She's Here!

January 26, 2012 (Thursday)
      The day started with a workout by Jillian at 6:30am and a run around the block.  I had just reached 38 weeks and felt super!  Tuesday I had gone in for my appointment, I was 80% effaced and dilated to a two.  I was happy she and my body were both making progress and started hoping she would be born on the weekend of the 4^th or the 5^th.  Bridger was a Super Bowl baby and I thought that could be a fun tradition.  
      I had some mild cramping throughout the day, which I attributed to my run that morning, but nothing to be concerned about.  Then about four o’clock I started having contractions.  Still not worried at all, I figured they were self-induced and would just go away.  I was making meatballs to put in as a freezer meal and had plans to go get a pedicure with a friend.    
      About 4:30 I started timing the contractions which were about 5 minutes apart, but I still figured they would go away.  Just in case, I texted Devin a little FYI, that I was contracting, probably nothing to be worried about, but to stay by his phone.  They quickly started coming closer together and I told Devin he better start wrapping things up at work, just in case.  By the time he got home at 5:00pm they were between 2:00 and 2:30 minutes apart.   
      Bridger was super concerned about me.  Every time a contraction peaked I’d hit the floor and moan it out.  Bridger kept saying “Okay mom? Okay?” with a very confused/concerned expression.  When I timed a contraction that was only 1:30 apart, I knew we needed to leave right then.  We grabbed mine and Bridger’s bag (luckily I had packed them, thinking I was being way ahead of the game) as we ran out the door.   
      We dropped Bridger off to Scott at Recon’s office which was on the way to the hospital and then fought rush hour traffic.  I was wishing there was an emergency lane we could take. 

The hospital:
      I thought I wanted to go natural this time.  Just to try it out and see how it would go.  Compare.  Maybe I wanted to say I am tough.  I don’t know why.  Going through those contractions hurt like crazy and I would have taken an epidural!  Luckily for my plan, unluckily for my hope of wussing out, I had no choice.   
      We pulled in and my midwife was waiting for me on the curb outside the hospital with a wheel chair. She wheeled me to labor and delivery, I pulled off my pants, she checked me and I was dilated to an eight.   I didn't even have time to change or get any IV's.  After twenty minutes and a lot of screaming from me, out came a baby girl at 6:11pm.

      It all happened so fast!  I really hadn’t prepared myself.  I still thought I had a couple weeks before she’d come.  But I did it!  Devin was really good at supporting me through it while trying to quiet me down.  I didn’t think I’d be a screamer, but it hurt like crazy and it felt like it helped to have an outlet. J

      She is here, beautiful and healthy!  Weighing in at 6.16 pounds and 18 inches long.  We named her Myra Poulton.  She is still exhausted from going through the birthing canal and she sleeps all the time.  When she wakes up enough, she nurses really well.  She is our sweet little girl.

      I have been amazed at how good I feel.  There was pretty much instant relief after she came out.  No tares.  Going natural does have its perks.  After I had Bridger I almost blacked out in the bathroom and I kept telling people his weight wrong.   This time I was able to walk right after because my legs weren’t numb.  I feel energized and really with it. 

      We love baby Myra!  Bridger especially loves giving her hugs and kisses!  She is sweet natured and so far never fusses without reason.  She has already gained two ounces.  At her check-up today she weighed 6 pounds 4 ounces.  She has good color and has passed all her tests amazingly well.  She feels like a natural addition to our family.  Bridger didn’t seem at all surprised to see a little baby when he met her.  We are a very happy family of four!

 Bridger's favorite part was the juice!

        I stayed in the hospital for just 24 hours and then chose to go home to my own bed!  Myra is so small her newborn clothes drown her and she looked so teeny-tiny in her carseat. 

        Bridger is a great big brother and loved helping push the babies cart.