The Leon's: Addison Faith- 12/29/11

Warning...this may get a little long!!!

The last post I made was about being put on bed rest. I spent much of the next week ordering my mom and Rodney around with things that needed to be done. My mom and I worked in the nursery(I watched) and I sent Rodney to BuyBuy Baby and Target for last minute things for me and Addison. I actually wasn't too bored since Christmas fell during that time and we had lots of company. I went to the doctor a week later for my follow up and was shocked to see that my blood pressure was even higher than the time before. The first reading was 164/100 I believe. (It probably didn't help that Rodney had agreed to take me to lunch before my appt after lots of pleading). They took it again after lying down for about 10 minutes and it was down to 140/85. The doctor decided to up my appointments to twice a week and I was supposed to go back two days later.

On the way home from the doctor I told Rodney that we should probably go ahead and get my bag packed that night and have it ready just in case. We of course got busy and were both tired so I told him we would just do it the next day. We got in bed about 10:00 and I was drifting off to sleep when I felt a small gush. I got up and went to the bathroom and then called out to Rodney "Honey, I think maybe my water just broke". His response was "You think? I think you would KNOW if your water had broken". So I got back in bed and then a couple minutes later I felt another small gush. My dear husband told me I should just call the doctor in the morning. He didn't understand that if it was indeed my water breaking we needed to get to the hospital ASAP because you have to deliver within 24 hours of your water breaking to avoid infections. I of course immediately get the Ipad and google "how do you know if your water has broken??" After searching the internet I decided it was time to call the on-call doctor. She called me back within minutes and felt that it was indeed my water breaking and we should head to the hospital. Holy Moly!!!

Of course, we had decided not to pack the bag so we were running around like crazy people throwing things into suitcases. Luckily I had already made a list of things that I needed for the hospital so that saved a little bit of time. Within 10 minutes we were out the door and on our way to the hospital. I called my mom (who had flown out to Kansas City that morning). Told her not to panic, but that we were on our way to the hospital cause my water had broken. She started crying and freaking out. I told her to book the first flight out the next morning and she would be fine. I mean most people are in labor for 18-24 hours anyway, right??? Rodney called his parents and they got their stuff packed and got on the road.

Arrived at the hospital and the nurse confirmed that my water had indeed broken and that I was 2cm dilated and 75% effaced (which is exactly what I was at my doctor's appt that afternoon) We got set up in our L & D room and my sister and Dad arrived shortly after. We told them to go home and get some sleep as it could be a very long time before she arrived, but they insisted on staying and decided to go sleep in their car!!

I went through some painful contractions and MANY trips to the bathroom (like every 20 minutes). I think that the water breaking and not having a catheter was the worst part of the entire thing!! After about 2 hours of contractions (about 5am) I decided I had had enough and asked for my epidural. It was just in the nick of time because they decided to start the pitocin to speed up my contractions immediately after.

I was good to go once I had my epidural! I still had some slight pain and feeling of contractions, but we discovered it was because I laid on one side for too long. I would start to feel it after about an hour of being on one side and so I switched sides every hour and that helped a whole bunch! Rodney's parents made it to the hospital about 6 or 7 that morning and then my mom got there about 8:30 or 9:00.

When they checked me before the epidural at 5am I was dilated to a 2 1/2 or 3. At 8 am I was dilated to a 7 and the nurse predicted 3-4 more hours from that point. I got checked again at 10:30 and was at a 10 and ready to push!!! The doctor came down and after about 30 minutes of pushing through about 8 contractions Miss Addison Faith arrived at 11:08 am. She weighed in at 5 pounds 6 ounces and was 18 3/4 inches long. She was absolutely beautiful and we were in LOVE immediately!!

So as far as Labor and Delivery goes it doesn't get much easier than that! Thankfully everyone made it to the hospital in time, and for only being in labor for 12 hours we cut it very close! It is funny because my water broke sometime between 11:05 and 11:15pm. And she was born at 11:08 am almost 12 hours exactly. I hope that my next pregnancy and labor go just as smoothly!

Addison was sent to the NICUNICU and after not having any Apnea episodes she was released to the regular nursery and was able to room in with us for our last night at the hospital. She slept all night long other than for her feedings! We all went home on New Year's Eve day!!!

Here are some pictures from the big day!!

Our last picture as a family of 2....