The Prete Family: December 2009

Isabella Carma Prete arrived at 7:06 PM on Wednesday December 9th. We are so glad she is here! After the initial induction at midnight was postponed, the hospital called just before 11:00 the next morning and told me to come in. Naturally, Joe was in a series of hearings and I couldn't reach him so I drove myself to the hospital, leaving a message at his firm. By noon I was hooked up to the pitocin and shortly after, they broke my water. I was hoping to get through my labor without an epidural this time, remembering how easy Olivia's birth had been, with just one push for her and one for the placenta. Boy did I miscalculate. Somehow I must have missed the connection between having HAD an epidural with Olivia as the reason it was so easy... That said, I did make it about 6 and a half hours until I was dilated to a 7 before I caved in and got one (in actuality, I was begging for it). I am really amazed at how I had forgotten how out of your head crazy labor pain can make you. Anyway, the anesthesiologist swept in and saved my day. My doctor was unable to make it due to the timing, but we very pleased that his replacement was Dr. Harter from our previous ward. He and Joe had been in the elders quorum together and are good friends. He also is said to be one of the best ob/gyns in the area. I felt like it was an extra little blessing to have him. (The reason I hadn't requested him in the first place was that I felt it was a little uncomfortable to have my OB in my ward, but now that I don't see him every Sunday, I'm OK with it. I did get in with another doctor in his group, though, and thus we get this result!) Dr. Harter had Joe suit up and deliver our little Isabella. By the time all this was happening, the lovely epidural had kicked in and I was able to relax and more fully comprehend and enjoy the moment. As a side note, my reason for resisting the epidural in the first place is because of some not so fun side effects I've had from them in the past. This time, most of the numbing was on the lower half of my body, but postpartum I continued to become somewhat numb upwards, to the point that by morning I had some numbing sensations clear up to my jaw and ears. I was relieved that it eventually all passed, but it did prevent me from sleeping well that night.