My due date was October 14. On the 10th I started contracting early in the morning and was sure the baby would come that day. I was wrong. The contractions tapered and I sort of waited around all day while trying to stay active to get them to come back. Just my luck (as with Kate), they started up strong that night and all I had to do was wait until I felt it was time to go to the hospital. We live about 20 minutes from the hospital and we had to drop Ada and Kate off at my parents' house on the way, so we didn't want to wait too long and have to give birth in the car! I opted to try a natural birth this time. We didn't have maternity insurance, so I wanted to save as much money as I could. I always wanted to try a natural birth and this was just the excuse I needed. I have a few friends who have had success with hypnobirthing so that is the method I chose. I borrowed a book and took a class and committed myself, though all I really cared about was giving birth sans medication. Anyway, we got to the hospital just after 3:o0 AM and I was dilated to a 5. I was wishing that I would have stayed home longer! The contractions were tough, but definitely manageable. I had great nurses who were very familiar with hypnobirthing. I got an IV but they didn't hook it up, so I was able to walk around as I pleased. I just had to be hooked up to monitors for 20 minutes out of every hour to make sure the baby's and my heart rates looked okay. We waited and waited. I sat on a birthing ball. I walked around. I got up to pee a lot. I listened to music and tried to relax. Tyler took a nap. After 2 hours I was dilated to a 6 and three hours later I was still a 6! I was sick of waiting. I went against all hypnobirthing philosophy and had the doctor break my water. There was meconium in the water (meaning the baby had pooped), so they were concerned about her ingesting some. They set up a station in the room to take care of her once she was born. Well, things certainly progressed quickly after that. I knew that things would pick up after that, so I started to get a little nervous (another hypnobirthing no-no). The contractions came hard and fast and I had a really hard time trying to relax. It pretty much didn't happen, although Tyler was a champ trying to get me to focus the whole time. It seemed like there was no break in between contractions. I soon felt the urge to push and the doctor was called back down. At this point I felt like I was going crazy, like I had no control of myself anymore. I was writhing in pain and just started pushing with all my might (yet another no-no). I got SO hot and was sweating like a pig. I started stripping off whatever I could. The nice nurse helped by wiping my face with a cool rag. I pushed and pushed and she wasn't coming out. Finally, her head came and the rest of her soon emerged. Poor Tyler missed it because he was in my face trying to get me to stay calm. I would have felt pretty good about everything, but this was not the end. With my first two births the baby was immediately placed on my chest. This time, because of the meconium, the nurses had to take her to suction her out and clean her off. They had her for a long time. I got to listen to them laugh about all her crazy red hair and her smashed nose while I tried to sneak a peek from across the room. This was tough because the placenta had to be delivered next. This was most unpleasant. The doctor was pushing hard on my tummy and I was again writhing in pain. It took quite a while to come out. Then, I had a 2nd degree tear that had to be sewn up. The doctor got a huge needle and poked me down there repeatedly to numb me up. It took a while to kick in and I was going crazy. The doctor kept telling me in a very serious voice that I needed to keep my bum down and stop moving around. I wanted to kick her across the room! All this was going on and I still didn't get to hold my baby. Finally, she wrapped things up and my sweet baby was brought to me. The nurses were sure right about her hair and her nose! I was so happy that she had finally arrived and the hard part (at least physically) was over. My first impression was that she looked like Kate as a newborn, but now I think she looks more like Ada did. My sister thinks her resemblance to Tyler is uncanny. We named her Lyla Jane. She was born on October 11 at 9:17 AM. She weighed 7 lb 1 oz and was 20 1/2 inches long. We decided (because of the lack of insurance) to try and get out of the hospital as quickly as possible. We stayed one night and left the next morning. While I'm glad I experienced a natural birth, I wouldn't do it again!
I just love her to bits. Newborns are the sweetest things. I am overwhelmed with gratitude to all the help we have received. We have received multiple meal offers, gifts, help with Ada and Kate, etc. We have received so much help. I can't believe I had three kids (let along three girls!), but things are going well. Thanks to all who have made this transition easier for us.
7 lb 1 oz
Little angel (with a poor little smashed nose)
I look like I've been through a lot!
Look at that hair!
They just love their sister!
Enjoying the doughnuts from Grandma
First bath
Playing with their new babies that Baby Lyla gave them
Morgan and Jordan
Grandpa Squire
Happy family of 5
Aunt Abby
Trying to catch up on sleep
So tiny in that carseat
Cousin Lauren, who shares the same birthday
