Our New Little Bundle – Persimoni ‘Pip’ Mae – a Birth Story

I am proud to announce that our new little girl, Persimoni ‘Pip’ Mae decided to join us on April 28th.  Everyone is doing great and the girls are enjoying their beautiful new baby sister.

The Birth Story

I went to the doctor on Wednesday, April 27th and a date for induction was set in case Pip didn’t decide to join us on her own (May 2nd).  While there, the doctor stripped my membrane’s in hope to getting things started on it’s own.

I went to my farm to school meeting and proceeded with life as I had been – large and uncomfortable.  At about 3:15 I started to have contractions…was this really happening!?  Eek!  They stopped just after 5.  SERIOUSLY!  Arghh!  So annoying how they kept starting and stopping.  Grandma and Grandpa already had the girls so we decided to make it a sleep over – just in case.  Around 3 in the morning I woke up a few times with contractions.  After the third time I figured I’d better just get up and start timing things to see if something was happening.  The contractions were about 10 minutes apart until about 5:30.  At that point I got up and took a shower.  While I was standing and moving around the contractions were coming 2 to 3 minutes apart.  After about a half hour of this we called triage and they told us to come in. 

Here I am before we left for the hospital.  Jared couldn’t believe I wanted to stop and get a picture but I couldn’t resist.  I had one from both of the other’s girls’ births. 

The contractions slowed to about 4 or 5 min apart when I was sitting in the van on the way to the hospital.  Once I stood up to walk around they became closer together again.  When I got to triage they made me lay down to get checked and to monitor things.  Since I was laying, things slowed down but I was 4 cm and they decided to admit me.  I stood whenever they let me and the contractions picked up.  When my doctor came she checked me and was slightly progressed.  We discussed pain management.  At this time I was handling the contractions just fine but I really didn’t want to miss out on getting the epidural this time.  So, we decided to do it. 

The anesthesiologist game in and got things going.  It wasn’t as nice as I remember the last one being but I wasn’t concentrating through 9cm contractions either.  

They decided to do a different type of epidural this time where it starts with one drug and then switches to the standard.  Well, this first drug was not my favorite.  My blood pressure dropped really low and they had to give me lots of fluid and put me down on my side.  Once it wore off though, I felt much better and much more like myself.  IF I ever decide to have another baby I’m telling them I do not want this first drug. 

Since you’re not able to walk around with an epidural contractions had also slowed down.  I was ready to get her out but it was nice to just be able to relax and wait for her to decide to come.  Jared kept the parents’ notified – we didn’t want them to be worrying since the last two had come so quickly.  His last update to them was around 12:30 saying that things were progressing but slowing.  The doctor had just checked me and I was at 6cm.

Not long after that I called the nurse in because things were definitely becoming more intense.  The epidural was not covering all the pain.  She told me I could push the button to get more drugs but I knew that feeling at least some of it would help me with the pushing portion so I didn’t go for it.

When the doctor checked me just after 1:00 I was fully dilated and was given the go ahead to push.  At 1:27 we welcomed our new beautiful baby girl into the world.  To both of us she was blue and not making any noises.  The doctors were happy though because there had been meconium in the fluid when my water broke and that gave them plenty of time to suction her out to make sure she didn’t breath any of the nasty stuff in.  Soon, we heard her beautiful cries and they gave me my baby.  She was perfect. The doctor agreed. She weighed in at 8 lbs 3 oz – my biggest baby yet.  She was 20 inches long. AND she had a full head of hair!     I’ve said it before but I’ll say it again – maternity nurses are AMAZING!  I don’t know how I would have gotten through any of my births without them.  Thanks Nurse Jackie for all your help!

Pip already being snuggled and loved by her two bigger sisters!

Favorite Quote since coming home:

I was nursing Persimoni and Capri asked what was happening.  I told her that Pip was getting milk from me.  Her next question:  “Is it chocolate?”

Birth Analysis:

Mercedi – definitely the most painful and intense of them all – I was induced because of high blood pressure and things went from 0 to baby in just 4.5 hours – no drugs.

Capri – intense and painful naturally occurring labor, epidural at 9 cm, easiest delivery yet – 5 hour labor

Persimoni – easy labor with the epidural, epidural didn’t seem to have much effect during the birth portion which was quite intense – 10 hour labor