Vivian Marie Kelly

Vivian Marie Kelly has arrived! 

She was born at 7:50 pm at 7 lbs 8 oz and 19.5 inches on May 2, 2014.

Vivian was named after my great Aunt Vivian of family lore (twin sisters Lil and Viv) and Marie is her maternal birthright linking her back 4 generations. 

She took her time, but once she decided to introduce herself she made a dramatic entrance. 

I went in Friday morning at 40+6 weeks for a non-stress test at 8:00 am to make sure all was well with baby girl. There were a few heart decelerations that had them a little concerned along with declining amniotic fluid ( to be expected), but the midwife on call did a little extra monitoring and after doing a membrane sweep (around 9:00) sent me home around 10:00 telling me that at this point, I could be induced whenever I wanted to be before 42 weeks. 

I started having pretty regular contractions not long after getting home, but I was talking through them without issue and my 2 recent bouts of the flu have given me lot more to talk about when it came to contractions lately. I had my 41 wk appt later that day at 3:40 so Brian and I talked about our options and what we were thinking about regarding induction dates, though I mentioned to him on the phone that I was currently having contractions so we may not need a date... 

I did call Mom at some point to say that I was loathe to cry labor again and be wrong, but maybe?!

I drove to my appt and on the way had one or two that were more intense (this may not have been my smartest move ever) and my midwife checked me again saying I was 3-4 cm and 80% effaced. I was slightly discouraged since that wasn't much different than what I had been that morning, but we were both optimistic that I may be in labor for real this time. On the way out (4:10 pm) they started to get more intense (maybe just from her checking me), and I drove home thinking - not sure I'm the safest person on the road right now....

Here's where I should note that Cathy had already planned to spend the night in case I did go into labor because Dad had caught the flu we had all had and he was our night backup. So I got home with no concern about Nathan coverage, which was great, because before too long I was really starting to work on those contractions. I told Brian he should come home sooner rather than later and then around 5:30 I sent a text basically saying - I NEED TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL - WHERE ARE YOU?! I don't think he's ever biked home so quickly. 

We got to triage a bit before 6:00 (we love living less than 10 minutes from the hospital) and within about 20-30 minutes had moved from triage and been admitted (around 6:20). I won't lie, I was talking about an epidural on our way to the room even though they still said I was only at 4cm. I was definitely feeling those suckers. Brian suggested I try laboring in the tub first since I'd liked it so much last time, and once I got an epi I wouldn't be able to get out of bed, so before too long I was soaking and it really did help a bunch. It seemed like they were less painful and a little further apart. Mom got there ready to camp out and brought some food for Brian who was feeding me breadstcks as I soaked. 

I was in there for maybe 45 minutes and handling them pretty well, until all of a sudden I was just OVER it. I let everyone know that I WOULD like an epi NOW please, and I wanted to be checked. It just felt like I couldn't go on like that for who knows how many more hours. I had already signed the release forms for an epidural, and they had told me that it would likely be a half an hour start to finish from the time I asked for one and that was sounding like longer than I would like at that moment. 

According to text message records, it was around 7:30 that they checked me and I was at 9 cm. Uh, what???? I had the midwife confirm about 3 times that she wasn't just messing with me or rounding up, because if you do the math... I had dilated 5 cm in less than an hour and a half. We agreed to have them break my water (because what was the downside?) and within the span of the next 5-6 contractions (and they weren't that far apart) I was holding baby Vivian in my arms. At 7:50 pm.  So I guess that epidural wasn't in the cards. 

I have to admit that the speed at which she came into the world left me a little dizzy. I couldn't quite process that she was already in my arms after less than 5 minutes of pushing when Nathan took an hour and a half. I do remember saying the words, "it's all going too fast!" nearing the end there. And indeed it was - BUT I had my new beautiful baby in my arms 4 hours after I drove myself to an appt so I can't complain!!! 

I have had a much better recovery this time, largely due to the fact that I just didn't work nearly as long at it all. I haven't had a chance to upload our camera pictures yet, but here are the best ones I have from our phones. If you are reading this you've likely seen most of them already, so thank you for bearing with me.