Delivered.

In our original birth plan we were hoping to go “all natural”. Of course, this was complicated by the fact that we had to come in and get antibiotics as soon as the membranes ruptured, and then get on the induction drugs so that we minimize the time that the baby was unprotected by the membrane. The oxytosin pushes the contractions to a higher level than they would be naturally so that few women can manage a pain med-free induction birth. Between that and the long ordeal we had gone through, there was a real concern that Megan would be completely wiped out by the time we got to the pushing stage. We decided to go with the epidural for a suite of reasons and I have to say that I am really happy that we did.
One of the many nurses we had, said to us at one point that she always found it funny how much people focus on the birth and how they have the baby when the only thing that really matters is having a healthy baby and mom. I wouldn’t argue with anyone who wanted to have a natural birth, it was we were hoping to do, but going through this changed how I think about it. The difference in the before and after epidural was amazing and Megan kept it so that she could still feel the contractions, but only very lightly. It allowed her to get some rest and made the actual delivery shockingly “easy”. The contractions slowly moved the baby down while Megan rested and eventually she said “I think we’re getting close”. Well, she was right. When the nurse checked on her we could see hair. We got everything set up for the delivery and Megan made great progress with each push. It probably took less than ten minutes before they were placing our new baby on Megan’s stomach. The reduced stress on the baby and on Megan that the epidural afforded them was amazing to me and made me really reconsider everything I had read leading up to the birth. I have a hard time thinking of a downside right now.
Anyway, I don’t know if it was because we had gotten only a couple of 15-30 minute naps in the previous 40 hours, but I’m not sure that there is anything that can prepare you for the surreal experience of being handed your baby. Neither of us were previously able to imagine walking out of the hospital with a baby that was “ours”. We were talking about it as soon as an hour before the birth, how we still couldn’t picture us as parents. Then in a span of 10 seconds it all makes sense. Even with the overwhelming emotions of the entire experience, it wasn’t strange to hold the baby and know it was ours. I don’t write well enough to put it all into words.
Riley Taylor Lane - 6 pounds, four ounces and I have no idea how long she is because as the doctor was telling me the details, I wasn’t really listening to much. All I could see was a tiny little girl trying to open her eyes and see what was around. We spent the night in the delivery room and actually managed to get some sleep. At one point she slept for about 4 hours, allowing us to get enough sleep to feel human again. Around 11:00 we were moved to a private post-birthing room on the 5th floor. We were concerned that we would be moved into a multi-family room after all of the births in the past two days, but I think the nurses took pity on our two day plight and made sure we got our requested private room. Anyway, after a bath, some feedings and some diaper changes, everything seems to be going well as we settle in to being a family.