McKenna was born one week ago today! She has been such an angel in this short period of time that we have been able to get to know her :) She's amazing and fantastic and beautiful and just the best thing in the world!
Here goes McKenna's arrival story <3
We had a scheduled induction at the San Gabriel Hospital Monday night March 11th. James and I arrived at 8pm and were admitted and prepped for the impending delivery of this baby girl. I was hooked up to monitors and had blood work done and all that jazz. FINALLY about 11pm everything was ready for the nurses to administer the Pitocin. Before the medication started I was dilated to 2 cm and 80% effaced. This really isn't much at all in the labor process. Most women are stuck at this progression for weeks before they begin active labor. Knowing this, I was concerned that I would be revisiting a 36 hour labor process. Of course this was old fears and painful memories flooding me at the most inopportune time BUT you can't stop these thoughts when you are vulnerable.
I knew all was going to be great. My dad and brother gave me a blessing before we left for the hospital and James received a blessing from my dad as well. My pregnancy with McKenna was closely watched and monitored and we knew from the beginning that all would end fabulously with a gorgeous baby girl in my arms.
Thankfully as well, my contractions started on their own before the medication began- this gave me hope that things wouldn't take long. I couldn't wait to get past this and just have McKenna here and safe. As the Pitocin continued I dilated pretty quickly to 4cm and my contractions weren't too painful at that point but I did ask for some pain medication around 4 am. I can't remember what it was but the one that lasts for 2 hours... GRATEFULLY I was able to sleep for those 2 hours. With the knowledge that TODAY (Monday) was the day things would start rolling, James and I were up early and ran many last minute errands. The anticipation really kept us from being able to get that fantastic last night's sleep- but at 9 1/2 months pregnant how fantastic is your sleep anyway ;)
Pretty much like clock work, the pain of the contractions returned just after 6am. They were consistent at 2 minutes apart and getting stronger. My blood pressure was going up little by little but nothing too concerning. I was used to seeing my pressure at an average high of 120/60. Usually it was 111/56 for the majority of my pregnancy. The last couple months it would go up a point here and there. Also, you've got to love that final swelling from the IV- just saying. ANYWAY
6:30am came around and I had a strange sharp pain just off center of my stomach. Then I had to ask myself if I had lost control and peed myself or if my water just broke!?! I hadn't experienced that before so it was an interesting feeling... I woke James up and called the nurse. Then I had a couple of gushes like people say happens so I knew my water had really broken lol. The nurse was happy about that because apparently she had assumed Dr. Prema was going to have to come in and rupture it for me which would have us waiting longer for the actual delivery. As soon as the nurse confirmed I was at 8cm she called Dr Prema.
Because of my water breaking, the Pitocin was stopped and my contractions came on full force. I had asked for an epidural at this time and just after 7am I was calm and relaxed waiting for the final stretch (no pun intended haha)
My parents took my brother Billy to school and came to the hospital just after that, Dr Prema arrived about 9am and I was just over 9cm. Everything was brought in and set up- there sure were a lot of nurses and machines being moved around the room lol.
I obviously didn't know what to expect and from other women's stories and even the baby shows on TLC- many women push and push for hours. I was so afraid of that. Nothing else scared me- the pain of the contractions or anything. It was the pushing and I was scared I wouldn't be strong enough to do it.
Dr Prema said it was time and I was ready to push. I had James and my mom in the delivery room with me. This was it- it was time and McKenna would be here soon!
I pushed for 10 minutes. 10 minutes. I couldn't believe it! What an added blessing.
Just before the iconic last push Dr Prema saw McKenna's umbilical cord was around her neck. I didn't know, but when my water broke McKenna's heart rate dropped dramatically. This was because with her final drop from the bag breaking it put strain on the umbilical cord.
Because of this Dr Prema had to cut the cord and have me push fast to get this baby out and checked over. I don't think James minded not being able to cut the cord as long as his baby girl was A-OK.
They took her right away and I wasn't able to see her at first. James could see her, my mom could see her but from my position there really was only so much you could see. There were so many nurses as well that it was like a complete body wall blocking me from seeing my daughter. They moved her 3 times from one table to another then back to the first and it was McKenna's third trip from one side of the room to the other that the nurse holding her brought her to me so I could kiss her face.
I always have to share some TMI lol
With a vaginal delivery comes risk of needing stiches... I unfortunately I tore and needed 4 stiches but this was nothing compared to knowing I had just delivered a beautiful healthy baby girl. Because of these stiches James got to sit and hold McKenna first which is what I really wanted for him. I had spent the last 38 weeks with her experiencing things that he will never know. It was amazing to see him sitting there rocking his baby girl.
FINALLY after everything, EVERYTHING, I was able to hold my daughter for the first time. She was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen and I surprised myself by not crying. I fully expected my self to be a ball of tears but everything was just overwhelmingly fantastic and happy that there just wasn't room for tears.
We were in the hospital till Thursday afternoon and being released was the best and scariest feeling in the world. We knew we would finally be bringing a baby home and then again, we would be bringing a baby home! In the hospital you have everything for help at your disposal and at home it would be (technically) James and I and McKenna against the world.
It has just been amazing so far and I wonder when and what I will write about. I want to keep this up so hopefully I will find the time to just do small updates on McKenna and her progress as she learns and grows.
James and I love you all. We appreciate all your kind words, thoughts and prayers through all of our mountains that we have climbed and have yet to climb. McKenna is a blessed little girl to have so much love surrounding her. We can't wait to introduce her to everyone. She goes to her very own Dr tomorrow morning and we should have a better idea of when would be best to start slowly having people come see her. I just don't want to rush her and run the risk of her getting sick from over exposure. I'm thankful to have so many people who love me and understand. I just tend to be the one who overreacts at times and I worry more about everyone else's feelings- but I know everyone understands and no one will be mad at me for making them wait it out just a little longer to meet this precious angel.
She means the world to me and I just can't imagine life with out here. We've been home now for 4nights and it has been the best 4 nights of my life.
I'm sure there is so much more I could write but it's time to feed the baby :)
Love you guys!
Jen James and McKenna :)
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