Three weeks ago...
Ok, so three weeks really isn't a reason to celebrate (not that we don't celebrate her every day), but I think it is a great time to recount the story of Brianna's birth for those who haven't heard it.
On the evening of Thursday, May 6th Brandi started to have some contraction. They were occurring every 30 to 45 minutes. As Friday approached her contractions where starting to get more frequent, but where irregular. One at 22 minutes, 3 minutes, 4 minutes, under 2 minutes, 5 minutes, and back to 20 minutes. At about 1 PM, we drove to the hospital. After a short time, we were back on our way home. Brandi wasn't far along enough to be admitted.
The second we got into the car it seemed that the contractions were about every 3 minutes (2 minutes and 30 seconds to be exact). Brandi was hurting pretty bad on the drive and we immediately got her into the shower when we returned. We heard lots of people suggest baths and showers helped, and I believe that Brandi would agree. Brandi sat in our shower for the next two hours. I sat in the sink area of the master bath and documented every contraction as she dictaed through the shower door. After about 2 and half hours, we started to leave for the hospital again. Hoping for better results on this trip.
We arrived back at the hospital at 5 AM and were immediately admitted. At this point, Brandi had stopped considering a natural birth and was ready for the epideral. Brandi wasn't far enough along for the epideral yet. As she laid in bed in pain, I sat next to her. The nurse did provide Brandi with some demeral shortly after we had got admitted and that allowed Brandi to rest between her contractions which were occurring every minute and 30 seconds. I was starting to fall asleep myself between them.
As the shift change occurred (8 AM), Brandi was about ready for her epideral and at 9 AM she was feeling good and able to get rest. She was able to sleep for the first time (
See for yourself).
After several hours, during which I sleep, got a Jamba Juice, and showered. We were finally ready to push. The time was around 2 PM. After several pushes, the doctor felt it was necessary to help Brianna and used the forcepts . Within a few minutes Brianna was born, and here was her first picture ().
Brandi and I are still amazed at beautiful little Brianna!
