debutant

here's the story.

i felt real contractions at 3:15 tuesday (jul12) morning, and while getting ready to go to the hospital, my water broke at 9:30. by the time we arrived at the hospital, i was dilated to a 5cm, 75% effaced (percentage that the cervix has thinned) and esther margaret was at a 0 station (head in line with my pelvis). painful but bearable, a good place to be.

as i was being checked in, the lady in the bed next to me sounded like what jse described as "a bear fighting a tiger". made me nervous but felt undeterred in having an unmedicated labor. within two hours, i was dilated to a 7cm, a +1 station and almost 100% effaced. it was terrifically painful, but with the goal so close, i could bear it.

however.

an hour later, i was in the same place and she hadn't moved.

another hour later, i was still stalled.

and another (if you are counting, 15 hours have elapsed).

(skip feeling of complete defeat, expletives, cursing womankind, my unborn child, hearing the aforementioned bear/tiger woman screaming in the next room...)

enter epidural, oxytocin...magic! i almost leapt out of the stirrups to kiss the anesthesiologist on the lips.

two hours and 5 pushes later...

esther margaret was born at 8:22p, weighing 7lb 13oz, 22in long, perfect.

this is after the epidural was administered. any pictures before this point would involve me grimacing or showcasing my middle finger.
first cry
weighed in
first family photo (don't mind the inappropriate shot of my leg still in the stirrup, gross, sick, but too tired to photoshop, sorry)
sweet swollen face
napping with daddy

we had many many visitors, including:

margaret and jerry with grandchild #2
jojo and ella
fischer and kristi
paul, kristine and cousin evan
getting ready to go home (i internalized a meltdown at this point, when i realized there was no return policy)
first nap at home
*a very special thanks to the midwives and nurse mimi, who made the long, difficult but wonderful labor and delivery the best possible experience...