Welcome Alayna Felice Eoff

Just to fore warn you...this post is going to be long. But, that is what happens when you are in labor for a LONG time.

March 8th
Contractions continued to get worse at work, they were still very irregular which made me extremely frustrated but they were definitely getting stronger. We got home from work and the contractions were definitely progressing. There were quite a few that brought tears to my eyes. I had planned on trying to go fully natural without any drugs but these contractions were making me rethink that for sure. I was trying to time them but I just couldn't concentrate. So, Derek needed to help me. The doctor told me I cannot go to the hospital until my contractions were 5 min apart or closer for at least an hour. The contractions were definitely in that range we just had to wait the hour out. I was getting very excited that this was it, but also very scared at what was to come.

Around 7:30pm Derek told me that we were 5 min. apart or less for the past hour so it was time to go. Derek called our friend Jason to come pick up Reeses and we put all of our bags and things into the car and headed out. We got to the hospital and my contractions felt like they were coming even closer. We went up to labor and delivery and were greeted by Traci. We went into the triage room so she could run tests and monitor me and the baby. Baby was doing great and my contractions were now consistently around 3 min. apart. Tracie needed to check me for dialation and it was the moment of truth. If I was 4 cm or more I could be admitted and stay to deliver, any less and they would send me home. I held my breath hoping to be 4 cm or more, I didn't want to go home, and...success, I was 4 cm and admitted to deliver.

Around 8:45pm I was officially admitted and moved to a delivery room. Once in the delivery room, Tracie started to hook me up to all the various cords and monitors I needed, IV, my blood pressure, baby's heartbeat, contradtions. I had cords wrapped everywhere. At this point I had some VERY strong contractions and Tracie asked me if I wanted an epidural. I decided that yes, I would rather be comfortable than try to be a hero. So, the anestisiologist was called to adminster my epidural.

Around 9:30pm Dr. French arrived to put in my epidural. It was very unpleasant when he poked me in the back to deliver the numbing medicine, but it was worth the relief I would soon feel. I had a few more contractions that I felt but then the epidural kicked in and I was feeling much better. I still had feeling in my legs and could move them slightly so I was good to go. Tracie suggested that we try to rest and get some sleep and she would be in later to check on me. So, Derek snuggled up on the couch and I tried to find a comfortable position admist all my cords.

March 9th
Around midnight, Tracie came in to check my progress and vitals. When I woke up I had a serious panic attack. One of the things I was most afraid of when getting an epidural was the fear of losing all movement and feeling in my legs...and unfortunately this is what I woke to. I couldn't move. I felt paralyzed from the waist down. I got pretty frantic and begged her to call Dr. French to come turn down the epidural so I could get some feeling back. Thankfully they did that and I was able to relax a bit.

Unfortunately, with the admistration of the epidural, my progress slowed down. You are suppose to dialate a cm every 2 hours or so. I was 4 cm at 8pm and here we were 4 hours later and I was 5cm. Not good.

My doctor called around 3am thinking she was going to be coming in to deliver very soon. She got the bad news that I was 5, maybe 6 cm at this point. So, she said if I didn't make any more progress that at 5am start a pitocin drip which will help labor progress.

At 5am Tracie checked me and I had not changed at all, so she started the pitocin. The good thing about it, is it helps move things along, the bad thing is that it creates stronger and more instense contractions, which was not good since I had my epidural turned down. So, I kept pressing my magic button to deliver extra doses. I tried to get some sleep but it was near impossible with contractions, cords and being woke every few hours to get checked and have to change positions and move.

Around 8am my doctor arrived to see me for the first time. Last time I was checked Tracie said I had progressed to 7cm. Yay! When Dr. Chancellor checked me, she disagreed, she said I was a 6, maybe 7 cm but she didn't thing so, damn. My day nurse, Deb, turned up the pitocin to help things along. Dr. Chancellor also said that the baby is facing towards my side instead of towards my spine. This caused her great concern. She and the nurses all agreed that I was most likely heading towards a C-section, but they would try a few things first to see if baby would turn. I was a little scared because I really wanted to avoid a C-section at all costs so I was willing to try anything at this point.

Deb and her assistants tried to get me to roll over and be on my hands and knees. This position is suppose to work with gravity to help the baby turn towards my spine. I am sure this point had to be comical to watch. I had very little feeling in my legs and was trying to hold myself up, mostly with my shoulders and abs. Since I couldn't really feel my legs, they kept sliding out from under me. I just couldn't hold the position. So, I had to get turned back on my back. They were going to turn down the epidural to give me a little more feeling in my legs so we could try again. We had until 10am to make the call as to what delivery method was going to be done.

At 9am I had more feeling in my legs and we tried again to turn the baby. I was able to hold the position for 20 min. Unfortunately, with the turned down epidural I was also experiencing terrible back labor. Now, I have always had a bad back, so I expected some pain but this was not good. But, the position seemed to be working. I rolled back over and was checked and baby looked to be turned further towards my spine and I had dilated to 8cm. Deb wanted to try one more thing to get baby to turn the rest of the way so I rolled over on my side and she moved my legs to some crossed over position and I waited.

At 10am I was checked again and baby had turned fully and I was 9 1/2 cm dilated. It looked like I was going to be able to delivery normally after all. They thought I would start pushing in about an hour so.

At 11:00am the nurse and doctor came in to set up to deliver. This was it. I gave a practice push and at 11:15am I was given the okay to get going. Now, I fully understand why they call labor what they do. This was VERY hard work. My back pain was excruciating and the epidural was not helping. It was very hard to rest between contractions because my back was in so much pain I couldn't relax and was very tense. I pushed and pushed and the baby's head started to emerge. But, I just couldn't push much more. The last 3 pushes I did Dr. Chancellor assisted with the vacuum because I just couldn't get the baby out and my back was in so much pain and nothing was helping. Nothing relieved the pain and pressure I was feeling. Finally, at 12:10pm Alayna Felice Eoff entered the world. She was 7lbs, 4 oz. and 19 1/2 inches long. She has a full head of hair and is absolutely perfect.

Through the entire delivery Derek was amazing. He was supportive, helpful and at times the only one paying attention to me. There were a few times during pushing that all the nurses and helpers were so preoccupied that it was just him coaching me through. He tried to keep me calm and kept his sense of humor to make me laugh a few times. I never once cussed him out or told him not to touch me ever again. ha ha There were times it was coffe clutch in the delivery room when all the nurses would start to chit chat and there was Derek by my side helping me through. He definitely kept me calm when one of my nurses fainted during delivery. Apparently she is hyperglycemic and hadn't eaten all morning and during pushing her knees started to buckle. I thought she was kicking the bed to try to get me to try something but then boom, down she went.

So far Alayna has been doing great. She was very awake and alert right after delivery and was able to nurse right away. She did have some mucus from delivery in her tummy so she was a little sick the first night spitting up. But, she is doing well. We are both trying to learn how to nurse together and that has been quite a challenge. Sometimes she does so well and sometimes she really fights me and we both get upset and frustrated. I know it takes time but it is hard. I hate seeing her so upset and I feel like it is my fault.

We had our first weight check at the pediatrician's office this morning and unfortunately, her weight has dropped. We have been told we have to supplement her feedings with formula because my milk hasn't fully come in yet so she is not getting enough to eat. Hopefully when my milk fully comes in we don't have to do the formula but we'll see how things go.

As for me, I am sore and tired. No sleep for 2 days before delivery was pretty tough and being in the hospital to get your "rest" before you take your baby home is a joke. Someone is always coming in to either check on you, check on the baby or both. Our first night home was a little rough too. Knowing now, probably because Alayna was so hungry and we didn't know it but she whined and cried a lot through the night. Napping today has been a must.

So, that is it. That is how Alayna entered the world. I am working on getting pictures up soon, but in between feedings, naps and all that I find time for only a few things each day. So, please be patient.