So my due date was January 23 and that morning I started feeling my first contractions. I wasn't sure if they were Braxton Hicks or the real thing, so I started timing them and let Jeff know that it could be today so he was ready to come home from work right away. I told some of my friends and family, but the contractions didn't seem to be regular. I was quite disappointed and started walking laps around the apartment and up and down the stairs. I really wanted this baby to come, as I was super sick of being pregnant! That night came and I was so disappointed that it didn't happen, but I went to bed for the night. However, I was only laying in bed for an hour before I started feeling more contractions and this time stronger and more regular. I told Jeff and we weren't sure if it was the real thing or not and if we should go to the hospital. Jeff pulled out the contraction timer app on my phone and started timing them for me. Sure enough, they were 5 minutes apart and 1 minute long. We grabbed our last minute things in a rush and headed down the highway. I was glad we decided to go because it was getting more painful the whole ride there, and Jeff had his excuse to speed. I had decided to deliver at the High River hospital because of it's impressive reputation, and experiences from family and friends. We got to High River in 15 minutes! A new record!
We checked in at the hospital at 1 in the morning. Everyone was thrilled to have us, as they were all bored, waiting for someone to help. They checked me right away and I was 4cm dilated. The pain wouldn't have been so bad but I had back labor and so the pain in my back was super intense. I hung in there for 2 hours until I was 6cm and then decided to take the epidural. I didn't know this at the time, but Jeff could hear the staff trying to get ahold of the anesthesiologist and apparently he wasn't picking up. After an hour and a half of waiting (although it seemed much longer), he finally arrived. I've never been happier to see someone walk into the room more in my life! It was super hard to stay still through the contractions as he gave me the epidural, but I managed to do it. I remember him telling me this part will hurt, but feeling nothing he was doing...only the contractions. I have to say epidurals are the most amazing things in the whole entire world. I finally felt relief and since it was the middle of the night, Jeff and I were actually able to get some sleep! The next few hours...well more like 8 hours were a waiting game and we got served some breakfast and lunch (super delicious!). They checked me at 8cm and then at almost 10. Although it was slow, I was continually making progress and the baby was happy the whole time.
Finally around 3:30pm I started feeling more pain and the urge to push. This part was a lot more painful than I had anticipated with an epidural, but all I was focused on was getting the baby out! Whatever I could do to make it quicker I would, so I didn't stop to cry or scream, I just breathed through it and kept going. It went really smoothly and everyone was shocked at how much progress each push made. They told me she had lots of hair as she was coming out, which made me very excited! I knew the moment when the head was crowning (as it was not fun!) and then apparently her hand came out with her head as well. When they put her on me, she had her hands posed around her face so perfectly, it was pretty hilarious! She was born at 4:30pm, after an hour of pushing, on January 24. What a relief!! I can't describe this moment in writing as it was so powerful and spiritual. I was balling and Jeff was also crying, which is a rare thing to see. I got to hold my little baby girl for the first time! She was so beautiful. The doctor finished up with the rest of the delivery which all went very smoothly, and Jeff cut the umbilical cord. Our baby was 8 pounds 4 ounces...quite a big baby! Somehow I pushed her out without needing any stitches (yay!). Jeff didn't know this beforehand, and thank goodness I didn't know it, but he was a 10 pound baby, so that must be where the big baby came from.
Well, what a day! From the time we arrived at the hospital to the time she was born was 15 hours. We had a hard time picking a name, so we waited until the next morning to settle on one of the two we had in mind. After getting to know her personality, she didn't seem to be just a sweet little thing, but had some spunk. And then we remembered how she posed immediately after being born...our little diva. So we picked Bentley Grace Ady, which now I know is completely right for her. Both sets of parents had been waiting all day for the news and were sitting in the waiting room already when she was born. We moved to the postpartum room, and let them come in to see her. I remember telling them I might just have one baby, as I never wanted to do that again! But then I look at my baby girl and just forget it all...
We stayed at the hospital for about 2 and a half days, and then decided to go home. The staff didn't rush us to leave at all and I enjoyed the whole experience at the High River hospital so much. My nurse, Lindsay, was my favorite person ever! She was so friendly, helpful, and talked with us about anything and everything. I would call her in whenever I needed her, even if I just had a stupid question. I got free meals, which was always my favorite part. Who ever said hospital food is bad? I thought it was pretty delicious! We also had a really fun and sweet lady come in and give Bentley her first bath. It was so fun to see her get all cleaned up, although she cried through most of it. I felt so welcome there that I got emotional at just the thought of leaving the hospital. It's kind of weird, but I was also sad to leave the whole experience behind me. I will never have a first baby again! As hard as it was, it was so perfect in so many ways. Although I didn't want to go, I knew Jeff was getting restless and tired of sleeping on a cot. Since I had the breastfeeding down, as Bentley latched on right away, I figured there was no reason to stay. So we left on the Sunday after having her on Friday. Here's a picture of Dr.Woodley who delivered the baby and my favorite person Lindsay, and also some of Bentley's bath pictures...
It was a strange feeling to leave the hospital with a baby. We now had this big (but adorable) responsibility! We put Bentley in her car seat and said our goodbyes (in tears may I add). The drive home was very weird because we didn't hear a peep from Bentley and I kept wondering if she was alive! Turns out she just loves her car seat and falls asleep whenever we put her in it. We stopped to pick up some sushi on the way home since I was finally allowed to eat it!! Then we brought Bentley to our apartment and welcomed her home! :)
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