Birth Story

April 19, 2012
I had a 39-week OB checkup at 1:30.  I dropped Ally off at a friend's house and drove to Landstuhl hospital.  While I was sitting in the waiting room, my water broke.  They sent me upstairs to Labor and Delivery, who hooked me up and decided that I was not having contractions.  They seemed a bit dubious about my water breaking as well.  At this point, I didn't even call my husband because I figured, if they weren't worried, I wouldn't be worried.  I was just really hoping not to be the person who thinks she is in labor and gets sent home instead.  Finally, after a few tests on my fluid, they decided that my water had in fact broken and that I was in labor.  At 3:00 I called my husband to come join me at the hospital, and my contractions started increasing in frequency and intensity.  My nurse began the admission paperwork (which was not completed until after the birth) and started asking me about pain control.
At 5:24 PM my daughter Nicole was born, after 2.5 hours of labor and pushing through 3 contractions.
Thank goodness I was already at the hospital when I went into labor or I would have been close to having a baby in the car (we live 40 mins from the hospital and 30 mins from J's office.  He would have had to come pick me up and then drive me to the hospital).  She was 8lbs 2oz and 20.5 inches long.  (Ally was the same length and 1oz lighter)
Nicole spent 2 days in the NICU due to fluid in her lungs (a result of being born so quickly), which resolved itself naturally.  She was given oxygen through a nose tube, fluid and antibiotics via an IV in her head ;( I spent most of those two days walking back and forth between my room and the NICU to check on her and hold her.  Poor girl was poked and prodded so much that since I have had her to myself, she has been content.
She is a good baby, sleeps for 4-5 hours at a time at night, and has started smiling at me and her sister.  She had a few issues with breastfeeding but is doing really well now.  I think she was just confused with all the different food options she was given during her first 48 hours.
J has been soaking up all the baby love he can get before he leaves at the end of the week for 6 months.  My college-age sister will be coming to visit soon and play with Ally until we get Nicole on a good schedule.

The day I had Nicole, I spent the morning working in the garden and was planning to host book club at my house that evening.  Obviously my plans changed!