JULIANNA ARRIVES 2 DAYS EARLY! 

NOVEMBER 28, 1999

Monday November 22, I was sitting watching the Young & the Restless, relaxing, and I heard this horrible sounding pop come from inside of me. I freaked out! What just happened to my baby? I had never experienced anything like this before. I tried to stay calm, and after a few tears of worry was able to stay relaxed. Later that evening after a bath, and upon going to the bathroom for yet another tinkle, I happened to look down into the toilet bowl and saw a tablespoon-sized glob of grey matter-turned out to be my mucous plug! Yay! Labour should start soon. At my regular doctor appointment the next day he agreed I could go any time, and that I had indeed lost my mucous plug. I wasn't sure, as there was no sign of blood or show. I started to feel cramps, very slight, by Thursday November 25, and by Friday November 26 felt even more. But we managed to go shopping for Christmas items we hadn't yet bought. On the Thursday as well I cleaned out the entire fridge top to bottom. A severe case of nesting. I had a great burst of energy that Friday, and as we went to bed that evening at 10pm, as I tried to lay down to sleep, I was hit with a strong contraction. For about two hours I tried to sleep, ignoring the ever-growing pain, but by midnight I had to wake Mark up to help me deal with what was happening. Labour. We kept track of the minutes between contractions for about three hours, and by 330am we had to get up. I was in pain. I was able to manage the pain very well though, and Mark was a fabulous coach. I laboured at home with Mark at my side until 8pm Saturday November 27, where we finally got the once very sporadic contractions down to every 5 minutes lasting about 2 minutes long. We were excited!

My mom met us at the hospital, and I was assessed quickly. I was already 7cm dilated, all on my own! The nurses were shocked! I had done most of the worst and hardest work on my own med-free! Just like I planned! But, we had no idea what lay ahead in terms of planned. I got into a nice labour & delivery room, with whirlpool tub and all! I decided to try the tub, but soon found the jets of water too painful to withstand, so out I got. I managed another 5 hours med-free, at this point we were at the 29 hours mark of a very long and tiring labour, and two days of no sleep-so far! By 1am they found me to not be progressing at all, as we were stuck at 7cm dilation still. The nurses were concerned about me, especially that I hadn't any sleep in a couple of days, soI opted, actually I asked for the epidural. I only took it to fall asleep, as the pain wasn't the problem. The fact that I hadn't gotten any sleep was hindering my relaxation therefore not allowing me to further dilate. I was given the epidural-a very uncomfortable procedure, and not for the needles, as those don't bother me, just the horrible sitting up positioning and staying still for two whole minutes through very strong contractions and urges to push which I had to fight. Finally I got some rest once the epidural took effect. Mark slept on a couch chair our nurse had brought him, and we both slept from about 2am until 530am, when they came to check me. I had easily dilated to a full 10cm and was ready to push. But, I asked to sleep a bit longer, and was very happy to be able to. At around 6am I awoke and we started the pushing process. We were told this should last about 2 hours. Well, after 4 hours of no progress, the doctors came.

I was checked many times, and the baby was wedged up under my pubic bone with its hand stuck to its face. This was the reason for no progression. I begged for a C-Section, as the pain was horrible. Plus, I was still so exhausted I wanted to die. They said we were going to have to have a Vacuum Extraction delivery to help me get the baby out, as it was too late for a C-Section because the baby was too far into the birth cannel to do one. They hooked up the Vacuum and I was told I NEEDED to push with every ounce of energy I had left and that the baby had to be out NOW! So I somehow did this, pushed like there was no tomorrow, and out squirted our baby- A GIRL!!!!!!! We were so shocked!!! We had thought we were having a boy!! Mark cried out "It's JULIANNA" and that, happily, was the birth of our daughter, Julianna!!She weighed 6 lbs and 15 oz and was 19.5 inches long. She had a full head of black hair, and was the cutest thing!!

I required an episiotomy and then tore more, so I needed a lot of stitching done after the birth. But, that gave Mark time to bond with his baby girl! I was totally exhausted, and my labour totaled 36 hours!! But, the end result was Jules!! I stayed in the hospital until Tuesday November 30, when our new little family went home!