Emily Pauline was born Tuesday, March 27th (the day before her big sister's 2nd birthday) at 1:16 pm.  Weighing in at 6 pounds, 9 ounces and 19 inches long.  Fair skinned and a smattering of light brown hair.  Sleepy and sweet as can be.

We were not expecting this little lady to come into the world a day before her 39 week induction that had not even been put on the books yet.  After all both her sisters waited until their inductions, regardless of how much walking I did (I lost 5 pounds trying to get Brooke to make her arrival!). But this little lady had a mind of her own.  Clocking in at 15 minutes shy of 9 hours, from water breaking to baby arriving.

At 4:30 am Tuesday morning I woke up 37 weeks, 5 days pregnant to my water having broken.  Although at the time I wasn't sure what was going on.  I went to the bathroom, noticed extra fluids but I wasn't necessarily gushing and it was not obvious.  I was feeling anxious though as I tried to go back to sleep.  An hour later at 5:30 I woke up and there was more fluid.

I gently shook Rob awake and said, I'm leaking fluids and calling the doctor now.  I called up to labor and delivery who told me I had to call the on-call OBGYN (which is NOT actually protocol for someone 37 weeks pregnant saying they are leaking fluids...).  My OB happened to be on call and as expected told me she couldn't tell me if it was amniotic fluids or not over the phone, so come on up.

After calling my parents to be on alert, packing a bag (because none were packed...), getting dressed and loading the kids up... we finally got to the hospital around 7.  By 8 they had confirmed my water had broken and I was staying to welcome this girl 2 weeks, 2 days early.  We weren't ready... at all.

My parents got to the hospital by 9, which was about the same time they started me on pitocin.  My water had broke at 4:30 that morning and I was still only dilated to a 2, maybe 3.  My parents and Rob took the girls home to leave the van and pick up a few things.  Not even an hour later Rob was back and things were progressing, thanks to sitting on an exercise ball.

I was feeling strong contractions with lots of pressure that were coming every 2 or so minutes.  I was shaking and in tears, so I finally tapped out at 7 cm dilated and asked for an epidural.  This time around the epidural process wasn't full of complications but I was feeling so much more between the pain and pressure which made inserting the epidural not fun, at all.  But he got it in and I got some relief.

Until my nurse pulled out the dreaded peanut at 9 cm dilated.  I still had a bit of a lip that was keeping the process from progressing.  I think I had the peanut between my legs for 2 contractions and that was all it took.  All of a sudden I knew I was ready to push.  And I told every nurse that came in the room through tears and screams. They weren't moving fast enough in my book.  Haha.

Finally the doctor came in and I was given the go ahead and 2 contractions, 5 pushes later she was placed on my chest and all of a sudden our family was complete!




always,
amanda