Marcus and I went to bed around 10pm. I was tossing and turning all night. Suddenly I was wide awake staring at the ceiling and then checking the time on my phone--2:54. It was only 2:54 in the morning. Why was I awake and why was I energized? Two minutes later I felt a gush of water and I knew it was time. The baby was coming! I quickly called Zach and Sabrina to come straight over to be here for Madeline when she woke up in the morning. I went to the bathroom because I had a huge urge to pee and I tried calling the hospital to let them know we were headed their way so a room would be ready for me, but I could not think coherently. The adrenaline had already started and the contractions were getting worse by the minute. Marcus had to find the number for me. I had everything I needed in the car already, I just needed to put on some dry clothes and when Zach and Sabrina got here we ran out the door. It was 3am so there was absolutely no traffic (a plus to going into labor in the early morning).
When we got to the hospital they let us right in and I told them they needed to call the anesthesiologist right away since I progress extremely quickly, and I needed (and had been given orders from my doctor who wanted me to stay relaxed during birth so that my heart rate wouldn't kill me) an epidural. They got an IV in me and started filling out paper work while my contractions got worse and worse. They checked me and I was already at a 7. Twenty minutes later the heaven-sent medicine angel was there. They checked me again and I was at an 8 which means this baby was going to be here any time. My contractions, at this point, were a ten and I wanted to push. But in order to get any medication I needed to sit at the edge of the bed very still. My nurse, Faye, and Marcus were great at coaching me through the contractions by helping me focus on breathing. Faye said that it helps to verbalize while you breath--kinda like a moaning sound. She was totally right. It helped a lot. It was still painful, but it made it bearable. The procedure that the anesthesiologist was doing is what they call a "spinal block" and works much faster than an epidural, and consequently it also wears off faster which really wasn't going to be a problem for me. In total I think I had about 3 contractions that were at a 10 and then the meds started working. I was having a heavenly experience for the first time. After about 5 more minutes my doctor said it was time to push! I pushed 3 times and our little girl was born. My labor (if not counting preterm labor) was a little over an hour. This time around I had a magical experience with my new daughter. Unlike my birthing experience with Madeline, my body did not go into shock and I did not almost faint. They placed her on my chest right after and I couldn't believe she was here. I knew she would come this week, but it still feels like I wasn't prepared enough. She was beautiful and so tiny weighing in at 6 pounds 6 ounces and 19 inches long. They let me bond with her for an hour before taking her to the NICU where she had a routine and mandatory stay for at least six hours because she was not yet considered full term. She was doing well breathing and eating though and I think this was because we had been given the steroids to help her lung development in the weeks prior. While I took a nap Marcus went to stay with our new baby.
It took us all day to come up with a name. We decided on Faye Nichole Thackeray. The name Faye had been popping up all over the place plus we learned that the meaning of it is confidence, trust, and belief. I thought it was a perfect name for a girl with a mission in this life. Before Faye came into my life, I didn't think I could love another child as much as I love Madeline, but having one child made my heart bigger with a greater capacity to love. Faye is supposed to be in our family, and it is complete for now.
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| This is actually a photo of Maddy, They look almost identical! |
