Baby Girl Till has arrived!!

She's here! And she's a she!

Born at 11:04 on November 20, 2015. 9 lb 7 oz!! 20' long. Super healthy and utterly perfect. 

Yesterday at naptime, about 1:30, I laid down and could feel regular mild contractions. After about an hour we called the Dr., who said to come on in. Our good friend Sharri came over to watch Malcolm, and Chris and I got to the hospital around 4. We had really been hoping for a daytime birth this time, so that worked out real nicely. 

We spent a while in triage, having a good time as the contractions were regular but not too painful yet, and were 4 cm. 

Once admitted to a room, my contractions started in earnest. I felt like a rhino every time as I found that low, deep moan to be the best way through each one. I felt overwhelmed by all the tubes and beeping and medical reality at this point, but Chris and I were able to created some moments of calm together as we waited. 

We ordered the epidural as soon as I was ready, had a great nurse anesthetist to administer it. That part was scary for me, but Chris stood right in front of me as my rock and comfort, and it made it doable. Then I laid in bed for a bit with Chris cuddly on one side and our night nurse, Jessica chatting on the other. After twenty minutes I could really tell the difference and pain relief, and even missed one contraction all together. I think I was entertaining everyone with my exclamations of how that couldn't be real!

But sure enough, another hour on my back got me to 6 cm, then the Dr. broke my water and there was merconium in it, but as neither he nor the nurse were freaking out about that, we just kept on going.

On the way in, I had been worried that this was just false labor, so even after the epidural was in, I was asking the nurse "So you think I'm really in labor?"

A while later I was still 6 cm, and the baby had turned to back labor, which I still couldn't feel! Then we turned me on my left side, and after a few contractions I felt a lot of pressure  building. A few more contractions later the nurse checked me and said the head was almost out! We had to hold it in until the Dr. got there.

Dr. Guy arrived, and they coached me through pushing. Soon we could reach down and feel the head, which was so wrinkly it freaked me out. In between contractions I could rest and we could laugh too. After a few pushes per contraction for 6 contractions, she started to emerge. Head, then shoulders and body. Watching Chris's expression as all this happened was priceless, and then when I first saw her body I was utterly amazed! Chris announced "It's a girl!"

They were able to clean out her mouth and throat so quickly that she came right to my chest, all soggy and so, so soft. A perfect little body with amazing skin and sweet little rump and scrunchy face. She stayed on my for a good 2 hours before more needed to be done.

I needed two stitches, which for such a huge baby seems pretty alright! The rest of the night was lots of nurses checking every which thing, so that by the time we were moved to our overnight room (by total coincidence, it is #1120, right after an 11/20 birthday!), and were all fed and ready to sleep, it was 5:30. We got a nice sleep until sunrise. And are now relaxing and resting in our room, with a low level bustle around us. 

Baby girl is just wonderful. Nursing like a pro and resting real easy. It felt really sweet to welcome her to her first dawn this morning. So grateful!!