Our sweet little Sydney joined our family Friday, January 20 at 10:52am. She weighed 7 pounds 5 ounces and was 20.75 inches of pure perfection.
This labor/delivery experience was so unbelievably different than the one I had with Scarlett. I had been seeing the same doctor for all my prenatal visits and he was very pro-VBAC, especially after I told him my story. He felt there was no reason for me not to have a successful vaginal delivery. His confidence gave me confidence, and hope that I could actually do this. At my 37 week appointment, Dr. S told me I was dilated 2 cm and 50% effaced. At my 38 week appointment, he said I was about the same, but this time he stripped my membranes. Dr. S was out of town for my 39 week appointment, so he had me see Dr. G (I had seen her before, and felt really comfortable with her, as well). I went in for that appointment Wednesday, January 18. When Dr. G checked me, she got a super weird look on her face, and then said there was no way Dr. S had stripped my membranes the week before, because I was completely closed. My heart sank. My jaw dropped. I felt tears coming on. I asked how that was even possible- she told me Dr. S is known for exaggerating women's progression from time to time and that he obviously had this time. Dr. G went on to tell me it didn't look like I would go in to labor any time soon- if ever at all. As I began to cry, I asked what my options for a c-section were. After the induction I went through with Scarlett, the labor, the pushing for 3 hours, and ending up in a cesarean, I just didn't think I could do it again. Dr. G told me she and Dr. S could do my c-section that Friday (the 20th). I told her to schedule it, but that I needed to really think about it before I was sure. I left the office a mess. I called Rob, and was crying so hard I couldn't speak for the first 3 minutes he was on the line. Poor guy thought I lost the baby. I felt so betrayed by my doctor- misled, lied to... I felt like I had had such high hopes and so much confidence that I could experience a vaginal birth, but that it was all a lie. I cried off and on all afternoon and spent a lot of time in prayer. I did not want a c-section. I wanted to experience pushing my baby out. But I did not want to risk another experience like I had last time. I had Dr. S's cell phone number, only to use when I was in labor- but I decided to call and ask him why he told me I was dilated when I was not. He was surprised that Dr. G said I wasn't dilated- he said to me "Nicole, you felt me strip your membranes last week. I could not have done that if you weren't dilated. Do not throw in the towel. Give it a few days. I am scheduled to see you on Monday, and we can decide then if we want to try an induction or just do the c-section. But I really think we should try." That gave me the confidence back that I needed. I called and canceled my surgery, and decided to wait until Monday, the 23rd, and then decide what to do. I prayed so hard over the next 24 hours that my body would just do what it was supposed to do- that I would get to birth this baby the way I wanted to. Thursday morning, I got up and walked on my treadclimber for an hour. Nothing. Went to play group for an hour. Nothing. Hung out at my parents' with Scarlett for a while. Nothing. Came home, got Scarlett down for a nap, and put my feet up to rest and watch the episode of Revenge I had recorded from the night before. And bam. 2:38pm, first contraction. I didn't get excited. I figured it was a cruel trick my body was going to play on me. About 10 minutes later, another one. This went on for several hours; not too painful, but definitely noticeable contractions, coming anywhere from 2 to 12 minutes apart. I had asked my Dad and Rob to give me a blessing that evening to help me know what to decide- so at 7pm when my parents came over, and the contractions were still coming, and getting stronger, we all got a little excited. By 10pm the contractions were about 5 minutes apart, some were hurting really bad, some were minor. At midnight, Rob felt like we should go to the hospital, the contractions were really starting to hurt, but I said I didn't want to go until I really felt like I couldn't take it. I was scared we would go and they would send us back home. Rob called Labor&Delivery and asked at what point he should bring me in, they said when the contractions are 2 minutes apart for an hour, and I can't walk or talk during them. We tried to go to bed, but contracting every 3-5 minutes wasn't allowing me much sleep, and apparently my breathing and gripping the sheets was keeping Rob awake (he was so tired he told me it was actually irritating him- haha! I apologized for being in labor!). Finally, at 2:50am, we called my parents and said it was time to go in. My Dad came over and slept at our place with Scarlett, and my Mom stayed at her place so we could call and have her come to the hospital when it was time to start pushing. We arrived at Queen of the Valley Hospital at about 3:30am. I changed in to my gown, and I was so scared I wasn't progressing and they would send me home (I kind of faked not being able to walk or talk during the contractions so they would be more likely to keep me- shh. I haven't told anyone that). Mimi, my nurse, checked me and said I was at 5cm and 100% effaced. I have never felt so much relief in my entire life. I looked at Rob in shock and said, "I might actually do this". I couldn't believe it. Mimi asked if I would like an epidural, I said yes, and as soon as you would like to give it. A little over an hour later, I had the drugs. I don't know why people are so down on epidurals. They are a beautiful thing. They make me super sick- I do not do well with strong medications of any kind- I couldn't sit up or I would start dry heaving. But the edge was completely gone from the contractions. I could feel them- but they didn't make me want to scream out loud. It was wonderful. I progressed very smoothly for the next few hours, and around 7:30am was at an 8. My water hadn't broken, and baby was at minus 2 station. I had a bit of a panic and cried for just a second to Rob that the baby wasn't coming down, and what if she didn't come down, it would be what happened with Scarlett all over again. He reassured me it was not going to be the same situation. My nurse recommended my doctor break my water, but Dr. S (who, by the way, was not on call that morning, but told me he would do my delivery, and came in at 4am when I texted him- what a great guy) had a meeting from 8-10am so he said he would break my water after that. At 9:30 I was fully dilated to a 10. Water still not broken. At 10:10, Dr. S came back from his meeting and broke my water- baby dropped from minus 2 station to plus 1. We were locked and loaded! Baby was face up, which again, sent me in to a bit of a panic, but Dr. S said it would be OK. Dr. S had to step out for a minute, he asked if I wanted to wait for him, or start pushing with the nurse, I opted to start pushing. It was somewhere around 10:25am. I am quite the pusher, I must admit. I pushed long and hard, and that baby just started making her way down. It was incredible to feel where she was in my body. I was so exhausted (no sleep for 26 hours, laboring for 20 hours, and I was completely nauseated and sick from the medicine), but pushing was something I could definitely do. When Dr. S came back, he asked the nurse to move, and he was the one that helped me labor and push the rest of the time. This was completely opposite from my experience with Scarlett- the doctor barely came in the room, and had the nurses labor with me the whole time. Dr. S was so engaged, making me feel comfortable through the whole thing. When baby's head was just about to come out (such a weird and amazing feeling!), he had me reach down and feel baby's head. Ah! Lucky for me, the TV in my room was at the perfect angle so I could watch everything going on. Rob was so sweet while I was pushing. He kept quietly saying "Oh my gosh. There she is. She is right there. Wow." This experience was extremely different for him, as well. He got to watch his baby be born, rather than watch his wife get cut open. Everyone started getting really excited, and Dr. S said two more pushes and she's out. I couldn't believe it. I really could not believe we almost had our little girl. While I pushed those last two pushes, I watched her come out of me (she had flipped face down while I was pushing). She was so tiny and all folded up together, and it was amazing how even though her head was out, she didn't make a peep. Final push- I don't think I will ever forget that feeling- some pain, a lot of pressure, but as she just popped out and unfolded and started crying, there was instantaneous, sweet relief. Dr. S put her on my chest for skin to skin and I was just thrilled. Amazed at the miracle of birth. Grateful I was able to experience a successful VBAC. Overjoyed to be holding my baby. I held her while Dr. S delivered the placenta- which he had me touch and he showed us all the weirdness of it- and he had to do some damage control (I had a slight 2nd degree tear). I can finally understand why women think birth is such an amazing experience. Baby girl was out in under 30 minutes.
Finally, the pictures. My Mom, anxiously waiting for the fun to begin! Mom and Rob were great cheerleaders through the whole thing. They each had a leg and kept me calm when I was worried things might go south. They gave me great support and confidence.
Just seconds after Sydney came out.
Scarlett was waiting patiently in the waiting room with Granddad to meet her baby sister. She was so excited for the baby, but I think everything in the hospital room was making her uncomfortable and nervous. We had Dad wait to bring her in after everything had been cleaned up. She came straight to my bed and wanted to sit with me.
We couldn't get a smile out of her. She was really concerned with everything going on.
Granddad loving his sweet girl.
Proud Daddy.
And finally, Scarlett got what she has been wanting- to hold her baby sister.
Beaming Grandma.
Scarlett is so sweet- she kept asking me why baby sister was crying. Then she would softly "shhshh" her, and say "it's OK, baby sister, I'm here."
I think Scarlett might be the most smitten kitten I've ever met.
After a while, Rob took Scarlett home to get some sleep, Dad went to work, and Mom stayed and held the baby. I was moved to my recovery room and tried to catch some sleep in between trying to feed this little girl. She is a very lazy eater, has a hard time latching, is very uncoordinated while she eats and swallows a ton of air- which gives her gas and makes her burp constantly. We have had a rough go.
That evening, everyone came back to the hospital, and Scarlett informed my parents that "this is MY baby sister. And Mommy's baby sister. And Daddy's baby sister. And not yours!" She also wasn't willing to share much. It was her turn, a lot. And as soon as someone else had her for a minute, she said they needed to give her back. It was pretty sweet.
Scarlett's favorite is having baby Sydney on her chest. She lays down constantly and says "put baby on my chest".
We feel so blessed to have another sweet little girl in our home. Sydney was not named until Saturday, just before we headed home from the hospital. It took us a while to decide, but we love Sydney- and it suits her so well. Lucile is the name of my Mom's Mom. I never met her, she passed away before I was born. But I have had countless people tell me that I look exactly like her, and what an amazing woman she was. I have no doubt she was just that- my own Mom is pretty special, so she must have gotten it from her. We wanted Sydney's middle name to have significance, and it certainly does.
Welcome to our family, sweet Sydney Lucile. We love you, so, so much.
