We walked the rather steep hill by my parents house that we've all dubbed suicide hill. I skipped and hopped my way there and back. When we got back to the house, I bounced on the trampoline for awhile. Then we made a cake with more chocolate than should be legally allowed. Said cake gave me THE worst indigestion I have ever had. EVER. It was awful.
I went to bed about 10:00 PM with the usual Braxton Hicks contractions. I remember timing them for a bit because they were more intense than usual. I fell asleep, and then woke up at 4:30 AM to a pretty intense contraction. I got up to use the bathroom, and sat there for a good 5 minutes before I realized that I was still peeing...or so I thought. Yeah, that's not pee. I told Jon my water broke. We timed contractions to see how far apart they were. 4 to 5 minutes, lasting a good 90 seconds each.
Deb came to watch the older two and we headed in. We got to the hospital around 6. They hooked me up to monitors, and confirmed that my water had indeed broken. I told them my birth "preferences" (birth plans never go exactly as expected.) and they told me the expectations I needed to meet to be able to go down to the birthing center where we could have a water birth. We called our little birth team. Sarah, my Doula, answered the phone with a very hoarse voice. She was sick. Really sick. She wasn't going to make it. We called Alexis, too. She showed up a half hour later with coffee for sleepy Jon.
While we were waiting for Madalynne to 'behave' the contractions got much more intense. I remember thinking that I sounded like a cow as I breathed through them, Jon holding me up while I swayed back and forth.
Madalynne's heart rate wasn't reacting how they saw necessary to be off the monitors. She wasn't reacting to contractions. At all. Then, her heart rate shot up, then completely dropped off. A few seconds later it picked back up again. But still, no reaction to contractions. Just a very concerned mama.
After a contraction that lasted more than 2 minutes and peaked for a good 30 seconds, with still no reaction from the babe, I decided it would be best for my peace of mind if we kept her on the monitors. Which meant no getting in the tub, and limited mobility. Birth 'preference' spoiled. I was okay with this. My pain levels were getting a bit out of control due to not being able to move much. I hadn't anticipated this. At all.
Now, lets establish that I had previously declared how humorous it would be if my water broke before I went into labor. Let me tell you, it's not funny. Not at all. It's much much more intense due to there being no fluid to cushion the contractions. Madalynne kept stretching, and moving, and doing that retarded neck/head roll thing she does that made the contractions ridiculously more intense than they would have been other wise. So so not funny.
I told them I would just stay in Labor and Delivery, instead of moving to the birthing center. I wanted to get settled, and they wouldn't let us move down stairs until her heart rate reacted. So we got settled in our room, as the contractions intensified...more, if that's even possible. I asked for an epidural.
Later, Alexis told me she was surprised I didn't rip Jon's arms or face off. Apparently, I was terrifying.
After a miserable 20 minutes of trying to get the epidural in, the poor anesthesiologist finally got it set. He was just as frustrated as I was.
And, finally, sweet relief. The nurse checked me, told me I was 6 cm. She brought me jello, a Popsicle, and juice. We rested for awhile.
I heard the monitors beeping slow quite a bit. Jon walked over and looked at it with a funny look on his face. The nurse came in and made the same face. Greeeeat.
She says "Lets check you again.....oh wow. Yeah, this baby is coming now!" Apparently, she was already in the birth canal, and her heart rate had dropped pretty significantly.
They got everything ready. I pushed 4 times, and baby girl was born into her daddy's hands at 11:51 AM on April 13th. He placed her on my chest, and we all cried...except for Madalynne. She just smiled and smiled...and then nursed for literally 2 hours. She weighed 7 pounds and 8 ounces, and was 21 inches long.
Perfection.
All the nurses we had were absolutely wonderful. The Midwives were amazing. My little birth team was incredible. I wouldn't change a thing.
As for her name. Most of you know she's named after my brother, Daniel. Danielle didn't seem to fit as a first name, but both Jon and I LOVE Madalynne. So Madalynne Danielle.
We were debating nicknames, since several people have already started to call her Maddie. Every time I hear "Maddie" I think of someone with matted hair. I don't know why. Anyway, We thought about several nicknames. All of them were kind of a stretch, and none of them seemed to fit her very well.
Then Alexis suggested Dani. Since she's named after Daniel, I found this pretty appropriate. Also, she looks like a "Dani" to me.
So if any of you feel the need to call her something besides Madalynne, please feel free to call her Dani, : )
Perfection.
All the nurses we had were absolutely wonderful. The Midwives were amazing. My little birth team was incredible. I wouldn't change a thing.
As for her name. Most of you know she's named after my brother, Daniel. Danielle didn't seem to fit as a first name, but both Jon and I LOVE Madalynne. So Madalynne Danielle.
We were debating nicknames, since several people have already started to call her Maddie. Every time I hear "Maddie" I think of someone with matted hair. I don't know why. Anyway, We thought about several nicknames. All of them were kind of a stretch, and none of them seemed to fit her very well.
Then Alexis suggested Dani. Since she's named after Daniel, I found this pretty appropriate. Also, she looks like a "Dani" to me.
So if any of you feel the need to call her something besides Madalynne, please feel free to call her Dani, : )
