Our beautiful Bella Bambina

Our beautiful Bella

Well we're finally home from the hospital. I am ecstatic to be home. What an extraordinary trip I've been on. So, I'll start from the beginning.

(My last pregnant picture)

Wednesday we got the results back from the amnio that everything was awesome and to head to St. Vincent's at midnight. So, I got everything packed and ready to go. Around 9 or so the labor nurse calls and says they're chock full of women in active labor and we need to come in at 7am. I was so crushed. Then decided to stay positive and went to bed.

Thursday morning bright and early we headed to the hospital. It was very surreal. We got to the hospital and got all checked in. It took a while to get everything going. They let me eat some breakfast and I was very happy. Joe and I played card games and wartched "Nightmare on Elm Street. At noon they finally started the pitocin! Whoo-hoo. I started having regular contractions within an hour. They started off relatively mild but, holy cow it did not take long for them to pick up.

The dr. broke water soon after and things really took off. I felt like 10 lbs lighter right after they broke my water. My contractions jumped up to every 2 min apart lasting about 45-60 seconds. I spent most of the time on my knees leaning against a chair in the shower. It was heaven. I was stuck at 5 cm forever so they upped the pitocin and suddenly my contractions were every minute. I was in excruciating pain. I wanted to wait as long as possible for an epidural by now it was 2 am and I was shaking so badly from the contractions that the whole bed was shaking with me. I only had 30 seconds between contractions and because I was shaking so badly and dry heaving the whole time I couldn't relax in between. I finally asked for an epidural. It was magical! I instantly fell asleep. They woke me up at about 5:30 to check me and I was finally 10 cm. dilated. It was time to push. I had them turn off the epidural and waited for it to wear off before I oushed. I wanted to be able to feel the urge to push and be a dead log.

Here comes the real work. 24 hours later and we're finaly pushing. I was utterly exhausted. I decided to use a mirror to see and I'm so glad I did. It helped me keep going. Joe was amazing all throughout labor. He was so encouraging and always holding my hand. He was right there with the midwife urging me on. Bella's head was stuck in my pelvis and maling its way by millimeters. By about 9:30AM I didn't think I had anything left in me. I could see her head but she wasn't moving. The contractions were doubly strong now. I just started crying and pushed even harder because I was so exhausted. Joe kept whispering in my ear, that I could do it and well....24 hours of hard labor and 4 hours of pushing later Our Bella was born at 10:20 AM weighing in at 7 lbs. even and 20 in. long! It wsa such an emotional moment. When they placed her on my stomach I just started bawling hysterically. I was so happy to finally hold her and feel her in my arms. She was just perfect. Joe couldn't stop staring at her. She knew his voice right away. I can tell she is definitely going to be a daddy's girl.