the day it happened, chapter 2

May 25, 2011

We're assuming every labor and delivery experience is different. We're assuming this because it was true for us. And although we've only had two experiences to base this opinion off of, we're sticking by it. Anybody interested in chapter 1 (with Cayla) can find it here: http://littlegarland.blogspot.com/2008_10_01_archive.html and scroll down to the bottom. It's funny to read that again and realize how different this was time was. For example, we were freaked out when Leah's water broke with Cayla. This time, Dr. Vande Zande (from here on out known as DVZ) did it himself. Here is a timeline of the day it happened:

3:30 am: Leah wakes up with contractions. No biggie. This baby was due 5 days ago. She's been hitting, elbowing, punching, and head-butting Leah to get out for days, and those are just the legal moves. She was so tired of being in there she started jumping rope with the umbilical cord. She had been in there so long the organs were asking her to tell them stories about when she was young.

6:15 am: Unlike the first time (when we sped to the hospital around midnight, with adrenaline pumping and the giddiness of wondering COULD THIS BE THE NIGHT?), we casually loaded up our bags, strapped Cayla in, and drove the speed limit out to drop off Cayla at Carol's before heading to the hospital. Now, we were still excited. It's just that Leah was being induced so a little of the surprise and suddenness were gone. Remember, we were 5 days past. It was simply going to happen today, no matter what.

6:30 am: Arrive at Room 1204, just one room down from where Cayla was born. It looked nice. Leah's contractions were sometimes as close as 5 minutes and as far apart at 15 minutes. We were starting to get pretty excited.

Note the bowl on table. More on that soon.

6:50 am: DVZ comes in to check on us. We find out he was called in at 11:30 pm last night to deliver another baby. He's been here ever since. I secretly hope he's not drowsy when it's time for us to deliver. "Okay, Leah, push!" I hear him say in my imagination, before dropping to the floor in exhaustion. I am left to deliver the baby.

6:51 am: I shake the dumb pessimistic thoughts from my head. DVZ is a gamer; he'll do whatever it takes to be ready for us. Still... I wonder if I could do it...

6:55 am: DVZ checks Leah and tells her she is already dilated at 5. Five! It took her forever to get from 1 to 2 with Cayla. She's pretty pumped about this. DVZ seems happy with progress and leaves to go home and shower. And drink a liter of Monster Energy Drink, I presume.

7:35 am: We continue to relax in the room, wondering what's going on. It almost seems too good to be true. She has had contractions consistently but nothing terrible. I decide to work on the page about current events now rather than at the peak of her pain (something I learned from previous experience).

8:24 am: I drive to Casey's to surprise Leah with a chocolate milk.

8:35 am: Shortly after arriving back, I'm told she can't drink it. I can tell by her look that she's impressed at the thought, though. Or thinking that I should have known that.

9:30 am: She is now close to a 6 or 7 and starting to wonder if she can do this without pain-reducing drugs. Says Leah to the nurse with gusto: "I think I can handle this!"

9:50 am: Leah throws up repeatedly into a bucket due to the pain. The nurse holds the bowl very professionally for her.

10:15 am: Starting to get a little bored.

10:32 am: We take our first and only walk. That's four less than with Cayla. We stick to the OB hallway. Contractions ramp up a bit, at times 3 or 4 minutes apart.

11:00 am: Leah's resolve has finally broken once again: the doctor with drugs arrives. One efficient shot to the back and Leah is feelin' alright.

11:50 am: Not much new happening and post-drug Leah is not as conversational as pre-drug Leah. I head to the cafeteria for lunch.

12:33 pm: Arrive back in the room to an increased sense of urgency in the room. I'm told Leah

is now measuring at 9 or 10. They are waiting for DVZ, who isn't expecting baby to arrive for a little while yet. A few minutes before, the nurse had said to Leah, "It might just be you or me for this one."

12:45 pm : DVZ comes into the room, pulling on gloves, ready to go. Thankfully, he seems refreshed. He checks Leah and comments that this could happen soon.

12:53 pm: Dad, assume the position. I take my treasured spot as the "right leg-hoister." For the remainder of this deal, my only jobs are to keep that leg back and reassure Leah that she's pushing beautifully.

12:55 pm: I tell Leah that she's pushing beautifully.

12:57 pm: DVZ tells me to look at the head. Hesitantly, I look, knowing that nothing has come out of Leah yet. What I see doesn't look like a head. It's a wrinkly, grey mass with some hairs on it.

12:58 pm: I guess it was a head, because out it comes; I get my first view of Eliana's face.

12:59 pm: Now the shoulders. Leah, you're pushing beautifully! Now the waist and arms. Great job, honey! DVZ swiftly sucks out the bad stuff from the baby's mouth and nostrils. At this point I have to say this: the man's quick. One more push, Leah! And now, just before 1 pm, DVZ is handing our baby to Leah. We are ecstatic and emotional. The baby... wants back in there. The baby is a girl, and we'll call her Eliana, which means "my God has answered."

Eliana at about two minutes of age.

1:01 pm: DVZ offers me the scissors for the ceremonial "cutting of the umbilical cord." It's weird to do something like that after witnessing the miracle of birth. You are amazed and emotional and happy and then you are handed scissors to cut this gross-looking cord. But I guess it officially calls this thing a done deal, so that's okay. I oblige. Successful.

1:30 pm: After what seems like forever, the three of us finally get a bit of time alone. It is a special moment. God has given us another beautiful girl. It's humbling. And so after only 7 hours at the hospital and mere five minutes of pushing, we say a prayer as we hold the fourth member of our little family. I mentioned the first name. The middle name, Lynn, we like because we each have a sister with that middle name. What a day. Leah was incredible! We can't wait to introduce you all to our newest member!