Wednesday January 22nd I had a gush of fluid and so I went to the hospital thinking that would be the day that we would be welcoming Jillian. After a few hours, two internal, three speculum exams and a ferning test they determined that it must have been either a gush of urine or a high leak that had sealed itself off. I was not very happy to be going home. That night a woke up at 12:30 a.m. to use the bathroom and there was a bloody show that continued throughout Thursday and on into the night.
Friday January 24th I had my last weekly doctor's appointment before a scheduled induction on January 31st. I had been having contractions on and off all night long and most of the morning. They had been coming about 20 minutes apart so I was in hopes that when I went in for my appointment I would be to the point that he would send me over to the hospital. (Especially since two weeks earlier I was dilated to a two and 60% effaced). Unfortunately for me I was only at a three and 80% effaced. I had met every point for induction except one...I was only 38 weeks and you have to be 39 weeks. I cried the whole way home and for a good 20 minutes after getting home. My mom was nice enough to keep George and since McKenna and Jona were still in school I laid down on the couch and took a nap. Ty finally came home at about 2 p.m. ( He was supposed to have the day off) He commiserated with me and we sat and watched some TV together. The kids came home and my contractions started up again (coincidence??) I started fixing dinner and the got the kids eating when we decided that when they finished up we needed to head over to the hospital. The contractions were coming about 5 minutes apart and were really regular. Unfortunately for me it was back labor. It was very uncomfortable
We arrived at the hospital and were set up in the same room as the one that we had been in with the false alarm water break. I had been planning on going without an epidural (I had done this with my three previous children). The reason that I didn't want an epidural was that I the thought of having a shot in my back scared me more than having to deal with the pain. This time around I knew that if I had back labor I would not be able to go "natural"...especially since having back surgery in November of 2001. They checked me and I was dilated to a 4 1/2 and 90%....it was really going to happen. The nurse asked what I wanted for pain and when I said an epidural it floored Ty. (I hadn't said anything to him about getting one before then). The guy who gives the epidurals came in about 5 minutes later and I had my epidural. I cried for about 20 minutes after getting it because of my fear. Boy am I grateful I had it though. It was very nice to be able to chat with Ty and my mil and mom and friend who were in the room. Although the epidural did make me sleepy and extremely itchy on my chest and belly it made the pain of the contractions all but go away and my legs just felt like they were asleep...I could still move them and feel them.
We arrived at the hospital at around 6 p.m. and they called my doctor in at 11 p.m. and I started pushing. It still hurt but nowhere near how it hurt with the other three. I pushed and she would crown and then she would go back in. She was posterior. The doctor tried to turn her. The first time she flipped back as soon as I pushed. The second time he turned her, he turned her good and she stayed put. I pushed a couple more time and the doctor did a small episiotomy and I pushed her head out. A minute later at 11:23 p.m. she was all here. The doctor was rubbing her down trying to get her to cry but she didn't want to. He handed her up to me and the nurse came over to cover her with blankets. The nurse commented on what great coloring she had but Jillian still wasn't making a sound. She was just content to lay on my chest and figure things out. The nurse finally got a couple of sqwaks out of her and she was satisfied. Ty got to cut the cord and I was able to hold her for a bit more before they took her to weigh her. The nurse was asking everyone what they thought she weighed. I thought that she would be about 8 pounds 10 ounces but she was 9 pounds (2 weeks early!). She was 19 inches long and got a 9 on the apgar scale. The doctor, in the meantime was trying to take care of me and the membrane he was trying to get out kept shredding. It was NOT a good experience having him try to get all of the membrane out. I am SOOOOO glad that I had that epidural. I had a couple of stitches and we were done. Jillian Fae Ormond was finally here.
We came home from the hospital on Sunday afternoon and Jillian has been a wonderful baby. We were concerned on Monday when she hadn't had a bowel movement or wet diaper for almost 24 hours. We called and had a doctors appointment for her but she decided to start working about an hour before the appointment. Thank goodness. Then on Tuesday I woke up with an exceptionally sore abdomen on my right side. I could barely stand to have Jilllian's weight on my stomach to feed her and then when I got up to use the bathroom I was almost doubled over. My doctor fit us into his lunch schedule and he said that it is good that I came in when I did because if I had waited anymore it could have been much more serious. There was still a bit of membrane in there and some blood clots. He also said that most likely I already had some type of infection so he started me on antibiotics right away. He also gave me some pills to help my uterus contract...the first time I took a half of one and it was horrible but things have evened out and I can handle a whole one now. Anyway...Jillian and I are both doing well. Jona, McKenna and George are adjusting. The two younger ones are having a bit more of a hard time but hopefully things will smooth out there soon. I'm thankful for my wonderful little family. I am grateful for a loving supportive husband who has been there for me and the kids through all of this. I am thankful to be home and to have Jillian here with us.
