Wow, a lot has happened!

I hadn't anticipated taking a long break from blogging but that's what happened. It's a little challenging to imagine all that happened in the last month+ so I'll just update the most important thing! First off, WE HAD A BABY GIRL! We didn't find out what we were having so it was a complete surprise when our little girl entered the world on September 25 at 7:56 am. Her name is Evelyn Page Keogh and she weighed 7 lbs, 19.25 inches, and her head was 13 inches in circumference.

Miss EV was due on Sept 18 but she apparently didn't want out so a few days after that I visited my midwife for our appointment. My blood pressure had jumped quite a bit (I had had excellent BP the whole pregnancy) so they were a little concerned and scheduled EV's bio physical profile two days later which was a little earlier than we would have had. Wednesday night I prepared myself mentally as well as I could for them to tell me I had to stay and be induced. Our original plan was to labor at home as long as possible since we live so close (2 minutes) to the hopsital. I would then take an epidural only if needed and we would have a great labor! We did know we needed to be flexible but it was really hard when we got to our appointment and EV had little activity and almost no amniotic fluid. They told me to go get some lunch, come back, and expect to be induced. I was a little crushed since our great flexible plan was thrown out at step 1. It was very hard mentally to accept that I was being induced but it had to be done since she was running out of fluid.

When we got to the hospital they started me on cervadil (sp?). It is inserted to help soften the cervix and allow labor to start as naturally as possible. The worst part was the 12 hours of no eating except for clear liquid and not being to get out of bed since my BP and her heart rate had to be constantly monitored. When they came in at 3:30 AM to check me I hadn't advanced past 1 cm dilated, 80% so they gave me three options: do another round, try a different drug, or start pitocin. Pitocin really scared me so I chose another round of cervadil. So another 12 hours of no eating, barely sleeping, and being tethered to the bed. Luckily EV was giving them good activity so after this second round (which did very little, still 1 cm and now 90%) I was allowed an hour to shower, eat, and take a walk.

The walk outside was wonderful and actually started labor! I started contracting and my show appeared. My midwife still suggested pitocin because they really wanted baby out and my BP was still high. We agreed it was our best option to get her out safely. I started to have some major back pain so I opted for an epidural. Our original plan was to go as long as possible without one but being awake for the previous 40+ hours I was too tired mentally to go on without one. The epidural took in the front of my stomach but had zero effect on my back pain. Since I had the epidural I was required to stay in bed which was the worst position for my back pain. I tried leaning over the back of the bed but my legs were just too exhausted to support me for long. Contractions were every 2-3 minutes now and I would fall into a deep sleep in between. Later I found out this was because they gave me an additional anesthesia because they were concerned about my back. Baby wasn't in the position that leads to back labor and at one point I had 6 anesthesiologists in my room really trying to help me. I slept in between but I woke up at the peak of the contractions, disoriented and panicky. My nurses and husband were amazing at reminding me that I was in labor and needed to breathe and relax the best I could. This process went on for hours and hours. I have no sense of time but my husband said it was like a terrible case of deja vu.

My water still hadn't broken and the midwife was hesitant since they thought I wasn't really that far along and my 9 cm dilated could return back to being 6 since the water bag was most likely keeping me at a 9. I told them I had an urge to push and they tried to keep me from pushing and instead wanted me to breathe through them. When the shift change occurred I had a new nurse and new midwife (plus one in training). The new nurse was convinced I should have my water broken since I felt I needed to push. The midwife checked me, decided to break it and in my next contraction I pushed once and baby moved from -1 to +1. They were surprised things were going that fast and within minutes they were asking for a delivery cart and nurses. When my next contraction hit again I pushed and the nurses said on the next one I'll begin pushing for real. I was already pushing for real! I asked the nurse how long it would take to deliver baby and she said it should take about an hour. I couldn't bear with this pain for an hour so I jokingly said I am going to get this baby out in 5 pushes! When they said push next I pushed like hell! Baby's head crowned, my next push baby's head was out, and the next one shot baby out PAST the midwife trainee waiting to catch her and down the bed to the midwife who was there waiting. They were all shocked that it took 5 total pushes and 6 minutes to push my baby out!

They placed her on my chest immediately and that was the moment I had been waiting for. I was so happy and everyone was so shocked that no one told us if it was a boy or girl. Ed peaked and he said, "I think we have a girl". They confirmed and it was official: Miss Evelyn Page Keogh had been born!

She's a gem and we love her so much. The biggest thing I learned was that even when I talked about our plan being flexible, I had no idea what that even meant. When you start off with a completely new set of rules (we're inducing you, you're constantly monitored, no eating...) it is hard to adjust but we did our best. I could never have delivered EV without my husband's amazing calm demeanor and love. My nurses were sent from God and the midwifes were all understanding and helpful. I'm so in love with baby EV!