and I should probably take it slow, but I am encouraged that my child seems content and happy all day long. Nights are going well, too. The first few were rough as we got into the swing of things, but now Eliana sleeps through the night, and only wakes when I get her up to feed. That probably won't last forever, but I'm certainly grateful for the rest I've been getting. True, it's only 2 hours (if I'm lucky) between waking, changing, feeding, burping, pumping, and waking again, but I'll take it!

My pregnancy was no walk in the park, but it yielded the most amazing little creation, complete with the God-given capacity to love more than I thought was humanly possible. Zach and I are so blessed Eliana Catherine is finally here to stay. Please, keep us in your thoughts and prayers as we become more accustom to parenthood! We are up for the challenge, since after just *counts* 12 days, we can already tell how rewarding it will be. :)

Xoxo Liz