I had my 39 week appointment Monday morning.  I had been having contractions over the weekend, but nothing that I felt was enough to warrant going to the hospital.  At my appointment they determined I was already 5 cm: halfway there!  And that I was having regular contractions.  It was news to me, as I was feeling fine.



They admitted me at about 1:00 and started me on penicillin because I was GBS positive.  I would need four hours on the IV in order for the baby to get all the meds.  They decided to break my water at 3:30, figuring I'd have plenty of time before baby arrived.  I assumed she'd get here around midnight...

As soon as my water broke, the pain kicked in, and I started dilating fast.  I finally decided I wanted an epidural, and they checked me as they called the anesthetist.  I was already 10 cm.  So I just decided to go for it.

They set me up to push and I closed my eyes and pushed with everything I had.  I was concentrating so hard and was in so much pain that I never knew what was happening: the baby's heart rate went berserk.  The midwife grabbed the scissors they use to cut the umbilical cord and started cutting me in all directions, while the doctor grabbed the vacuum.  She came out and they whisked her away to check her out.  I didn't get to see her for the first hour, which broke my heart, but thankfully her Daddy and Gramma got to spend the time with her. 



Meanwhile, I had to get put back together again.  And let me say, I never really understood the gravity of the words "tear" and "episiotomy."  I do now.

She looks just like her Daddy, which I love.  We are working hard on breastfeeding, with about 85% success.  We got home this evening and Charlie went bonkers.  He wants to lick her constantly.  She squeaks, just like his toys.

We are happy...



(Daddy just said that he hopes her SSN shows up soon so he can open her accounts.  "She's been alive for two days and she doesn't have any money yet."  And then Charlie licked the top of her head.  I love my family.)

Posted by: Sarah at 07:11 PM | Comments (40) | Add Comment
Post contains 382 words, total size 2 kb.

1 Wow! Sounds like it was scary for a minute there, I'm so happy everything came out perfect in the end. I'm just so thrilled for all 3 of you (Charlie too!). She is just beautiful!

Posted by: Jen D at March 03, 2010 08:28 PM (h8XAc)

2 Oh my goodness...She does look just like Daddy. I'm so glad all of your hard work paid off, Sarah. I'm so happy for you.

Posted by: Erin at March 03, 2010 08:31 PM (GrgeU)

3 BEAUTIFUL BEAUTIFUL BEAUTIFUL! You are blessed. I am so happy for you. <3

Posted by: Amber at March 03, 2010 08:40 PM (1qEF0)

4 Long time lurker just calling in to say she's simply beautiful. Congratulations Sarah! I do hope you'll share the name you've picked for her, but I completely understand if you choose not to. All the luck in the world as you get to know your little one and get used to being a family complete with bub.

Posted by: Justine at March 03, 2010 08:40 PM (u4Ar6)

5 You are a beautiful family.  

Posted by: airforcewife at March 03, 2010 08:49 PM (uE3SA)

6 She's absolutely beautiful!  Congratulations! 

Posted by: Stephanie at March 03, 2010 08:50 PM (AksCG)

7 Wow, that sounds like a super-fast, super-scary delivery! She's beautiful. Thank you for posting pictures. Congratulations!!! :-)

Posted by: Heather at March 03, 2010 09:14 PM (k6tVi)

8 Happy Babymoon!

Posted by: Connie at March 03, 2010 09:48 PM (L6nIP)

9 She is so perfectly gorgeous! Congratulations.

Posted by: Laura at March 03, 2010 09:51 PM (3HIua)

10 An exciting delivery, and worth every minute of it.  What a wonderful baby. She looks so pretty and chubby, I would love to give her a hug.  No wonder Charlie wants to lick her! It's doggie kisses and he's feeling maternal.What a treat to see your baby and you at such a blessed time.  Thanks for sharing.

Posted by: Ruth H at March 03, 2010 10:06 PM (YpblU)

11 So very glad she's safely born. What a cutie! Is it being in the military that makes us so SS# conscious? We got that taken care of way, way, way before a birth certificate. Like, months =). 

Posted by: Lucy at March 03, 2010 10:24 PM (YNvUz)

12 She is beautiful! Love the blond hair

Posted by: Stephanie at March 03, 2010 10:52 PM (ccH8C)

13 Okay, you are good!  I STILL haven't written about when Rusty was born!   

I am so glad it went so quickly for you...a little jealous, I have to admit it, but also GLAD!  She is gorgeous, you look beautiful and you are a family!  A BEAUTIFUL family of four!  AWESOME!

Posted by: Stacy at March 03, 2010 10:58 PM (oubiR)

14 A very hearty congratulations! What a beautiful little girl you have there! Best of luck and take good care.

Posted by: LeeAnne at March 03, 2010 11:15 PM (FXhFB)

15 Third most beautiful baby I've ever seen (after my own).

I am so happy all went well.

Posted by: Chuck at March 03, 2010 11:59 PM (bMH2g)

16 The baby story has just begun! May her tale be long and exciting. She's already had quite a prologue.

I hope to see her in a photo with her big brother Charlie!

Posted by: Amritas at March 04, 2010 12:17 AM (TZltr)

17 Just beautiful!!

Posted by: Danielle at March 04, 2010 12:19 AM (dUVUc)

18 She is beautiful! And you rarely see that white blonde hair on newborns.

My oldest was born via vacuum. It took 30 minutes to stitch me back together. Ouch, ouch, ouch!!

Posted by: Tracy S at March 04, 2010 12:28 AM (3N/bf)

19 Congratulations, Sarah!!!!   She's gorgeous!

I never wrote my birth story, though I intended to.  My husband did it for me, and did such a great job that I just linked to his blog.

Posted by: Deltasierra at March 04, 2010 01:04 AM (/Mv9b)

20 Congratulations to the both of you!!! What a beautiful baby girl you guys have produced Well worth the wait and drama i'd say.. May you enjoy this wonderful time together

Posted by: orlane at March 04, 2010 01:09 AM (Lvvfw)

21 Congrats again! I love when people have accidental natural births! Glad your baby is here and in your arms. Keep up the good work with breastfeeding, it hurts like hell for two weeks but then its so worth it!

Posted by: gina at March 04, 2010 06:02 AM (TQYlv)

22

Thanks for sharing....she's wonderful.  My son was a forcep delivery back in the olden days, so I had the wacky episiotomy.....all I can say is that Tucks are your friend!!!

Blessings to you all.

Posted by: Trudy at March 04, 2010 07:29 AM (Gp4FX)

23 She's adorable! Congratulations to both of you

Posted by: Sespi at March 04, 2010 08:04 AM (BWd7p)

24

Sarah, she's adorable. You look great too. I want to squeeze her little pink cheeks. And hooray for you going natural!

CONGRATS!

PS - I hope your stitches are healing - yikes! Yeah for icepacks!

Posted by: Keri at March 04, 2010 08:37 AM (dtvJC)

25 looks like a viking baby!  She is beautiful, God is good....

Posted by: awtm at March 04, 2010 08:43 AM (73hS+)

26 *tear*  I'm so glad she's perfect!

Posted by: Lissa at March 04, 2010 08:53 AM (eSfKC)

27 She's beautiful! I'm so happy for you and your family. Congratulations!

Posted by: Val L. at March 04, 2010 09:02 AM (F4Qv7)

28 So full of joy for you, Mr. Grok, baby and Charlie. Thank you for sharing your story and pix with us.
If you don't want to share her 'real' name with us, can you pick a 'blog name' to refer to her by? She seems so anonymous. Maybe you should have a naming contest.....  I suggest BG for 'baby grok'.

At any rate, enjoy your babymoon, be patient with the breastfeeding, and just revel in this new beginning. So wonderful!

Posted by: Amy at March 04, 2010 10:40 AM (Cy1WK)

29 I'm not sure when I started reading your blog, but I always knew Baby Grok would become a reality. Internet people know this stuff, you know Congrats, again!

Posted by: Susan at March 04, 2010 11:29 AM (4aKG6)

30

She's gorgeous.  Her blond hair is just precious.  Make sure you use the analgesic spray they gave you on your stitches.  If you didn't get any, go get some.  Its called Dermoplast. 

http://www.dermoplast.com/

It was a life saver for me.  And be sure to take it easy so you are completely healed.

Good luck with breastfeeding.  Don't be shy about using your finger to break the suction and try again if she doesn't latch properly.  I was the first time around and nursed for 3 weeks with a poor latch, which caused major nipple pain that I thought was normal.  Proper latch fixed everything.

Enjoy your new family.

Posted by: Christa at March 04, 2010 11:51 AM (2qSbp)

31 Dermoplast is of the gods.


As for BG, she's absolutely beautiful!! Congratulations!!!

Posted by: Home at March 04, 2010 12:22 PM (2vZeF)

32 What a cutie! Congratulations!

Posted by: Linda at March 04, 2010 12:52 PM (krOs7)

33

Beautiful, Beautiful, Beautiful.

God Bless her!

Posted by: Kathleen at March 04, 2010 04:19 PM (TPzwT)

34 Congrats!! So happy for you!

Posted by: Tootie at March 04, 2010 05:49 PM (E6IKW)

35 She is beautiful and look at all that blond hair!  Congratulations on a job well done.  Take it easy and let everyone do things for you.

Posted by: Lemon Stand at March 04, 2010 06:25 PM (Myzto)

36 Congratulations!! 

Posted by: Oh Hell at March 04, 2010 10:05 PM (CA06Q)

37 Mom and Baby are so beautiful!  Congratulations!

Posted by: Mrs. Who at March 04, 2010 11:06 PM (CtX4I)

38

Sarah - she is so beautiful, and you looked radiant!  Congratulations and God Bless your family!  I am so thrilled for you all!

Hugs,

Mary

Posted by: Mary at March 05, 2010 12:07 AM (MZGTX)

39 Yay.

So much happiness.

I don't have words to say what this means to me. But your story has given me hope, and I am sure it has given hope to countless other people.

Congratulations

Posted by: Talia at March 09, 2010 11:42 AM (qWzEG)

40 Sarah, I had tears as I read this. A MILLION times congratulations on your beautiful daughter! I know you waited for her and wish you and your family all the happiness in the world. You deserve it so much.

Posted by: Penny at March 09, 2010 06:55 PM (qEtCN)

Hide Comments | Add Comment