Welcome baby Ava 1/25-full story to come

[littlecupcake]

Congratulations! She is just too cute! x

 

[Autumntx]

Ava's Birth Story
I was supposed to be induced the evening of the 25th in hopes of having Ava on the 26th....her father's birthday. But in the middle of the night on the 23rd I woke up in severe pain from kidney problems. We rushed to the hospital and I was admitted, my kidney was backed up with fluid and causing pain. This was most likely from the baby pressing on it, I had previously been admitted for kidney stones a few months prior. Finally after a scan on my kidney, my doctor decided to induce on the 24th in the evening. I was so relieved because this would help with the kidney issues and I was so ready to see my baby! Our doula (whom I hadn't met yet) was out of town but flying in that night. I let her know I was being induced and she said she would come straight to the hospital after landing. They started induction around 4pm. I had originally planned on a natural labor but with the kidney pain, I knew that probably wasn't going to happen. (Kidney pain is worse than labor...in case anyone was wondering). My contractions were coming regularly but I wasn't feeling much pain, they got much stronger after the Dr broke my water and upped the pitocin. I used the birthing ball and my husband was there to help with massaging, etc. The doula showed up and helped with tips on how to manage pain. She also showed Joseph how to massage and apply pressure when I was having a contraction. After quite a few hours, I decided to labor in the shower which was absolutely amazing. The doula and my husband took turns spraying my back and belly which helped a ton. After being in the shower for over an hour I started to talk about getting an epidural, I tried to put it off as long as possible. Before I was given the epidural I was given a few doses of something in my IV to take the edge off...and that's all it did. I was in constant pain. I was given an epidural which didn't work, I was then given a second epidural....which also failed. My legs went totally numb and the skin on my tummy was numb when touched. But I felt EVERYTHING inside. Nothing that should have been numb was...both epidurals failed. My doula Christine kept reminding me what all the pain was for, my miracle baby would be here soon. I dilated slowly, and was upset every time the Dr would check me. My previous 2 labors were fast and easy. This was my first induction though which I think made it a longer labor. Finally I was almost a 10 and my doctor allowed me to push because I felt like I had to. There was a small lip to the cervix but he said I might be able to push her past it. After quite a while of pushing and being extremely exhausted he asked for me to wait a while. At this point we were already about 14 hours in. I felt like giving up, no pain meds were working, I felt like I couldn't stay awake and I was disappointed that my body wasn't cooperating. A little while later I was checked, they inserted a wire into Ava's head to track her heart rate. I also had a catheter inserted along with a monitor to track the strength of my contractions. I had 3 different wires/tubes coming out of me. All I could think was "how is this baby going to come out if all of this is in the way?". The Dr checked me and said to rest, they felt like it would be a little while before we started pushing again. I laid on my side with my eyes closed, almost falling asleep between contractions. My husband was fanning me and my doula was helping to prop my leg up. Since I was on my side I had to keep one led propped up by someone holding it up (because I couldn't move it on my own) or by a pillow. Keeping my legs together was impossible because I felt like my daughters head was about to come out. We thought we had another few hours to go since nothing seemed to be happening then I suddenly started to push. I wasn't trying to push, my body just started doing it on its own. I told the nurse I couldn't stop pushing and that I wasn't trying to. Nothing was set up for delivery yet. No table with all the shiny tools, no stirrups or leg support, no plastic skirt to catch stuff around the bed...nothing. The nurse checked me and said "she's right there, I will get the Dr". I was still at the top of the bed, laying on my side with my doula and husband holding my leg up. The Dr showed up, nurses rushed in and boom! Baby Ava was born and landed on the end of the bed. My Dr only had enough time to get one glove on. It was the most amazing feeling when she was finally out. After 16 hours of hard work and excruciating pain I felt like I had suddenly been rejuvenated. She was gorgeous! He handed her to me and I knew she was bigger than my other two children, she felt so heavy. We had expected her to be bigger than them but I had no idea what I was in for. When they told me her weight I almost passed out. She was 8 lbs and 15 oz! One more ounce and she would have been 9lbs! I'm 5'1....my previous two children were 7.9 and 7.4. What a BIG surprise! & I was so lucky, I had no episiotomy, no tearing and no stitches. It was a hard, long labor but absolutely amazing. I had the best team. My husband was amazing (this is his first biological child), I can't imagine how we would of made it without the doula and my Dr was awesome. My husband couldn't believe how quiet I was during labor and that I didn't say one bad word in all of that pain. I'm quite vocal usually but for some reason I was in a trance it seemed. Even I couldn't believe how I handled it all. Ava did have a slight case of jaundice but that went away on its own. Ava is 5 weeks old now and she is already 11 lbs and 11oz. We are so in love with our baby girl!

 

[strdstkittenx]

huge congrats!