Zoey Jane Reed was born on Gavin's birthday, June 21st, at 12:26pm. She weighed 6 lbs 12 oz and was 19 inches long. She is perfectly healthy and we are perfectly happy!
Without boring you with all the details, I'll just breeze over the basics of the delivery. I went into active labor at around 5pm Monday night, and went to the hospital at 11:30. I labored naturally for seven more hours before reaching an 8+ and asking for an epidural. I was exhausted and didn't have the strength any more to relax through my contractions. Gavin was an awesome coach and helped me make it through the hardest parts. At 10am I began pushing. It was a slow process, and I was cut three times and ended up tearing anyway. Finally Zoey came, and I cannot describe to you the euphoria I experienced at that point. The mixture of pure happiness, exhaustion and relief were overwhelming, and I just sobbed as I held her in my arms for the first time. She is perfect.
Gavin got to help a lot. Not only did he help coach my breathing, but he helped me push, by pushing my knees. He actually caught the baby himself, and of course, cut the umbilical cord. I've never seen him so happy as he was the moment Zoey was born. It was incredible.
So now, here we are, new parents and pretending we know what we're doing. Zoey is an angel baby, and is very patient with us both. She is eating really well, and growing way too fast. It's only been a week but I can already see the difference. She is so beautiful-- and did I mention-- she has red hair! Red! Okay, well it's more like auburn, but when it's freshly washed and the light shines on it, there's no doubt it's red. It's funny because Gavin has always wished to have a red-head child, and even though I thought it was next to impossible, given our black hair, he got his wish! Happy birthday to him!
I love being a mommy. I love taking care of my adorable baby and providing for her every need. It's an amazing feeling. And it's wonderful to feel that, for now at least, our little family is complete.
Welcome!
Well, tomorrow is my official due date.
(Deep breath)
It's been a long and interesting road. It feels like I've been pregnant for a year... or forever. Tomorrow I'll get checked again and discuss induction possibilities. I want to avoid an epidural, and I think I also want to avoid Pitocin, if I can. I'd rather let my body do what it's supposed to. On the other hand, my body seems pretty content to stay pregnant until late August or so, so I'm considering undergoing an AROM (artificial rupture of membranes) to get things going. I had my membranes stripped last week, and that didn't do anything. I'm not afraid of the painful contractions that can come from an AROM, since they are the same contractions I would have had if my water had broken on its own. However, I'll be discussing all that with one of the best midwives around tomorrow, and hopefully I'll be able to make an informed and deliberate decision about it... or maybe I can just go into labor today.
Not likely.
It's slightly frustrating to me, hearing all the advice from people, telling me I should do this or that to make myself go into labor. Been there. Tried that. I'm not going to do castor oil-- that's pretty selfish, as it can put the baby at a huge risk. But I've tried everything safe and "natural" several times, and I've come to understand that, for me at least, they aren't going to do anything. Zoey is just going to come when the time is right (which might be if/when we induce labor).
I'm starting to believe that people simply try different techniques, and then give whatever they did last before going into labor credit for getting the job done. The human body is a smart thing, and I think mine has its reasons for waiting. I don't like them very much, but I trust that it's for the best. I will deliver a nice, healthy, ready baby when the time is right.
Either that or I'll explode.