The Birth of Genevieve

  My baby was born on New Year's Eve. Somehow 10 days have passed. What a whirlwind they have been. Things aren't so peaceful when bringing home baby number four, but was it all that peaceful bringing home the first? When I brought home my first baby, I collapsed on the couch the second I walked in the front door. I was experiencing my first gallbladder attack. I thought i had gotten a bad epidural but finally got that thing diagnosed and removed after Everly was born. When we pulled into the driveway this time, I cried hard into Keith's chest because, first of all, it's normal to cry after having a baby, and I was really hurting - fourth baby after pains are no joke. And I thought, "This is going to be so hard." And it was, it is. And it's wonderful, too.

  The story began on Deceber 30. We went to a regular OB appointment and I was so emotional and actually crying a little on the way there. I had been experiencing prodromal labor for over two weeks by this time. The night before had been tough. I was awoken by contractions that were nine minutes apart and were hurting my lower back. I had to get up and sit for awhile because it was uncomfortable to be in bed. After awhile, I went back to bed and woke up in the morning feeling so discouraged. I was so tired of having contractions without being in real labor. I thought I had about two weeks still to go.

  The doctor checked me and asked how my contractions had been that day. I told him about the night but that I hadn't been paying attention that morning. He felt my tummy during a contraction and couldn't believe I was talking through it. It didn't hurt but it was strong, as my contractions had been for over two weeks. He thought my labor was starting and sent me over to triage. After a few hours in triage, it was established that I was in labor and I got checked in to labor and delivery. I still felt fine, so we walked all over the floor. 

 My progress was so slow. I thought I might still get sent home. My doctor was very busy, as was the whole floor. At 3:30 he stopped by and was going to break my water but let the nurses start an IV first. He got called away and didn't come back until after 7:00. I hadn't progressed much so he broke my water and started pitocin. Since we started pitocin, I decided to start my epidural too. I slept off and on and several more hours of slow progress went by. I kept waiting for things to pick up as they had with my previous two births. They kept turning the pitocin up a little more and a little more until the baby's heart rate dropped. I had to be on oxygen for the baby, it brought her heart rate right up. I can see how interventions like pitocin can lead to a c-section. I trusted my doctor though, because he is one of only a few doctors in town that does v-bacs.

  At around 2:00am, the doctor came to check me again. I was 8cm. He said "Oh for heaven's sake!" He said "On your next contraction, you're going to push as hard as you can and I'm going to stretch you." I pushed and, thanks to the epidural, couldn't feel the stretching. He said he got me to a nine and seemed very pleased. They got everything set up for delivery. The baby was sunny side up, which is one reason for the slow progress. The doctor turned her around and I pushed to a 10 then pushed to crowning. Keith encouraged me and said he could see her hair. 

  Then the doctor smiled really big and announced,  "We're going to do something fun! You want to do something fun?" I wondered what he could possibly mean, but I knew whatever it was, I wanted to try it. "I'll place your hands down on her head and you help pull this baby out. Just don't take her from me until I suction her mouth." This was a dream come true for me. I wanted to catch my own baby but didn't think the doctor would let me. All I could do was nod my head. 

  When I cupped my hands on my baby's head for the first time, I surged with love for her. I'll never forget the feel of her head in my hands just before her birth. It was a surreal moment, straight out of a dream. I was so excited to touch her that I had trouble focusing on pushing but we got her out in no time. She came out holding one leg across her chest. She looked amazing! I have never been so aware of the birth of one of my babies. I held her little bottom and legs while the doctor suctioned her nose and mouth. We got immediate skin to skin contact. I held her to my chest while Keith took some pictures. Finally, she's here! Her lungs were gurgling so I was supposed to rub on her back and try to make her cry but that is counterintuitive for a mother so I couldn't do it. I was so lost in the moment that I have no idea when the cord was cut, what happened to the placenta or anything

  The time in the the hospital with a new baby is like a honeymoon. Especially when you have other kids at home. It was so nice to have time for Keith and I to focus only on this new baby without worrying about taking care of the other kids or the house or anything else. We agreed that this was really special. 

  I was in bed the first 5 days at home with flu symptoms. The baby spent her first 7 days in phototherapy for jaundice. We went to the Dr. everyday to check her billiruben levels. She also didn't gain weight the first week which is never happened to my babies before. I talked to the lactation nurse at the pediatrician's office and got a game plan to keep her awake and nursing longer. I didn't think it was possible to forget how to breast feed but apparently it is possible to forget about nursing a sleepy newborn. Now that we are both feeling better, we are doing better with nursing too. I can't wait to see her weight at our next appointment.

  Keith and the boys were so good to me when I was in bed. They brought me food and drinks and Keith made sure I took my medicine. Gavin (6) kept coming in to check on me and baby, Henry (4) kept asking if I needed more water. They brought me meals and snacks and kept my water glass full. They laughed at how much water I was drinking. I finally asked them to bring two glasses at a time. I was really happy to see their genuine care and natural helpfulness. They're good boys.

  Everly (16 months) loves her sister! She calls her "Bobby" for baby and gives her good smacky kisses on the top of her head. She likes to sit by me while I nurse and really doesn't bother us too much. She just wants to be close by. Gavin was the same way when I had Henry. He had his own special spot next to me in the nursing chair where I could put one arm around him.

  Amazingly, we are adjusting well to having four kids. It's crazy but wonderful and a dream come true.

And we're done. Very done. This family is complete.