It's crazy to think that today Isabelle is already two weeks old! I apologize that two whole weeks have gone by and I still have not posted any updates. However, I'm sure all you mothers out there will understand. It has been an incredibly exhausting two weeks with little time and/or energy to do "fun" things like blog.
Now that I am finally beginning to feel like a normal human being again with some energy, I am ready to start trying to do some normal things. So I guess I can update everyone on Isabelle's grand entrance into this world and post some cute pics of her.
To everyone's great surprise, after three months of regular and painful contractions, and early cervical progression, Isabelle did not come early. In fact, she came on her very due date! When my water broke the morning of her due date, I told Dave that she must be like her mother -- she likes to do things as planned and on schedule.
I'll start from the beginning and if labor and delivery stories bore you, I'll allow you to just skip forward to the pictures.
Everything started early July 18th. I woke up the night of the 17th with some painful contractions, but nothing too different from those prior. However, I had the thought, maybe the baby will come tonight. The contractions didn't seem to intensify so I went back to bed. Before I knew it, it was 4:30am and Dave was up getting ready to go to work. He was dressed and about ready to go when I woke up. I sat up in bed and said to him, "Darn it, I thought that the baby might come before you left for work this morning, I guess not." I then got up to go to the bathroom. Suddenly, I felt a gush of water come down, and as it continued to come, I quickly realized that my water had just broken. I told Dave that I didn't think he'd end up going to work after all. After taking a little bit of time to get ready, we got to the hospital just before 6:00am right as the nurse's shift was changing and I thought I was lucky and would have the same nurse for my entire labor and delivery. Little did I know how long the day would be.
When I arrived at the hospital, I was dilated to a 5 and the nurse and the resident thought that I was lucky and off to a great start. Of course, progressing to a 10 took much longer than anticipated, but I was progressing enough that the Dr. didn't want to start me on pitosin. I finally got to a 10 around 5:00 - just an hour before my nurse's shift was going to end. I was slightly disappointed as I knew that I would most likely not be pushing the baby out before she left.
Although at a 10, the baby was only at a +1 station - she had not dropped very far into my pelvis, so the Dr. Wanted me wait until she descended a little bit more. Unfortunately, little Isabelle didn't want to descend, so the Dr. informed the nurse to go ahead and have me start pushing. I had a painful two hours of pushing with the nurse and resident. Although I had an epidural, it didn't seem to help with the pain I was feeling from the baby being slightly transversed. And even with all my pushing, the baby still did not descend far into my pelvis. The Dr. finally arrived after two hours of pushing and she soon realized this baby was not coming very easily, so she explained my options - trying the vacuum, and if that didn't work - going to c-section. I had already pushed so long and hard that I was determined to push that baby out, so I opted to try the vacuum. We had three failed attempts with the vacuum, and my uterus was wearing out and the contractions were slowing down, even with pitosin. So finally after FOUR long hours of pushing, Dave and I decided it was time for a c-section. With the combination of the drugs and the last few traumatic hours, I had become a nervous wreck. Thank goodness I had an incredibly kind anestesiologist and Dave right by my side to help calm me down.
Although they had to take the baby to the NICU for some oxygen and fluids, they brought her in for me to see her for a few short seconds before they'd take her away again. Although she was extremely pale, all I could think and say was how pretty she was.
After seeing me, she was taken to the NICU, but recovered fast and was only there for about an hour before they transferred her to the nursery. I am told that while in the NICU, she was crying but as soon as Dave started talking to her, she calmed right down. She knew he was her daddy.
The next few days were extremely tough as I recovered from the effects of both a vaginal delivery and c-section. As I could not do much but lay in my hospital bed, Dave quickly took on his role as a father and changed all her dirty diapers and comforted her when she was upset. It was so amazing to watch him take such good care of our little girl and to also take such good care of me. I am soooooo lucky to have such a great husband who would do anything for me and for our daughter. Our days in the hospital were not only spent in recovery, but they were spent in decision making, as we thought and thought about what to name our new daughter. Although we arrived at the hospital thinking we would call her Abigail, she just didn't seem like an Abigail. As I held our new baby and just looked at her, I was just amazed at how delicate, fair, and beautiful she was and wanted a name that described all those things. Thus, we came to the conclusion of Isabelle with anticipation of calling her Belle. It seems to fit her very well.
We finally left the hospital on Wednesday afternoon to come home. Thankfully, my mom came to stay with us for the next week. I honestly would not have been able to get through the last week without her. She was such an immense help as I have been recovering while trying to take on the responsibilities of being a new mother. My mom cooked, and cleaned, and watched the baby - allowing me to rest as much as possible. She was seriously such a huge blessing especially while Dave was away at work. I have definitely been missing her the last couple days. However, I am feeling much better as I am off pain killers and feeling more like a normal person.
These last two weeks have been filled with all sorts of emotions - anxiety, fear, pain, joy, happiness, and wonderment as we have taken on this new phase in our lives. Although getting Isabelle here was a bit difficult and traumatizing, it was also amazing and humbling. Thinking on the experience reminds me of how blessed I truly am. I am blessed to be living in this day and age when both Isabelle and I are safe and healthy even after such a tough delivery. I am grateful for good doctors and nurses. And I am especially grateful for such a wonderful husband and wonderful family who have been so loving and supportive through everything. I am grateful to Heavenly Father for allowing us to have such a beautiful baby girl in our lives.
