At 9:00 am on June 12th, 2008 Bobby, Brody and I went to the doctor for my 38 week (and last) appointment. To say that we were not expecting what lay ahead wouldn't be entirely true considering that I had started dilating early (1 cm at 35 weeks, 2-3 cm at 36 weeks) with irregular contractions starting around 37 weeks. Our midwives projected that Leilah's birthday would fall around the 38 week mark like her big brother and I was just hoping that she would call my belly home sweet home until she was done cooking. After finding out that I was 4 cm dilated and 80% effaced we decided to strip my membranes. Connie (the most wonderful midwife whom I will always adore for helping to bring both my babies into the world) sent us home and told me that Leilah would be arriving that day... and even though it was in God's hands, it would be great if His plan was for Leilah to be born after 5, because that was when she was taking call. I was so happy that I could have cried...
I went straight to the hospital for my bi-weekly Non Stress Tests at Labor and Delivery (to keep an eye on my blood pressure since it was high with Brody) and I was already having regular contractions and the nurses asked me if I wanted to be admitted, but I chose to go home and wait it out. In the meantime Bobby had called our family and they were hastily getting on the road to meet our little girl! The rest of the day was spent with our families walking, waiting, walking and waiting some more. It was Leilah's pre-birth party; how special is she? Bobby and my mom were convinced I needed to go to Labor and Delivery because of my high tolerance for pain, while I was determined to stay home until I couldn't take it anymore.
At 9:00 pm after making sure Brody was comfy and asleep (I have separation anxiety issues), and showering one last time, we loaded the car and drove the whole 5 minutes to Western Missouri Medical Center. I was strapped up to monitor contractions and the nurse came in 15 minutes later to tell me that while my contractions had been very strong and regular at first, they seemed to dim down. She said I could either stay at the hospital for the duration or if I wanted I could go home (because we live so close) until I wanted to come back again. At this point Bobby and I looked at each other and our eyes made a silent agreement that we would just go home until it was truly time. However, she wanted to check how far I was a dilated... and once she saw that I was a 5, almost 6, she said that she didn't know how smart it would be for me to go home because when the time came I may not make it back. She said she was going to go call Connie to see if she wanted to come in and break my water to speed things along and came back a minute later to tell us that Connie was on her way... we were going to have our little girl!
Once Connie arrived and checked me and I was dilated to a 6 and she broke my water. They had paiged the anesthesiologist because the concern was that if I didn't have my epidural soon after having my water break, I would progress too fast and not be able to have one at all. Before I knew it both my epidural and contractions (as they appeared on the screen) were in full effect. My mom, Ken, my brother, Bobby's parents and his grandma were in the delivery room to keep us company until the time came to deliver. Bobby, of course, had fallen asleep in the chair next to me, while my mouth took over and I became Mrs. Gabber Jaws... anxiously waiting for the time to pass. I listened to the severe thunderstorm outside and was reminded of a night 2 1/2 years ago in January when at almost the same time of night I was watching the snow fall as I waited to see Brody for the very first time. I started getting the "shakes" and the next thing I knew I was dilated to a 10 and the delivery room became a bustle of coming, going and preparing; it was time to push. It was 1:50 am, and the nurses began joking that we needed to hurry to get Leilah out at 1:54 like her brother. I laughed, ya right... after pushing for 50 minutes with Brody I was expecting the same. A couple weeks before Bobby had confided in me that he would love nothing more than to catch Leilah when she was born. I was shocked... this was the same guy that thought he wouldn't be able to stomach Brody's birth. This is also the same guy that was sternly told by a nurse that he needed to go get food and get himself together after almost passing out when I had the epidural. However, I thought it was incredibly sweet and brave of him to want to be so involved in the process. I couldn't have fathomed how amazing that simple request would prove to be. Connie said that yes, he could catch her... in fact, he could deliver her... just not to expect a discount on our hospital bill.
He looked as excited as a little boy at Christmas as he was dressed and prepared for what would prove to be one of the most monumental experiences of his life. Connie simply and sweetly directed Bobby between my contractions... "Sarah, take a breath... let it out... take another breath... hold it and hold on" which would allow her to instruct Bobby. Once he was confident in his task I would push. After starting pushing at 1:52 with 3 contractions and 8 minutes of pushing our little girl came into the world, leaving it forever better, at 2:00 am on Friday June 13th, 2008. I still get emotional when Bobby brags how delivering his baby girl was the coolest thing he has ever done. After all, he says, he is the first person to ever hold her. Awww.
Our princess was laid on my chest and I couldn't get over the white halo of hair that encircled her head. The nurses decided that the perfect word to describe Leilah was "dainty," which has been echoed time and again by friends and family who have cuddled her small little body and had her little fingers wrap around one of theirs. She weighed in at 6 pounds 3 ounces and 19 inches long and in that moment I knew that she was the smallest thing that I will ever put my whole heart into.
Notice Brody (aka lil' Sneaky Devil) licking the icing around his mouth!
Notice Brody (aka lil' Sneaky Devil) licking the icing around his mouth!
