The morning of Cora's birth was an early one. We had to be at the hospital at 5:30am to admit me into labor and delivery. Ryan and I kissed Zoe goodbye, had Mandy snap one last picture of us, and headed to the hospital with Cherie. It was cold! She drove us so that Mandy and my mom would have our car with Zoe's car seat.
We got to the hospital and they didn't have record that I was coming... um okay. I was being induced at 39 weeks, per my doctor's and my agreement. But, that little snag didn't really slow us down. We were put in Room #2 (of 6). It was a nice big room. I got into my hospital gown, they gave me my IV, asked me a bazillion questions and by 7:30am they were giving pitocin and got the ball rolling!
I was slowly dialating. A centimeter here, a centimeter there. My doctor, Doctor Gillian, came in a broke my water, which felt awesome (sarcasm). I started to feel the contractions more. But I still was not really progressing past a 2. I was in quite a bit of pain and started thinking about getting an epidural.
Enters, anesthesiologist. I was obvisouly nervous from my awful epidural experience when I had Zoe, so Ryan and I talked with the doctor for quite some time about our concerns. He was very understanding and ultimately told me that if it was his wife that had gone through that, he would still have her get an epidural. That convinced Ryan but I was still skeptical. I knew how much pain I had gone through and I did NOT want to go through that again but after a few more contractions... I decided I probably should get one. :)
So the anesthesiologist come back to give me my epidural. He and Ryan hit it off because come to find out he's an Aggie. WHOOP! Which made Ryan trust him even more. I was still nervous since I was the one who was getting stuck with a gigantic needle. He began doing his thing (all the while talking aggie footbal and such with Ryan). In my mind I was telling him to shut up and concentrate. He started putting the needle in my back and it wasn't feeling right. It was making my back jerk, just like the last time. THIS IS NOT HAPPENING AGAIN! I kept telling him ow that hurts. OW! OW! He would very quickly stop and readjust but again, OW! So, he took everything out of my back, and started over. Long story short, he finally got it in on the second go around. He told me that my spine is twisted just the slightest bit that makes it difficult to get the needle exatly where it needs to go. Well, that's good to know... anyway. Epidural was in, I was a happy, and relieved camper.
There were a couple of times that I threw up. Once when I went from a 2 to a 4. and then again when I was at a 5. After that I just stopped dialating. They would up my pitocin and nothing would really happen. They had me shifting from side to side to move Cora down. nothing was really working and I was getting a little scared that things were not going to go as planned.
Around 7pm my Dad came in to talk. He came in to check on me and see how I was doing. He and Ryan suggested that they give me a blessing. I can't remember if Ryan or my Dad said the prayer but they blessed me that I my body would do as it should and that Cora would arrive without complication. As we said amen my nurse came in to check me again. I had gone from a 5 to a 9! Such a beautiful moment, and testimony builder for me.
So it was go time! Everyone (Mom, Dad, Mandy, Zoe, Bill and Cherie) rushed in to say goodluck one last time. My sweet Zoe was about to be a big sister.
My doctor wasn't actually at the hospital at this time which is kind of funny. She had gone home, assuming that I was going to take a while I guess. They called her and she headed back up to the hospital. I pushed while she was on her way. She arrived about 10 minutes later and I started pushing for real this time. I pushed for 3 or 4 contractions and our sweet Cora was born at 7:42pm on November 12, 2012 weighing 7 pounds even. She came out screaming and telling us what she thought about it all. They put her on my chest and I fell in love all over again with a sweet little daughter.
Poor Cora, lol. She had quite the nose when she was born (which is probably the first thing I noticed). She has since grown into it and for that we are grateful hehe. She had a pretty good cone head and tiny little blood blisters all over her head and face. The cord had been wrapped around her neck so when I would have a contraction or push, it kind of cut off her circulation. She also had a big red circle on her haed above her right eye. It is where her head was pressed up against my cervix. She wasn't sitting quite how she should, which is why it took a while for me to dialate. She had a lot of black hair which was fun to see. :)
I healed so much more quickly this time around. I could actually be a Mother and take care of my little baby so it was wonderful.
Welcome sweet Cora! We love you and are so grateful you are ours!
