Annie’s Birth Story

This new little one on the way has made me think – I never wrote down Annie’s birth story. Since I’ll likely post the birth story for The Bean, I thought I might go ahead and write Annie’s down too…before my mind becomes complete mush and I mangle the two together – and so that later she won’t ask me why I didn’t write hers down.

Uhhh, Honey?

Two days before my due date, I was out walking around our neighborhood at about 7am. Walking uphill toward the townhouse, I felt something weird run down my leg. My first thought was “Good grief! Now I’m peeing and I can’t even stop it.” But then I had a realization that my water had just broken. My next thought was “Thank God everyone is asleep and doesn’t see me walking around the neighborhood in wet pants.”

I went home and woke Barry up. I said “I think my water just broke.” I swear, I’ve never seen my husband move that fast. I wasn’t in a hurry though. I took a shower, got ready, put on my make-up and everything. Then we headed to my OB office because my appointment was that morning anyway.

An examination confirmed that I wasn’t ready to be in labor. They were worried about infection so I was sent to the hospital for pitocin…after being ordered to start walking for a few hours. Already this birth was NOT going the way I had planned it. Not at all. I did NOT want to be induced.  I was a little mad, especially later when I found out they didn’t even need to induce me yet.

Not as Planned

They started me on a pitocin drip as soon as I got to the hospital. I had the BEST nurses…they really made things a lot easier to bear. Let me tell you something…pitocin contractions are PAINFUL! I had hoped to hold off on an epidural for a long time…but no, I got it right away because I hurt so bad. (I’m hoping to do things MUCH differently with this new baby – post coming soon.)

So, here’s my most embarrassing moment…epidurals sorta make you all, well – loose. I kept hearing someone passing gas. Finally I said to the nurse, “Is that ME?” She laughed and said, “Well honey, it sure ain’t me.” Yeah….

My labor did not progress all day. There was talk of a c-section, but Barry and I resisted. The pitocin was messing with me, so I had to have oxygen…and that was SCARY. Finally, around 10:30pm, it seemed like the baby was finally ready. I had my feet up in the air, I was naked from the waist down, and everyone was looking at my lady parts…and you know what, I didn’t care one lick. Labor takes away your sense of modesty for sure.

Annie Arrives

I labored a while longer and pushed for about 10 minutes. Annie was born at 11:40pm. When she came out, my first thought was “WOW! That came outta me?! That is HUGE!”

Barry really enjoyed telling everyone that she was a girl and giving her name – AnnaLeigh Joy. We had kept it a secret (the name), but we were all surprised that she was a girl…even my doctor was convinced she was a boy. Even today, she keeps us guessing.

All in all, things went well…even if it didn’t go how I thought it would. But, most of life is that way.  We Mamas just have to go with the baby flow.

Even though it didn’t go as planned, Annie still arrived. She and I were happy and healthy, and I feel blessed. I’m so grateful that things turned out the way they did.

How did YOUR first birth turn out?

*This post is linked at Finer Things Friday on Amy’s Finer Things.