She's arrived! Brynlynn Olivia Shannon (finally) made her entrance on Feb. 15 at 10:14 am! Here's her story...
Her initial due date was 2/13 (though her size indicated 2/06). Thinking I could use my mother as a good reference point for my pregnancy, I suspected she too would come early (I was about 4-5 weeks early and my sister 2-3 weeks). Wrong. Thus, when my 40 week check-up rolled around, still no baby and my cervix was no more prepared to deliver a baby than it was at 6 weeks, the Dr. wanted to discuss inducing labor. Even though I was eager to meet her and have my body to myself again, I was apprehensive about this process...you hear the horror stories of the women that elect to induce have a 35 hour labor that ends with a c-section despite their earlier efforts. We, however, prayed about the process, and knew that my body would likely need a little 'boost' since (as previously mentioned) my cervix didn't get the memo about my due date. The date was set: we were to report to North Central Baptist L&D Monday, Feb. 14 at 6pm. (Even though I agreed to the process, I still continued to pray that I would go in to labor without the drugs). We arrived at the hospital a little later than we were supposed to...but that's really no surprise if you know us (and she was already late so...). I don't think I really started to feel nervous until the nurses started with all the IVs, because I REALLY, REALLY hate needles! I remember right before they started the IV thinking, I should just cancel the whole thing and go home.
The Plan: 1. Start me on Cervadil at 7pm to soften the cervix (dilation at 6:30 pm-0 cm). 2. Take some Ambien to help me get a good nights rest and they would check on me in the morning. 3. Remove Cervadil approximately 12 hours later (6 am) and start Pitocin.
What happened: We finally decided to go to bed around 10:30. I took my sleeping pills as the Dr. recommended and Brent took some PM pills as well...so we'd all be rested for the morning. Around 11:30 I started having some really bad cramps, but knew it couldn't possibly be labor because that wasn't the plan; Cervadil induces labor in less than 10% of women (or something like that). I was sure I was just being a baby and refused to call the nurse in for about 45 min. Finally, we made the call. She returned about 15 min later with, as she called it, 'a margarita mix.' She didn't even think it was labor either, I'm guessing, because she didn't check for dilation. For about an hour it was nice (though I remember having some crazy dreams...that I tried to make myself remember-Fail). Brent was so supportive throughout the entire 'labor' process. We were both so drugged up and falling asleep. I had my eyes closed through most of the contractions, but I can remember seeing Brent sitting on the edge of my bed, struggling to stay awake coaching me to "Breathe," "Focus," and then offering words of praise as they ended. I was still confused and unsure if this was actual labor, but as they grew more intense I was becoming a believer. I remember thinking it was all wrong: contractions are supposed to come then you get a break for 10 min. or 5 min...some kind of break! These guys were one right after the other, or so it felt like! Eventually, about 3:30am we called the nurse again (each time it was a new nurse-apparently everyone in the SA area decided to have a baby that night/day--they had 16 women in L&D). I don't remember really thinking about/debating the epidural or specifically asking for it, but I didn't turn it away (I still had some drugs in my system)! Around 3:31 am the pain stopped. We slept from then until about 6am....I was now dilated to 9 cm! Mom came back to the hospital around 8am. The Dr. came to check on me about 9:15 (about the time the 'pushing' phase started) and said he was going back to the office because I had a few hours to go. I can remember feeling so helpless when he said that...because I was! I was at her mercy; if it took 2-3 hours, I'd be there 2-3 hours. Fortunately, it took about an hour and our precious Brynlynn was born with Grandma Jung and daddy Brent right there to greet her. Weighing in at 8lbs 4 ounces and 20 1/4 inches long with LOTS of DARK brown hair.
As they cleaned her, I just stared at her; such a surreal moment. So hard to still accept that she is mine. A truth that I am still coming to terms with. The L&D went so smoothly-so much better than I had anticipated. Though, I shouldn't have been so surprised. Our prayers were truly answered. I had gone in to labor without being induced with Pitocin and it all went much faster than anyone expected for a first child. We are so very blessed.
Her initial due date was 2/13 (though her size indicated 2/06). Thinking I could use my mother as a good reference point for my pregnancy, I suspected she too would come early (I was about 4-5 weeks early and my sister 2-3 weeks). Wrong. Thus, when my 40 week check-up rolled around, still no baby and my cervix was no more prepared to deliver a baby than it was at 6 weeks, the Dr. wanted to discuss inducing labor. Even though I was eager to meet her and have my body to myself again, I was apprehensive about this process...you hear the horror stories of the women that elect to induce have a 35 hour labor that ends with a c-section despite their earlier efforts. We, however, prayed about the process, and knew that my body would likely need a little 'boost' since (as previously mentioned) my cervix didn't get the memo about my due date. The date was set: we were to report to North Central Baptist L&D Monday, Feb. 14 at 6pm. (Even though I agreed to the process, I still continued to pray that I would go in to labor without the drugs). We arrived at the hospital a little later than we were supposed to...but that's really no surprise if you know us (and she was already late so...). I don't think I really started to feel nervous until the nurses started with all the IVs, because I REALLY, REALLY hate needles! I remember right before they started the IV thinking, I should just cancel the whole thing and go home.
The Plan: 1. Start me on Cervadil at 7pm to soften the cervix (dilation at 6:30 pm-0 cm). 2. Take some Ambien to help me get a good nights rest and they would check on me in the morning. 3. Remove Cervadil approximately 12 hours later (6 am) and start Pitocin.
What happened: We finally decided to go to bed around 10:30. I took my sleeping pills as the Dr. recommended and Brent took some PM pills as well...so we'd all be rested for the morning. Around 11:30 I started having some really bad cramps, but knew it couldn't possibly be labor because that wasn't the plan; Cervadil induces labor in less than 10% of women (or something like that). I was sure I was just being a baby and refused to call the nurse in for about 45 min. Finally, we made the call. She returned about 15 min later with, as she called it, 'a margarita mix.' She didn't even think it was labor either, I'm guessing, because she didn't check for dilation. For about an hour it was nice (though I remember having some crazy dreams...that I tried to make myself remember-Fail). Brent was so supportive throughout the entire 'labor' process. We were both so drugged up and falling asleep. I had my eyes closed through most of the contractions, but I can remember seeing Brent sitting on the edge of my bed, struggling to stay awake coaching me to "Breathe," "Focus," and then offering words of praise as they ended. I was still confused and unsure if this was actual labor, but as they grew more intense I was becoming a believer. I remember thinking it was all wrong: contractions are supposed to come then you get a break for 10 min. or 5 min...some kind of break! These guys were one right after the other, or so it felt like! Eventually, about 3:30am we called the nurse again (each time it was a new nurse-apparently everyone in the SA area decided to have a baby that night/day--they had 16 women in L&D). I don't remember really thinking about/debating the epidural or specifically asking for it, but I didn't turn it away (I still had some drugs in my system)! Around 3:31 am the pain stopped. We slept from then until about 6am....I was now dilated to 9 cm! Mom came back to the hospital around 8am. The Dr. came to check on me about 9:15 (about the time the 'pushing' phase started) and said he was going back to the office because I had a few hours to go. I can remember feeling so helpless when he said that...because I was! I was at her mercy; if it took 2-3 hours, I'd be there 2-3 hours. Fortunately, it took about an hour and our precious Brynlynn was born with Grandma Jung and daddy Brent right there to greet her. Weighing in at 8lbs 4 ounces and 20 1/4 inches long with LOTS of DARK brown hair.
As they cleaned her, I just stared at her; such a surreal moment. So hard to still accept that she is mine. A truth that I am still coming to terms with. The L&D went so smoothly-so much better than I had anticipated. Though, I shouldn't have been so surprised. Our prayers were truly answered. I had gone in to labor without being induced with Pitocin and it all went much faster than anyone expected for a first child. We are so very blessed.
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