{J} {J} {G} & {C}: Cora's Birth Story

I always love to write up my birth story so that I can always look back, reread and remember about those amazing days!

Cora's birth story is pretty short, as I went from my water breaking at 2pm to giving birth at 4:22pm, so just under 2.5hours! (Ok, lets face it-I ramble so it won't be short..) I'll start with Friday, the 23rd. The night before she was born. Cora hadn't been moving a lot that day. I spend the morning shopping with a friend and had hardly felt her move. Finally around 4pm I called my OB and they suggested I go into L&D for a NST (non-stress test). Jeff and G came along and we headed over to the hospital. I had a couple contractions when I was there, but just normal braxton hicks. Baby passed with flying colors on her NST and then they decided to check me to see if I had any 'changes'. But I was still dilated between 3 and 4, like I had been at my last OB appointment. The nurse said maybe I would go into labor in the next few days. I was just glad baby was ok and we didn't have to be at the hospital for long!

That night I had some contractions but nothing exciting. Saturday morning we went to pick out our Christmas tree and our plan was to decorate the tree after Gianna's nap. When we got home I had a few more contractions but again nothing that made me really think I was in labor. Some were kind of painful but nothing regular or anything. After lunch I laid G down for a nap and Jeff was leaving to get an oil change in my car while I cleaned G's fish tank. Just minutes after Jeff left and just as I started cleaning the tank, my water broke. I felt a pop and then it felt liked I peed a tiny bit. I wasn't sure what to think at first so I started walking to the bathroom when I had a big gush of fluid. Being my normal emotional pregnant self, immediately I started crying! (Yes, don't laugh). I called Jeff (at 1:57pm) and he turned around to come home. Then I called Molly, Gianna's godmother, to come take care of G while we went to the hospital. I told her not to rush because we'd probably just hang out at home until contractions started. Then I called my friend Nicole and told her. I was such a mess bawling! I was just so worried about Gianna, I was afraid she'd miss me and have a really hard time being away. I was worried she'd despise me for bringing another little girl into our family who would need so much of her mommy time. I was worried that Cora would be ok and labor would go smooth...pretty much just a normal mess ;-)

While on the phone with Nicole I had my first bad contraction...like stop you in your tracks, can't talk contraction. I decided to get off the phone and get stuff together. Jeff finished packing my hospital bag and finished cleaning the fish tank. I then went up stairs to change and Gianna woke up from her (short) nap. I scooped her up and came downstairs to cuddle her on the couch. While snuggling her Molly came over and I had two more bad contractions. We decided it was time to head to the hospital. My plan was to try to deliver 'all natural' without an epidural. However after just 5 painful contractions I told Jeff there was no way I could do it. The contractions were so much different from the contractions I had with G. While in labor with Gianna I had a lot of back labor and really crampy contractions. However, this time the contractions was like someone was taking a rolling pin with needles all of it and rolling it just on my lower stomach.

We were in the car by 2:45pm and I told Jeff there was no way I could walk all the way to L&D. Thankfully, I had thought ahead and had L&D's number in my phone. Jeff called and notified them that I was coming and they had someone come up with a wheel chair. I felt like an idiot being wheeled in but it would have taken us forever to walk all the way there. My contractions were just minutes apart and I had to stop with each one. As soon as they got me into a triage room I told my nurse I wanted an epidural ASAP. She checked me and said I was 5cm and asked how long my other daughter's labor was. I told her about 5hours total and she said this one would probably be very quick also. She also told me Dr. Lehman (one of my favorite OB's) was delivering until 5, so I should try to have her by then. I thought she was crazy!! Jeff and I had guessed on the way to the hospital how long I'd be in labor. I said she'd be born around 6:30/7 and Jeff guessed around 5:00.

While in triage my contractions were insane. They were barely registering on the monitor and I asked the nurse what was wrong. She said that some people's contractions just don't show up as well as others. During each contraction I just closed my eyes and breathed through them as much as I could. Chris was such an amazing nurse, she held my hand through each one as Jeff rubbed my back. I had to lay down for her to check me and check to see if it was really amniotic fluid (rather than just pee) and that was the worst. Laying down made my contractions so much worse, I had to roll to my side with each one. I remember after one I let out a huge sigh and Jeff & Chris (my nurse) laughed at me. The contractions were just so exhausting. I just remember I kept asking how long until I could have an epidural!

Finally around 3:20 they said I could get admitted and go to my room (room 614). Walking to the room wasn't fun either. I had one really bad contraction. Another nurse came to help Chris out so I could get some pain relief. As soon as we got to the room Chris called Kumar, the anesthesiologist. She also asked Jeff/I a bunch of questions and had Jeff fill out paperwork. The other nurse started my IV. I barely remember any of this...my contractions were like consistent pain and then about every minute they would intensify. Chris kept reminding me to breathe/moan through each one so that's what I did. I had my eyes closed the whole time and was in my own world. I remember Jeff 'shing' me one time because I was so loud. I know he didn't do it to be mean, he just said he just didn't know how to comfort me and help with the pain. Around 3:30 I got a small dose of fentanol. It only lasted about 10 minutes but really took some of the edge off. However, Cora's resting heart rate dropped a bunch and I had to lay down on my left side and wear an oxygen mask. I was so worried about her. Dr. Lehman also came in during this time and talked to me. I didn't really listen/answer but I think Jeff talked to her. She said I should have the baby in the next hour so she could deliver her. I just kept asking where Kumar was! Haha.

Over the next 20 minutes was a complete blur. Jeff was standing behind me and holding me while Chris stood in front of me and held my hands. I breathed/moaned/whimpered uncontrollably the whole time. I also asked for Kumar about 100 times and kept saying I couldn't do it anymore. The pain was something I have never experienced. I really didn't think I could do it, I just wanted pain relief and to sleep. I started having pressure and Chris asked if she could check me. I said, "NO!". I didn't want to lay down and I knew I was probably almost fully dilated, which would mean they would tell me I couldn't have the epidural.

A little after 4:00pm Kumar came in to give my epidural. Jeff had to move from behind me and at that point I was done. I couldn't do it without him there. The pain was terrible and every second felt like an hour. Kumar inserted my epidural and asked me to lay down and they would administer the pain meds. All of a sudden I felt C coming out. I told Jeff and Chris (my nurse) check me around 4:10. She said, "She's +3, +4! Don't push Jessica!". She also told me the room was going to get really full because baby was coming! I just remember laying on the bed and my body was taking over, Cora was coming out without me even pushing. Next thing I knew Dr. Lehman asked me to flip on my back and put my legs up to push. I did one giant push and her head came out. Over the next 4-5 minutes I pushed more (which actually didn't hurt that bad. It burned but it also felt so good to push). I had my eyes closed the whole time and just envisioned her coming out. I remember Jeff saying, 'Oh my gosh, she has so much hair!". Then someone told me to open my eyes and Cora was born and placed on my chest. The nurse asked Dr. Lehman not to cut the cord until it stopped pulsing (per my request). To me, Cora seemed so small and perfect. I was over the moon and immediately so in love. The nurses and Dr.L kept saying how big she was and guessed over 8.5lbs. I thought she looked tiny, just had some massive chubby cheeks!

After snuggling C for a bit they nurses took her and weighed her...she weighed 8lbs14.9oz! I couldn't believe it! She was 20 inches long and scored 8 & 9 on her APGAR test. Jeff cut the cord while I was being stitched up (2nd degree tear) and they got her wrapped up. Dr. L and the nurse told me how great I did and I apologized to Chris for being so mean to her. She laughed and said I did great! She also told me I had only got .8cc's of epidural so not even a full cc. She said, well you went all natural like you wanted! (And boy, I don't know if I want to do that again!). We called Molly to have Gianna come meet her baby sister and just starred and snuggled our little girl.

After a little bit Cora started crying and I asked if I could nurse her. I wanted some direction from the nurse because I knew Gianna had a lot of latching issues and I wanted to make sure we did it right. However, after I took my gown down Cora immediately latched on and nursed like a champ! She's a hungry little girl who loves to nurse!

Gianna and Molly came around 5:45. Gianna wasn't really sure what to think. She unwrapped her gift from Cora. We asked if she wanted to hold her so Gianna sat with me on the bed and held her. Slowly, G started to get more acquainted with Cora and kept asking to hold her or give her a paci, etc. She even gave Cora some of her Hello Kitty stickers and asked to wrap her up in her Mickey blanky!

While in the hospital Gianna actually spent quite a bit of time with us. Jeff went home each night to put her to bed (which was hard on all 3 of us!) and would then bring her over in the morning. My mom and Jeff's mom took her for a bit each day so we could have quiet time. On Sunday we decided we didn't want any visitors in the evening and it was so nice just to spend time with Jeff and Cora.

On Monday we went home as a family. I tried to get some family pictures before we left but Gianna wanted nothing to do with it! I think she was just as tired and exhausted as we were!

I'll leave you with a bunch of pictures from the hospital...