Monday, September 17, 2012

Name and a Story



The following is the birth story of Madison. Its a bit long but for journaling reasons I didn't want to leave anything out. 


If you would like the short version: 

My water broke 3 weeks early. Labor was 7 1/2 hours from start to finish. She was out in 2 pushes. 
Born at 1:25pm weighing  6lb 6oz, and 18 1/2 inches long. She is perfect. 



For The Details Continue Reading:


Sunday I spent the entire day in bed. I was so terribly sick with a cold. I didn't even leave my room until 3 that afternoon. The family came over for dinner and I tried to hide in my room. Lindsay came upstairs to talk with me and helped me get a few things ready for the baby. I told her that I had a feeling she was coming early and I said that I didn't mind as long as it was not while I was this sick. Well... 12 hours later my water broke. Funny side note, I felt a little better that evening and ended up doing a couple cartwheels in the back yard while teaching my niece to do them. Well I think that's what did me in. 

I woke up at 4am to use the restroom, per my usual routine, and went back to bed. I couldn't fall asleep and decided to just lay there for a bit. About an hour later, I heard a small "pop" and and thought that maybe the baby had kicked me very low which she has done before. Then I felt a small squish, which any woman in their third trimester will tell you that is totally normal. Then I tried to roll over to fall back asleep and the squish turned into an even bigger squish and I realized my water broke! I sat up quickly to run to the bathroom and not leak on the bed. This caused the "flood gates" to open and woosh. There it was. I came back with my hands between my legs and told Zach what happened. He popped out of bed and we started getting things together to go to the hospital. I threw a towel between my legs, grabbed the hospital bag, told Sophie we loved her and we headed down stairs. We caught Dad in the hallway leaving for work and told him my water broke. I asked for a blessing from him and Zach that everything would go smoothly and to help calm my nerves. I called my family on the way to the hospital to let them know whats going on. We arrived at the hospital at 5:45am and I checked in while Zach parked the car. At this point I was not having contractions. The nurses took me back and it was just in time for shift change so I had to wait a bit to get my labor and delivery nurse. My nurse, Lori Sowards, came in and got me all set up for everything. I was dilated to 3 and 80% effaced. Then the contractions started. Nothing too bad for a bit but they slowly started getting more and more intense. Lori said I could have meds to take the edge off before the epidural could come. BUT knowing that medicine works a little too well on me, I declined because I wanted to be alert for delivery. My anesthesiologist was stuck in a c-section and was not able to come set me up with the good stuff until that was over. The contractions were extremely strong and I finally asked the nurse for medicine as he walked in the door. HALLELUJAH ! I have never wanted a needle so bad in my life! My dear sweet nurse helped me hold still and bend forward to prepare for the shot. Zach held my hand the entire time. Lori kept laughing because I was being so sweet and nice, there was no way I was actually in labor. She said she was happy to have me start off her morning/week on such a happy note. Turns out, the hospital was very busy with deliveries that day. My anesthesiologist was named Dan and he knew a few of the people that Zach worked with and they chatted up as he finished hooking me up. They were actually so busy talking that he forgot to tape me up before walking out the door. He came back in and said that was the first time in 6 years he has ever done that. 

From then on out, labor was wonderful. They checked me again and I was at a 4, then an hour later 6 and an hour after that I was at 10! Yikes. The nurses were impressed with how quickly I was progressing. I was ready to push by 11 am and they called the doctor. They prepared the room for delivery and still no doctor. The nurses were telling me that "she had so much hair" I remember thinking, OH GOSH! You can see here hair and the doctor isn't here?!? AH! So finally a little after 1pm Dr Judd came into the room, threw on his gown and said "lets see what we've got". I started pushing and two contractions later he said "open your eyes!" I did and looked down to see the head. What?! Already!? I thought I would be pushing for hours!

Madison came out and the doctor held her up and I instantly started to cry. Zach left to go be by her side while they cleaned Madi up and he teared up a bit too. They wrapped her and placed her in my arms as the doctor finished stitching me up. I know I am her mom but, she is BEAUTIFUL. No conehead. No puffy face. No tiny preemie alien look. Just beautiful. It was instant love. They unhooked the machines and started cleaning the room while Zach and I just stared at her and took turns holding our little girl. The whole experience was a whirlwind. From start to finish it was 7 1/2 hours. Which the nurses told me was unheard of for a first time baby. I remember the nurses saying "this doesn't happen" but I guess there is a first for everything. The nurses had us do skin to skin while Zach and I tried to figure out a name for her. The rest of the day was honesty a blur. I remember calling family and that night the Lyman clan came to see us. They were all instantly in love too.


I was a little bummed that things didnt go how I thought they would. I thought my water would break and I would be calm and collected. I would shower, shave, brush my teeth and get ready for the day. I wanted to take one last picture pregnant to remember what my tummy looked like the day she arrived. Forgot that too. I got too excited and just threw on clothes and left. Looking back, who cares. The whole thing turned out perfect. 



As for her name... well we had a few ideas of names we liked but the entire time I was pregnant none of them felt right. So we decided we had to meet her before we could decide. We sat in the hospital room for a while and just looked at her. Then it was decided Madison Alleyne Lyman. It was not a name we originally picked out or even thought of, but it just fit. Madison has no sentimental/family value to it, we just sort of liked the name. Alleyne however, is actually my mother in laws middle name as well has her grandmothers name. 



So we love our little Madi girl. She is a total joy and a blessing for our family. 

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