Here she comes.

{{Go here for the beginning. As a reminder, Christine from Bella Rose Photography took these fantastic pictures for us, some of them are a bit dynamic.}}

I don’t remember my contractions being as frequent or as intense with Aleesia, but they were no joke at this point. I was managing them ok, but my focus started to waiver some. I had a few back to back with no break and I actually cried a little during them – not something I remember doing last time.

There was a lot going on in my room, too (you can probably tell in some of the pictures) – for some reason some of the nurses decided that would be a perfect time to restock supplies. I was too busy to say anything then, but they were super distracting. Theresa had to go deliver another baby and I was feeling like transition was approaching. I couldn’t explain it to anyone at the time but I felt pukey, shakey, and I needed to sit down right now!

I had Theresa check me again when she got back (thankfully she wasn’t gone long!) and could have died when she said not much change. I remember thinking “no fucking way” and just UGHHH.

She told me it was time to change positions because however she was laying in there (mostly to the left) wasn’t working and she warned me that it was not going to feel good at all.
At least the restocking frenzy was over though so I could concentrate better. Although, my brain was super foggy for some reason and totally in labor land. I probably would have done anything she told me to at this point because things were intense. Painful in a different kind of way.

She wasn't kidding when she said it was not going to feel good at all. I laid on my right side and went through 2 contractions thinking I was going to squeeze the arm rest off of the bed off.
There was a lot of pressure – almost pushy pressure – I couldn’t explain what I was feeling, but I knew things were happening now. But to my major disappointment, there was still cervix there. Theresa told me that we were getting this baby out now as she had me put my left leg up on this stirrup thing while I was still laying on my right side.

It was the most uncomfortable, yet helpful, position you can imagine but I busted through transition in the next contraction. (I don’t even remember Mike standing behind me, to be honest. I was concentrating THAT hard). And the contraction after that, I felt her flip over, slide down and crown. There was no question about it – that baby was coming out!

This is when things got a little blurry – I had to wait for everyone to be ready and NOT push (you know, the one thing I had been waiting to do all day!).

I know I said “I can’t wait” as I was breathing through the pushing contractions. It felt like an eternity for them to get things ready. My mom and Mike, taking their respective sides of the bed, kept telling me that I could, in fact, wait a few seconds longer!

The upside? She was already crowned at that point so no ring of fire – I totally skipped that part. Getting her head out was a piece of cake.The downside? I lost my focus for a minute and had way too many people talking to me at once telling me to spread my legs so my pelvis would open up to deliver her shoulders.
There was one particular nurse who was very NOT helpful and I remember being annoyed at her (I remember thinking, shut up lady!), again, not helping the focus issue. I had my eyes closed and tried to focus on Mike's voice instead of Annoying Nurse but I did open my eyes and focus on Theresa who calmly told me I needed to open my pelvis and get this baby’s shoulders out.

I was finally able to do what I needed to do and out she came – quietly.

Vivian Marie finally made her entrance at 8:53pm.

I opened my eyes again and she was gone – and I realized just how many people were in the room (no wonder I couldn’t focus!) and probably looked like a deer in headlights because WHERE IS MY  BABY? Theresa reminded me that they were going to take her if she wasn’t crying and it felt like the longest time of my life until I heard her. I calmed down, let the tears of joy flow, delivered the placenta and waited for my baby!
Vivian had to be intubated before she started breathing on her own, but was quickly just fine. No mec past the cords (good!) – someone yelled “you’re doing it wrong” at one point which was a little frightening, though.Her face was a little bruised but she was here and she was fine!

They told me how big she was (I could hardly believe it!) and how much hair she had (I believed it!).

And finally after what seemed like a very very long time, they brought her to me.

We snuggled and bonded in the finally quiet room. Mike and I just stared at her. Soaked in all of her beauty and those squishable cheeks.
 

I fed her.



I passed her off to Mike and my mom to snuggle.

I talked to Theresa a little later who apologized for the craziness that went on and all the people in the room, assured me I did a great job, and that everything went just fine. She was seriously fantastic. I wish I would have tried that right side torture position sooner, but in the end, Miss Vivi arrived just the same.

At the end of the day - I remember looking at her, kissing her nose, and totally forgetting about all the hard work that just went on to get her here.