A Stella is Born!

The Cole family had quite a day today and in the end we finally have our new addition in our arms!

Let's see...where did I leave off??  Oh yeah...my doctor had just run off to do a C-section and we were just waiting to get the day started and oh did it start!  My doctor made her way back around 8:30am and checked me again.  Not much had changed, she said I was at a 2-3cm range and still 70% effaced.  She then proceeded to break my water and give the orders to start pitocin in about 15-20 minutes.  After breaking my water, she explained that I would probably start having more aggressive contractions and then the pitocin would increase the intensity even more.  She stated she was off to do her appointments but would be back around lunch to check on me and off she went.

What can I say?? The lady knows what she is talking about.  Sure enough, my contractions did start to get more painful, stronger and closer together.  I was having consistent contractions every 2 minutes or so and boy, they were intense.  I found it was easiest to internalize and breathe through them but it was a challenging experience.  I wasn't quite ready for the epidural but I did get another form of pain med just to take the edge off around 10:30am.  That med gave me a bit of a light headed feeling and reduced the amount of pain somewhat but not really enough for my liking.  About an hour later I finally said that I thought I was ready for the epidural.  My nurse called for the anesthesiologist and while we waited she checked my progress.  I was 4cm and about 80% so we were slowly making progress.

The anesthesiologist and nurse anesthetist came in and inserted the epidural.  This was probably the most frustrating part of the morning.  It was somewhat of a teaching lesson for the nurse anesthetist who was performing the epidural and I was having extremely strong contractions at the time.  I think it was pretty frustrating for all parties involved.  Finally, the epidural was done and they left the room.

My right leg went numb pretty much immediately but I could still feel the left side of my body and my contractions were getting really strong.  I was already a bit emotional from the frustrating epidural experience and then not having it work as I expected it to kind of threw me a curve ball and tears just started streaming down my face...not out of pain but just emotions running wild (ok - maybe it was a little about the pain).  Finally the left side went numb about 30 minutes later when my doctor came back to check on me (around 12:15pm).  She did a quick check, looked at Diane and said, "Diane, you are not going to believe this.  She is completely effaced and 10cm."  What did I do when I heard this?? I cried of course but this time it was tears of joy knowing that we would be done soon!  She told me she was going to go grab a bit to eat and the nurse would have me start pushing and she would be back to deliver the baby when she was ready.

And that is exactly what happened...Diane and Cyndie (my day time nurse) were amazing and started the pushing process.  Here is where I guess I get to brag a bit.  As I began pushing everyone was shocked at how good I was at pushing.  Now, this is my first time so I really have no idea what a good or bad pusher is but I guess I'm good at it :)  After only about 15 minutes of pushing, little Miss Stella was ready to make her first appearance so Cyndie called Dr. Smetana and said that she was sorry to cut her lunch short but it was baby time already. 

The doctor was shocked at how quickly everything was happening and told me I was doing great.  As we pushed, I could feel the immense pressure even with the epidural and unfortunately things progressed so quickly that not everything had time to prepare for her birth.  (Warning: going to address icky womanly birth stuff...don't read ahead if you can't handle it!!)  My doctor and her colleagues all prefer to let a woman tear naturally if they have to but if absolutely necessary, they will do an episiotomy to avoid a horrific tear and I was one of those lucky few.  She did have to cut to allow the baby to arrive but at that point, I really didn't care and I trust my doctor so much that she could have done anything necessary and I would have been fine with it.  After that cut was made, my Stella entered the world with only about 3 more pushes.

I cannot explain in words how amazing that experience was!  I am a mom!!! Matt is a dad!!! We are a family!!! And she is beautiful!  It was really emotional and there were at least 3 or 4 people in tears.  At this point, everything is kind of a blur.  The doctors stitched me back up and did all of the icky afterbirth stuff.  And then I had another amazing nurse that helped clean me up and transfer me down to the postpartum recovery floor.

When we arrived to the floor, we got settled and then Diane, mom and dad headed off to go home.  We were so thankful for their support at the hospital and even more appreciative that they were willing to make sure Coach is all taken care of in our absence.  We should have taken time to nap but we just couldn't take our eyes off of Stella. She is amazing and I just want to sit there and watch her every move. 

Our friend Megan stopped by to visit and we got a picture of them together.  Tomorrow will have many more visitors too so we are going to try to get some sleep so we can be awake for all of the adventures in store.

Let me say thank you for all of the prayers and well wishes.  We feel so blessed and we could not be more in love with our little girl.  She is truly a gift from God!

For some reason, I can't add pictures here but I will make sure to add some as soon as we get home (and settled).

XOXOXOXO