Welcome Baby Lucy

Little Miss Lucy.  So you think your fourth baby is going to just pop on out and slide right on down the birth canal.  Well it just didn't happen that way.  This sweet one took her sweet time.  Here's the story of Lucy Faye's arrival:

My water broke at home on Tuesday night, February 3 at 5:15 p.m.  I was cooking taco soup for dinner.  I called my midwife about an hour later, after I was quite sure it was my water that had broken. She said labor/contractions should just start on their own within the next little while, but that I could stay home until contractions began to pick up.  My water broke at home with Claire as well and she was born 3 1/2 hours later…with contractions starting about an hour after the water had broken.  So one might suppose something similar might happen this time around.  But each child likes to have their own unique story!

So we moved on with our night…somewhat on edge but trying to relax…not knowing what and when it might happen!  Thankfully my sister was here and would be available to stay with the kids whenever we needed to go.  But the night moved on and not a thing was happening.  No contractions.  I felt no different…other than a little wet :)  We slept through the night and I happen to have an appointment with my midwife already scheduled for 9 a.m. that morning.  Jared and I went in to see her and she confirmed that it was my water that had broken and said we should go to the hospital.  I was still only dilated to a 2 and 40% effaced.  It was expected that the baby would be born sometime that day.  After water breaks, they like to have the baby delivered within 24 hours, as the risk on infection for mom and baby increases.  Jared and I had our bags packed and in the car as we suspected we'd be sent to the hospital.  We went to Target first to get some snacks for the day and headphones for me to listen to my maternity mediation with.  We check into the hospital about 11 a.m. without a single contraction or sign of labor beginning.

My midwife ordered a medication for me that would help thin my cervix and consequently start some contractions.  I took that about 1 p.m. and had to hang out in the bed for them to monitor me for four hours after having that medication.  Jared and I watched Saving Mr. Banks.  I started having contractions but nothing significant at all.  About 5 p.m. when I was free from the bed, my midwife wanted me up and walking and on the go…which is what I wanted too.  Jared and I walked the halls of the hospital for a few hours, ate some dinner, and watched an episode of Downton Abby.  Contractions started to pick up soon, but it wasn't until about 8 p.m. that they were of real significance.

Throughout this all, I was very thankful to have the midwife I did…who didn't "freak out" because it had been 24 hours post-water breaking and feel an urgency to get the baby out!  Obviously baby and I were monitored closely for signs of infection…my temp, blood pressure, heart rate…and baby's heart rate….and everything always looked perfect!  She didn't go crazy about pushing things along faster than my body was ready for.  I didn't want to have to start pitocin and was glad to have a midwife who agreed and trusted the natural stages of birth.  I was really thankful for that because it is my ideal to have as natural, unmedicated of a birth as possible…and that's exactly what I got because of all our patience.

At about 9 p.m. contractions were finally strong, hard, and making progress.  The nurse checked me and I was dilated to an 8 and 90% effaced.  She called the midwife and she came to the hospital about 10 p.m.  I was feeling the urge to push, as I labored at the side of my bed; however I still wasn't completely dilated to a 10…although close…and not 100% effaced.  My midwife had me push for a bit, thinking that would help open things up and moved them along.  But after about 45 minutes of that…I was tired.  Real tired.  So I labored through more contractions for about another 45 minutes and by now it's nearing midnight.  I was finally all the way dilated & effaced and could now push with the hopes of getting the baby out!

The only slight issue was that sweet Lucy's head was not lined up straight to come out…it was kind of cocked/tilted to one side.  This made getting her out a bit more difficult than it would have been had she had her head straight on.  Thankfully, Lucy did great during this time stuck in the birth canal.  Her heart rate never faltered and all vitals for both of us were good.  Other than my exhaustion.  If that could have been monitored I'm sure it would have been off the charts.  I was simply exhausted and felt I could have literally fallen asleep in-between contractions.  I had to tell Jared to tell me that it wasn't over yet...I had to keep going...I had strength left to do this.

And so we did.  Because that's what you do.  Never give up.  This sweet princess finally came out and was placed on my chest just after midnight at 12:11 a.m.  Not quite sure why yet, but she really wanted to be born on the 5th of February!  She cried.  I cried.

I was so happy it was over.  I was so happy she was here!  Those words seem so feeble compared to the deep emotion that was truly behind the "happy it was over…happy she was here" statement.  That kind of joy just can't quite be described in words.  The feelings, however, are so impressionable on my mind and heart because of their deep intensity that it's something I could never forget.  It's one reason I actually "enjoy" feeling the pains of natural child birth.  With pain so deep comes pure love and happiness so profound.  All emotions are magnified during this time--pain, love, joy, gratitude, peace, reverence, amazement, bliss, and awe.  It's one of those monumental moments in life that impress my body and soul so significantly that things will never pivot the same afterwards.  It is simply a blessing to be an active participant in such a miracle.

Little Lucy was taken care of by the nurses while the midwife finished up her thing.  Lucy swallowed some fluid sometime in her sojourn down the birth canal and her lungs were a little "wet."  Although not out of panic or deep worry, they took her to the 'transition NICU' to be monitored and given just a bit of oxygen.  She was only there a short time before they brought her back and said all was well.  They placed her in my arms all swaddled and clean and it's been difficult to let go ever since!!

Her fingers are long.  Her nails even longer.  Her eyes are blue.  She hiccups ALL the TIME.  Her skin is soft and her manner is content.  The name Lucy means Light.  Our house has certainly been filled with a lot more of that since her arrival.  Welcome Princess Lucy!