We got settled in our labor & delivery room where one of my best friends, Katie, would be my nurse! We planned on her being there for the delivery so it was perfect that she was already set to work when I'd be delivering. In our room they took some more blood, started my IV, and inserted Cervidil to get things moving along. I was still only 1cm dilated and between 60-90% effaced (hard to tell apparently). The Cervidil stayed in for 12 hours overnight. My nurse, Mary (who was amazing through this entire process) checked me the next morning only to find that I was still only 1cm dilated and about 90% effaced. She decided to call Dr. B to see what the next plan was to get this labor started. Dr. B decided to break my water and hope that would start contractions and labor. She came in at 0730 and broke it-weirdest feeling EVER! Like a huge warm gush of fluid that did.not.stop. Right away I could start to feel contractions. The nurse told me to walk around for an hour or so to get things moving. Ken finally showed up while I was walking around (he had gone home to let the dogs out, etc) and the contractions were getting stronger and stronger and were only a few minutes apart. When I couldn't walk any longer, we headed back to the room where they really began to get strong. The nurse checked me again and I was 3cm dilated. I knew I wanted an epidural and at this point was thinking sooner might be better than later. I could barely breathe through the contractions at this point. My nurse called for the CRNA to insert my epidural-which he attempted THREE times! Holy moly talk about being uncomfortable and in pain while also trying to breathe through contractions every two minutes. My poor nurse-I was squeezing her arm so hard through it all. The epidural was finally placed around 0930 and really kicked in around 1030. Who wouldn't want an epidural? I felt amazing after and could actually get some rest (since I didn't sleep at all throughout the night). It felt like my legs were dead asleep, tingly, and weighed 400lbs each. But, I was so comfortable and relaxed. Thank god for epidurals!
The nurse kept reminding me to call for her any time I felt anything different or strange. So around 1:30pm I started to feel more pressure/pain in my belly. Pain across my lower belly and pressure at the top of my belly. I called for the nurse and she came in to check me. I was dilated to 8cm! Ah, she was going to be coming so soon! The nurse had me get into different positions with the peanut ball to help me get fully dilated. A little after 2pm she checked me again and I was complete and ready to start pushing! They called my doctor who showed up around 2:15pm. A few pushes, and an episiotomy later, she was here!
Ella Eve Nardelli was born June 4, 2014 at 2:32pm in the afternoon. She weighed 5lb 15oz and was 18 1/2 inches long, a perfect little peanut! She's the most beautiful thing we've ever seen. They immediately put her on me and I immediately started to cry. I couldn't believe she was here! Ken cut her umbilical cord and we sat there for a few minutes staring and touching her. While my doctor finished with me, they took Ella to the warmer to be assessed and give her meds. Ken followed her the whole time, he was such a happy daddy! Her apgar scores were 9/9, meds given, and her assessment was perfect (despite an initial low blood sugar and some feeding issues-but I'll save that for another post). She's a healthy little girl and we are so in love with her. Even during pregnancy I would think how I could love someone else so quickly that I'd never met and wonder if that's how I'd feel when I got to finally meet her. But it really does just hit you and completely consumes you. You immedately feel so much love for your baby and would do absolutely anything for her.
We feel beyond grateful and blessed to be her parents and look forward to what each day (and long sleepless night) brings. We're also so thankful for all the support from our friends and family. We appreciate all the gifts, visits, food, and comments and feel overwhelmed with love!
