First Family Photo |
Birth Date: 5/7/2002 (Born 10 days early!)
Time: 2:53 PM Weight: 6 lbs 7 ozs Length: 19 in Head Circumferences: 12.5 in Apgar: 8/9 Characteristics: Beautiful Little Girl with Dark Brown Hair and Eyes; Looks alot like Big Brother Josh when he was first born!
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I was on bedrest for 6 weeks (March 15 - April 26) for preterm labor/irritable uterus. I was told that 50% of all bedrest patients have their babies within 72 hours of their last Terbutaline pills. Those days came and went with no true labor. I was still having lots of Braxton Hicks contractions, but nothing productive. We began to wonder if Jolie was going to go the distance and come after her due date.
On Monday, May 6, I was having a few cramp like contractions and wondered if maybe Jolie was on her way after all. On Tuesday, May 7, my water broke at 5:20 am. Jolie was going to come 10 days early!
We got to L&D just after 6 am. It was a very busy day at the L&D! They ended up with 12 deliveries that day. They check to see if my water had broke - which it had - and admitted me. It was around 7:30 am by the time we got settled in my room. I was having mild contractions about 5 minutes apart. Around 8 am, my Dr. checked me, I was only at 2 cm, almost completely effaced and Jolie's head was at Station -2. I figured that we were in for a long day! The nurse gave me an IV with Saline to keep me hydrated and ordered my antibiotic for being Group B Strep positive. Bryan and I spent most of the morning watching TV while I rocked in the rocking chair. Around 10, I was given the antibiotic and told it would last 4 hours.
As with Josh, I was very hungry, but told I couldn't eat anything till Jolie was born. The contractions started to get a little stronger, but not strong enough according to the nurse. So, she administered Pitocin at a low dosage around 11:30. Over the next hour, she upped the dosage 3 times. Apparently, I wasn't in enough pain for her. I was able to still talk through the contractions, but they were starting to really hurt. Around 12:30, the nurse checked me and I was only at about 3 cm. I was starting to get worried, because the contractions were getting too strong for me to relax and breathe through them. By this point, I had moved to the bed because I couldn't walk or talk during the contractions. Bryan massaged my lower back during every contraction. I really didn't want to take anything for the pain, but I was beginning to re-think my choice. My Dr. had checked on me around 12 noon and said that I could have an epidural if I wanted to have it.
By 1 pm, the epidural started to sound good to me. I didn't know how long I'd have to suffer through the pain. After having Braxton Hicks contractions for the past 8+ weeks, I was so tired of being in Pre-Labor/Labor. The contractions were "kicking my butt!" Bryan suggested that I take the epidural. I agreed. I didn't need to be a Hero and go without the drugs. Bryan told the nurse, and she went to go track down the anesthetist. Around 1:45 pm, he started to administer the epidural. I was very scared about having a needle put in my back. It took him about 15 minutes to get it to work. I was totally amazed at how well it worked. My legs and especially my feet and toes felt tingly, but I did not feel a single contraction. I was told they were coming in about every 1 - 2 minutes. Around 2:15 pm, the nurse checked me and I was at 8 cm with a very bulging bag of remaining water and administer another antibiotic. She decide to call the Dr. and let him know that I was just about ready. I thought she was a little ahead of herself. Just then I felt Jolie's head slide down the birth canal. By 2:30 pm, my Dr. arrived and checked me. When my Dr. checked me, everyone in the room was amazed my the bag of water was bulging outside my body with Jolie's head right there. The nurse said that wasn't there when she had just checked me. Apparently, the epidural was able to relax me enough to actually dialate. Everyone in the room jumped into overdrive. Jolie was coming with or without their help.
My Dr. had me push once and decided to give me an episiotomy. I pushed a second time and her head came out. One more push for the shoulders and body. Joelle Makenna was born at 2:53 pm. Only 9 1/2 hours of labor!
My Dr. stitched me back together, while Bryan watched the nurses take Jolie's vitals. She was having a little trouble keeping her body temperature stable. So, she stayed in the warmer for about an hour before I was able to nurse her. When I finally was able to nurse her, she latched on immediately.
She is so beautiful with dark brown hair and eyes. She looks alot like big brother, Josh, but petite.
Josh got to meet Jolie about 3 hours after she was born. He was very exicted to meet her, and he's learning to be gentle. But, the first thing he asked was "When is she coming home and can I tackle her?"
The only gift I really want for Mother's Day was for Jolie to be born. I'm so happy that she gave me my gift!
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