The following is Caroline's story, how she entered this world and changed our lives forever:) It all began last Wednesday, April 21st a little after 12:00 pm. I had never really considered the fact that my water could break at any time or any place. I didn't think it was that common, and that even if it happened to me, it would be at home or something that would be very discreet. Not so! My water decided to break in the middle of a school day!! There is nothing like having a group full of coworkers in the bathroom as you are leaking amniotic fluid, having your principal drive you to the hospital with trash bags on the front seat, or laughing uncontrollably in the hospital parking lot as you leak even more:) If we weren't close before, we definately are now. (On a serious note, I am very thankful to work with such great people.)
I arrived at the hospital a little after 1:00 pm. After going through the typical admission/questioning process, which I had just gone through a week before, I was officially admitted to the hospital. Although my water had broken, I was not in labor. Around 3:30 pm, they started me on pitocin to start up contractions. They started with a low dosage and gradually increased it until my contractions were regular. It seemed like some type of game! My contractions were very irregular; sometimes close together and other times farther apart. I received an epidural around 7:30 pm, and am very grateful that I did! At this point I was contracting every minute...ugh! All I can say is epidurals are AMAZING!!
It was a long night to say the least! Fortunately, it was a fairly painless night, but with nurses coming in and out, there wsn't much sleep to be had. I had no idea when I went into the hospital that it would take that long for our baby to actually come out!! I was already dialated 3 cm and my water was broken. Seriously, who would have thought it would take 19 hours to get her out?!? I guess that's what happens when you get stuck at 5 cm and 7 cm for 4 hours each. At 8:00 am on Thursday morning, I was still only 7 cm dialated!
I was bracing myself for a C-section. Not exactly what I wanted, especially since it would have required 2 extra nights in the hospital. The doctor came in around 9:00 am to check my progress. She was fully prepared to do a C-section and had already cleared her schedule at the office. Baby apparently had other plans. Much to both of our surprise, I had gone from a 7 to 10 in just an hour. Thank God!!
After almost an hour of pushing, our sweet baby girl came into this world. And here she is again...Caroline Elizabeth! Isn't she beautiful?!?
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