Dear Jane: Welcome to the World

Dear Jane,

It has been two whole weeks since we welcomed you into our world.  In some ways it seems like just yesterday, and in others, its hard to remember our lives without you.   I thought I'd tell you the story of the day/night we welcomed you into the world.

On Sunday, November 20th, I woke up feeling not much different than I had the day before.  I felt achy in my lower back and hips, a lot of weightiness in those areas as well, and I was growing more and more anxious to deliver.  As we got closer to my 41 week mark, I was getting nervous that I would not go into spontaneous labor and would have to be induced.  There's nothing wrong with that, but I was truly hoping it would happen on its own.

So we woke up Sunday morning, and we decided to walk until I could walk no more.  When walking, I would actually have contractions.  Once I was rested - none!  So daddy and I walked for an hour and took a break.  Then grandpa, grandpa and your aunt joined us for a walk to Laurel Street Bakery.  More rest.  A little football.  Another walk around the neighborhood.  We threw in some spicy Popeye's chicken for good measure.

Finally, around five thirty, daddy and mommy went for one last walk.  We walked for a little over an hour, and I had random mild contractions throughout the walk but nothing constant.  So, we stopped into Whole Foods to pick up a few things for dinner.  About five minutes after we got home, I heard a little "pop" and felt a sudden gush of fluid.  I ran to daddy and shouted "I think my water just broke!"

At that point, we started rushing around to prepare ourselves for the trip to the hospital.  Daddy straightened up the house and finished packing his bag.  I showered, dried and straightened my hair, and put on make up.  About halfway through doing these things, my contractions were strengthening and increasing in intensity so I told daddy we had to go - NOW!!

Daddy very patiently drove us to the hospital after asking our friends and neighbors to look after Beignet.  By this point, my contractions were becoming unbearable.  I wanted an epidural more than I've wanted anything before.  Even though we had called ahead and gotten directions to get us to the ER, we ended up in the wrong garage and had to turn around in a hurry!  It was not funny then, but it's funny now to think about Daddy getting turned around.

Daddy dropped me off in the ER to get checked in around 8:15.  By 8:30, they had checked me, and I was four to five centimeters dilated.  Around ten to nine, they gave me my fluids and antibiotics and told me the epidural would be administered in about a half hour.  I could not imagine having to bear the contractions for another 30 minutes, but sure enough that time indeed passed and the second the epidural came, I felt the kind of relief I've heard other moms talk about.  Ahhhh...

My epidural had kicked in so I was feeling wonderful and very excited!!

I was checked again around 9:15 and was six cm and progressing rapidly, so we visited with grandma, grandpa, aunt S and uncle m.  By about 10:30 when they checked me again, I was 8-9 cm.  At that point, they showed me how to push and prepared me for what I would need to do once Dr. Champlin arrived.  It was all happening so fast, I couldn't believe it.

I expected to be laboring into the wee hours of the morning, and instead, I was preparing to push!  At around 12:15, I was complete, and I pushed through three contractions with the nurses.  By 12:30, Dr. Champlin arrived and administered pushing through one contraction.  Then I pushed through the next.  And just before the next push he said "Let's meet this baby."  It was a surreal moment.  In just seconds I was going to push for the last time and see your sweet face and learn your gender.

I took a deep breath and before you know it you had arrived.  What a truly magical moment.  To see you for the first time took my breath away.  Daddy said, "So...  what is it?," and the nurse, nurse's aid, and Dr. Champlin called out in unison, "It's a girl!!!"  We were speechless.  We were both convinced you were a boy.

Love at first sight...

After I held you, they took you away for a bath and then gave you to daddy.  To see him hold you was the most amazing moment of my life so far.  It was the purest love I've ever seen and made me love daddy more than I ever thought possible.  Neither of us had ever seen something as perfect as you, and we were in awe of your little face and fingers and toes.  To say that you are a miracle is nothing short of the truth.  We continue every day to be thankful for you, Baby Jane.  To watch you grow is the greatest gift in the world.

Daddy's girl

Love you more each day,

Mommy and Daddy