Growth sonograms are so not accurate! We knew this from Bell (hers approximated 8 lbs 6 days prior and she was 10.5). But with this babies estimating 9.5 two weeks before birth, we decided to go with the suggestion of an induction a week early. THANK GOODNESS I fought the doctor who wanted me to go in for an elective C section due to the babies size!!
We went into the hospital on Sunday evening, May 20th, after a nice day spent with the family. My parents came to church with us in the morning and then breakfast at the church hall afterwards. We spent the early afternoon just getting some last minute things done and then mom and dad came over for an early dinner before Don and I left for the hospital. I set it up so that we would go in when my favorite Doctor (Chou) was on the schedule, so she met us there and after doing an initial exam, decided to go straight to pitosin instead of Cervidial, as I was 3 cm dilated. We thought we would have a nice relaxing night waiting for my cervix to soften, but was not to be.... We discussed the fact that I thought due to the induction that I was going to want to have an epidural, so she spoke with the anisieiologist and he was willing to put in the catheter for it before they began the Pit. I was trying to be proactive and not have to go through the pain of having it done during contractions.
We wound up with a great nurse April, who was on 7 pm to 7 am, so she was with us the whole birth.My contractions started out slowly, so we were both able to get a little sleep at first. By the time I decided that they were to strong and I was ready for the epidural, it was a quick call down and it was started right away. But we very quickly came to find that I had the same thing happen as last time with Isabella. My right side went numb, my left side did not - at all!! When the doctor came back in he said he could pull it out a little in hopes of it working better, but that might just make it not work at all on either side. Which of course was what it did!! So we were stuck with the decision of having no epi or having him try it again, during contractions. Don and I made the decision to try again, and he was my rock as the doc put in the needle. Epi's apparently do not get along so well with my spine, as this one worked great on the left side and finally kicked in about 15% on the right side. But it got us through a night of contractions!
At about 4:30 AM April checked me and I was fully effaced, but the baby was still high, so we kept going through the early morning before calling in Dr Chou. Well, when she came down she sat on the side of the bed, checked me and said" lets do a push or two to see where we are". So we pushed twice to the count of ten and she said " OK, lets get ready to get this baby out!"
Dr. Chou knew we wanted to be able to see the birth and bring the baby to my belly if possible, so they brought me out the big mirror as they get everything ready. Well we could already see this head of dark hair as they raised up my legs, so when Dr. Chou had me push, the baby just started crowning, just like that!! So I said "do you want me to keep pushing", and she said" yes, lets do this". So I held that first push and out came the head - AMAZING!!! All I could say at that time was "look at that hair!!!". She had me wait while she positioned the shoulder (still worried that this was a big baby at this point) and then with the second push out came the shoulder and the rest of baby!! During that second push she had me reach down to be ready to take the baby with her up to my chest. As I lay baby on my chest, daddy got to open the legs and be the first to see and tell everyone that we had another beautiful baby girl!!!! Angelina Patricia Tuscano!!! Then daddy got to cut the cord - the very all important job of a dad!!
We got to spend a few minutes with her on my belly before they brought her to the isolete right next to the bed to clean her up and weight her. So our "big baby" turned out to be the smallest - 8 lbs, 14 oz!! Angelina has a head full of brown hair and daddy's darker skin - so opposite her sister. But her eye lashes and eyebrows are so fair, so who knows if she will go lighter!! But what a shock that head of hair was for me! I then got to bring her back and nurse her right away, which is exactly how we wanted it to be.
We are so thankful for my parents, who came down from New York. They spent the time with Austin and Bell, so that Don could be with me as much as possible. Bell and Austin got to come to the hospital to see Angelina a few times, and Grandma and Grandpa got to spend some great time with them (I think Bell wore them out!!). Grandpa and Austin even got to go to the Air Base Museum over at Dover Air Force Base on Tuesday afternoon.
It is just so amazing bringing a new life into this world and growing our family by one. We thank God for giving us such a beautiful little girl and for the love that she will bring to our lives and our family.
I am truly blessed.
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