Elle's Story

I'm back! Big thanks to Spencer for updating the blog with a few pictures while I was preoccupied in the hospital and then sleep deprived at home these past few days. Actually I've been feeling surprisingly great! I've had a much faster recovery this time than I did with Madi. Now that I've been home for a few days, I've been itching to get Elle's birth story recorded. It's amazing how if you ask any mom the details of each kids birth, they always seem to remember exactly what happened- no matter how many kids they've had. Even so, I don't want to forget any details- since this will be added as the start of Elle's blog book which I'll have published for her first birthday. If you're not one to like the labor and delivery details just skip ahead and enjoy all the pics!

From my last post, you already know that I was scheduled for an induction on Thursday, July 16th at 9am. After a morning of waiting around for a call from the hospital (since apparently every expectant mother in Montgomery County, MD was in labor), I got super annoyed and we headed off to the pool. It was two hours of pure relaxation and exactly what I needed. It made me feel better about having wasted the rest of the day away.


We got home, showered off, and just as I sat down on the couch for what I thought might be another couple of hours of waiting, the phone rang! Five minutes later Spencer and I were waving goodbye to Madi and Gram. We checked into the hospital at 6:30pm (only 9 1/2 hours behind schedule:)! As much as I protested, Spencer made me smile for a picture outside the labor and delivery wing.


At 7pm my IV was in and I was feeling great! Of course we weren't the only ones excited for Elle's arrival. Back at home, my mom told me that Madi was playing with her toys and singing, "My sister Elle is coming" (over and over again)!


Finally at 8:50pm they got my oxytocin drip started. I had the feeling that this was the beginning of a very long night. Luckily Melissa stopped by at 9pm. It helped to break up the monotony of sitting in that bed. A little after 11:00pm I could feel the contractions coming on stronger. That, coupled with a pounding headache, made me very uncomfortable. I figured I must have been 5cm dilated by then, but after getting checked, I was disappointed to find that I was still only 3 (almost 4cm). At 11:25, right after a painful contraction, I felt a 'pop'. It was a weird feeling and I asked Spencer if he heard it. It wasn't until I felt the trickle down my legs that I knew that my water had broke! Naturally, contractions started coming on stronger and I put in my request for the beloved epidural. A little after midnight the epidural was in and starting to provide some relief. This epidural didn't seem to numb me up as well as my last one did though. I could feel a lot of pressure with each contraction whereas with Madi, Spencer would have to tell me when I was having a contraction. The left side of my body was definitely less numb than my right side. At 2:20am I was feeling some very intense pressure while feeling that unmistakable need to push! I called for the nurse who quickly checked to find that I was fully dilated, and commented that she could "feel the baby's head"! WOW! I started stressing out, thought for sure that this baby was gonna come flying out! No such luck- at 2:25am I started pushing and continued the grueling task for the next hour! Since my first experience w/ labor (with Madi) only required 3 pushes, this whole 'pushing' concept was new to me. I consider myself to be in pretty good shape, but wow- WHAT A WORK-OUT!!! After an hour I was exhausted! My legs were cramping, the pressure was incredible, and I could tell Elle was right there, but kinda stuck. Being what the doctor called, "sunny-side up" (aka- posterior-her head facing up instead down), they knew that just pushing might not get her out. I'm sure the doctor could tell I was tired and unable to keep it up much longer. I gave another push, he made a little snip, and with a help from a suction, Elle came shooting out! What an incredible feeling! 

Here's the team (minus Spencer) who helped bring Elle into the world! What a fabulous doctor and nurse. I couldn't have been happier!

After I was settled into my postpardum room, Spencer headed home to get some sleep. Then he, Madi, and Gram came back a couple hours later. Madi instantly fell in love with her new baby sister. I've been amazed at how gentle Madi is with Elle and how willing she is to help do anything.  We spent the remainder of Elle's birthday just enjoying all her sweetness! Mom and Spencer took turns keeping me company at the hospital. 

Favorite postpartum nurse! Elle and I were fabulously taken care of!

Melissa stopped by (between packing) to visit and of course snapped a couple of adorable shots (along with the first and last pics of this post)! 

Gotta love those lips!

After spending Friday night spent alone, and itching to get home to be with everybody, I asked to be discharged on Saturday instead of Sunday morning.  I got the ok from my doc and the pediatrician and we both came home at 10:30pm.

Since then, "mom instincts" have kicked in and I've been surviving on about 4 hours of broken sleep every night. For someone who usually gets 7 or 8, I don't know how I'm functioning. But I am and feeling quite well, too. I'm sure I'll crash- and probably soon, but with company at the house, it's been hard for me to sit back and let my mom do everything. 

Welcome to our family Elle! You are incredibly loved! We couldn't be happier to have you with us!