Violet Louise!

Well, IT finally happened.

Short story: Violet Louise joined our family 12:28 am on Wednesday, February 23, 2011. She was 8 lbs. 6 oz. and 21 inches long, and is absolutely perfect in every way (no fake Mary Poppins humility for THIS proud little mama).

For my sisters-in-law and others who want to know the details, please continue reading, but be warned: things may get a little graphic. Childbirth is NOT for the faint of heart or weak of stomach.

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Monday night we went to a local park, where I walked around hoping to get things into gear. Alas, the contractions stopped once I got home, and I resigned myself to NOT having her on Tuesday, as planned. I popped my last pre-natal vitamin (Michael: THAT's why she hasn't come yet--you hadn't finished them) and reconciled myself to going into work the next day (couldn't wait to hear "What are you STILL doing here?"). In my prayers I pleaded for her to come, and also asked for a sure sign that I would know I was in labor.

I didn't sleep super well, waking up at 2 am, and then again at 4, and then at 5 with a back ache. That came back after 7 minutes. And then 7 minutes later. Trying not to get my hopes up, I got out of bed to use the restroom and felt a little somethin' somethin' that just so happened to be my mucous plug leak out! Gross (you were warned), but AWESOME when you wanted to know if for sure you were in labor.

I told Michael, who oh-so enthusiastically said "Oh, great," and promptly rolled over and fell back to sleep. Needing a LITTLE more enthusiasm, I excitedly called my parents (so what if it was 5:20 in the morning?) and talked to my dad, who agreed that this just might be it. I went to the kitchen to make brownies for the labor and delivery nurses (so they would be nice), popped 'em in the oven, woke up Michael and told him to take them out at the right time, and climbed back into bed to try and get as much rest as possible.

Well, the next 12 hours were pretty unremarkable. The time FLEW by. My mom came over about 9 am, braided my hair, and did a host of other things: spray painted the embroidery hoops I needed to finish a little bird mobile for the nursery, sewed sheer curtains for the guest bedroom, sewed tabs onto our duvet and cover to keep in place, and miscellaneous chores (dishes, vacuuming, revealing that the real color of our kitchen sink is white, etc. My mom rocks). The contractions were fairly manageable and I could still talk through them, but we finally called my doctor at about 3:40 pm to see if she could check my dilation before driving all the way to the hospital in Carmichael. Despite having a surgery scheduled for 4 pm, she agreed to come into see me (she's pretty awesome), and I was 100% effaced and dilated to 4 cm. It was up to me about whether I should go in, and being concerned about rush hour traffic, my mom thought we should at least make it to the hospital and then decide once we were there about whether or not to check in.

We were checked in by 5 pm, and then endured two hours with the most crotchety nurse EVER. Not only did she insist that I had to be hooked up to the fetal monitor continuously (because the baby's heartbeat was dropping during contractions), but she was weirdly hostile from the beginning (I'm pretty sure she rolled her eyes and snorted to herself when she heard Michael say the word "doula"). By 6 pm, I was dilated 5-6 cm and still feeling pretty okay. The nurses switched at 7 pm, and then we had the nicest nurse. She had read my birth plan, knew I wanted to do things naturally, and basically just left us alone but was available whenever we needed anything. She didn't make me be hooked up to the fetal monitor AT ALL, and she also didn't make me get a saline lock (which I don't think my doctor was too thrilled about). I just signed a waiver and we were left to ourselves. I was on my way to an intervention-free birth!

Celeste (our doula) came to the hospital right around that time. By this point, things were getting more intense. I was on the birth ball for the most part, with someone applying counter pressure to my back and someone else holding me in place in the front. Celeste was beyond amazing. I am absolutely convinced things would have gone a completely different direction without her there. She did a wonderful job coaching me, showing me how to breathe, reminding me to relax, etc.

At 8 pm I was checked again, and still only at 6 cm. That was a little discouraging, because the contractions were definitely intensifying, and I was becoming pretty tired. The nausea during the peak of contractions was the worst, and my dad was nice enough to go out and find a fresh lemon for me to breathe (it sounds silly, but it helped a ton). I think it was around 10 pm that I moved onto the hospital bed. By this point, I was barely hanging on. Again, it was Celeste who helped me maintain my focus and relax through the contractions. I was maybe at 8 cm by 10:30 (a little fuzzy on the details), and getting more desperate. I think it was around this time that I threw up all over Celeste (who was more than gracious about it), thus ending my 12-year puke-free streak. At least I felt better.

By this point, I was having an overwhelming urge to push with the contractions, and they agreed to call in my doctor. It was so hard to NOT push, and I wasn't completely successful. I think they let me try pushing by about 11 pm, even though the doctor wasn't there. The fore bag of my water still hadn't broken, which I guess is pretty unusual, and everybody was standing back from "the splash zone." Michael was hoping it would burst open and hit the TV. It didn't.

I was pushing for almost an hour-and-a-half and was beyond exhausted at that point. The doctor was staying pretty hands-off, and I finally asked her if the baby was ever going to come out. She then helpfully pointed out that my pubic bone was in the way and that I should change my position. My mom is a little mad that she didn't say anything before, but I think it was because she thought I wanted to do things on my own.

Anyway, once I changed things up, on the next push the baby's head started crowning. I was so relieved that I pushed four more times during the contraction, which got her completely out. Looking back, probably not the best idea, but I was pretty out of it by then, and once people started saying there was actual progress, I just wanted her OUT.

Well, out she came, with a perfectly round little head (the circumference of which her mama felt every millimeter as she ripped out like a cannon ball). No molding of her skull for THIS little girl. (I did end up having a 2nd degree tear, which my doctor said was average, but I didn't even care by that point.)

They slapped that wet little baby right up on my chest and it was the most glorious moment of my life. I remember glancing down to double-check she was, in fact, a girl, and just thinking what a beautiful newborn she was. She was chubby, with delicious cheeks, a plump little mouth, and red, wavy hair.

Three and a half days in, and we're getting along. She is nursing like a champ and my milk came in after about two days.

So, yes, I did have a completely natural childbirth. I don't know HOW I did it, and I don't know that I could do it again (although my mom assured me it would be much better next time). I'm sure that most of what got me through to the end was the infamous Taylor Stubborn Streak ("I had said I would do it naturally, and gosh darnit, I will do it natural if it kills me").

The hospital stay was horrendous (double occupancy, with a roommate with a wracking cough and partner who SNORED, not to mention dozens of loud, noisy guests that far exceeded the 2 per patient maximum, who brought smelly food to eat) and I got out after 36 hours. Violet scheduled her arrival just in time, as the hospital was so packed when we left that women were laboring and DELIVERING on gurneys in the hallways. Yikes.

Being at home is great, my mom has been amazingly helpful, and Michael is taking to daddyhood beautifully. I know we have a long road ahead, but our little girl is so worth it.

Sorry that this is so super long. I have been madly typing in between Violet's cluster feedings and am not even going to re-read it before publishing. Maybe later.