Rowans birth story actually starts two nights earlier. On April 15th, I went to a neighborhood outdoor wine night. I started to feel pretty bad - and thought it was from sitting too long. With the massive belly, I can't breathe too well when sitting - and that will start to get to me. I headed home right away. Dan and I joke that I can't get out of places - I always chat and say bye a million times - and this time I pulled a Dan and just peaced out.
When I got home, I was convinced I had a horrible stomach bug. I never threw up but felt HORRIBLE. I couldn't lean over the toilet, or curl up because of the big belly. Laying down I was spinning and nauseous. Dan thought I was in labor - and I said "I hope not - I can't imagine contractions on top of this." We finally found some zofran so I could get a little sleep. Still felt bad the next morning - but got up for work.
Later that afternoon, I wasn't as nauseous and got some soup down, but the lower half of my stomach was super sore. It was really weird and, at 41 weeks pregnant, I started to worry something was wrong. I called my OB (hoping he could get me in for an appt before the weekend just to check on the baby - it had been a week since my last appt anyway). He told me to head to labor and delivery. I was NOT going to walk into L&D and them be like "you're here because your stomach hurts?!?" I joined my next work meeting. By 4 or 5, Dan told me to just go in. We could make sure the baby was fine and head into the weekend without worrying. Finally I did. I brought nothing with me and walked right in. Passing all the stands people were saying "good luck!" and "Congratulations!" and I was thinking "will pass you guys again in an hour when I head out of here."
When I got to L&D they had me change into a gown. It was SO GROSS. It had stuff all over it, including a foil lid to a yogurt stuck to it. I asked for another gown, thinking - now they hate me. I am the high maintenance girl with the stomach pain (not a legitimate reason to go to L&D) who now needs a new gown.
The on-call OB was there checking on the person in the room next to me, so I didn't have to wait long. She came in and said "technically you are having contractions - so even though last night probably was a stomach bug, you are 41 weeks. Let's break your water and see if we can get things going."
Not at all what I expected! I immediately said "I would really appreciate that." I texted Dan. He didn't see it. I called my parent so they would be ready to watch the girls (first time that it wasn't a middle of the night call with them 4-9 hours away!).
I had my bags packed, so Dan just had to bring them. I knew things would be slow, so there was no rush. He was shocked to find my text about an hour later - haha.
The rest, there really isn't much to tell. She insisted I get an epidural first (since I knew I wanted one) because she didn't know how fast Rowan would come. After that, she broke my water around 10pm. We had to just hang out, waiting. I could tell Rowan was still really high. And I knew she was "sunny side up" so was hoping she would turn before delivery - as that can make things more complicated.
My OB was so positive - "I am sure she will just flip, and drop, and come right out when she's ready." In the past, those statements always jinxed things and my babies would do the opposite. The nurse was a little more worried: "I think this is a REALLY big baby."
As morning came, Dan and I both were getting a little nervous. This was my longest labor so far - and I just thought that since she didn't come on her own, and hadn't come yet - that she just wasn't going to come out.
The epidural started to wear off and contractions were very intense - so I pushed that epidural button quite a few times for some more pain relief. Its a delicate balance because my blood pressure drops every time - so I can't push it much. My blood pressure was running around 70/40 the entire time - so dropping any lower made me feel AWFUL.
Eventually I felt a lot of pressure - she had dropped! And just before my OBs shift ended, Rowan came out after 20 minutes of pushing at 7:22am. She was NOT sunny side up - so she had turned at some point. Exactly like my OB said.
She came out looking JUST like Emma and has red hair. Exactly what Emma requested. She was 8lbs 3oz and 21 inches long. So she was not giant like Sloan :). Same length as Olivia, one inch smaller than Sloan and one inch bigger than E. Second biggest baby, but only by a few ounces.
Everything was so wonderful. Nothing scary. No crazy moments. When I saw her I realized all those kicks were not spiteful - haha - just her sweet self stretching. Immediately in love with this sweet baby.
With all of the carb control during the last few months of pregnancy, I made Dan get me TWO large fries from Chick-fil-a, So I could throw away all those end pieces and still have a ton of fries - haha.
We only stayed 24 hours. After being sick Thursday night, up all Friday night in labor, and woken every hour or more on Saturday night (poor nurse who had to come do a midnight CBC in my arm - I was not nice to her) - we wanted out! We had the most wonderful nurses. A huge struggle naming her - with a blindsided birth certificate lady when I burst into tears after signing the FIRST form. Trying to get out in 24 hours with all the checks, all the discharges, hearing screening, newborn screening, vitals, lactation, all the people who have to come in and sign off - we spent barely any time Dan and I discussing names or hanging with Rowan. It was in and out. But we were so glad to get home to our girls - and they were SO excited to meet her!
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