pictures

5:40 pm

Don't I look happy?  Thats because I have no idea what is in store for me.  At this point my contractions were getting pretty close together, around every 4-5 minutes and Andrew finally convinced me it was time to go to the hospital.

6:00pm By the time we got to the hospital (15 min later) the contractions were now 3 minutes apart and VERY painful.

 They took us into triage to see if I would be admitted, or sent home.  It was about this time I asked to get the epidural  because there was no way I wanted to miss out on the window of opportunity for a pain free birth.  The nurse asked us questions and monitored contractions for about 30 minutes total.  This process abruptly ended when she checked my cervix to discover I was at a 7.  (10 means the baby comes out).   I was admitted.  I was not a screamer so I think she did not gauge the urgency of the situation.

problem #1 there were no birthing rooms.  too many women were in labor at the same time.
problem #2 I needed a birthing room stat
problem #3 My nurse was not the best at time management, aka she was slow.  really slow.

 6:48 pm I was put into a wheelchair, and by this time tears were running down my cheeks and contractions were every 2 minutes.
problem #4 my nurse still had not sent my bloodwork (results are required prior to epidural)
problem #5 I was taken into a storage/ recovery/office room with no birthing bed or supplies.  There was a regular hospital bed that was going to have to do.
problem #6.  There was someone working in the office part of the room- problem solved- the pulled a curtain across my portion of the room
problem #7  These contractions were unbearable

7:04 pm I pushed a baby out in a storage room with no pain medication at all- yes it hurt a lot.  The midwife barely got there in time to put on gloves.  Literally I had to say "the baby's head is going to come out.  You need to find her NOW!"

This would be about the time I said "I guess you were right we should have left for the hospital sooner"

 Madeline Lucette came out fast and furious, but I am thankful for that because on the bright side, the pain didn't go on for too long.  She was healthy and finally here.

 Big long feet like her sister.  7lbs 2 oz and 19 inches long.  She is tiny!

 We made it through, and now she will have a great story about the day she was born.  Looking back I am dang lucky Andrew finally insisted we go to the hospital otherwise he may have had to pull over on the side of the road to deliver a baby!

 We are home and although exhausted, very happy.  Chloe is already an adorable big sister!  I am sure I have left out a ton of details, but I think I covered the main ones.