Baby Harcourt: July 1, 2011

Today was the day Tim and I will never forget!

So as a continuation from the last post, Tim and I arrived at the hospital around 6am. We met our nurses and the care team that would be helping me. I also met with the doctor who explained the induction procedure. Being induced is a multi-step process so I was prepared by all the staff that there was a very real chance that Baby Girl would not be arriving until quite possible July 2nd. At this point I didn't care...I knew there was an end in sight!
So the steps for induction are as follows:
1) receive 25 mg of Cervidol (suppose to soften the cervix)
2) receive another 75 mg of Cervidol (help with softening and encouraging dilation). The second does is generally given 3-4 hours after the first dose
3) Start receiving Pitocin (actual drug that brings on labor). This is given sveral hours after the last dose of Cervidol

So as you can see this is a pretty lengthy process. Tim and I settled in and started watching Wimbledon, and we just relished the last few moments of peacefulness. Around 8:45 am I was given the fist dose of Cervidol. I really didn't feel any different until around 10:15...oh boy things were changing! I had my first real contraction at 10:15am. Tim was watching the monitor and we were all taking bets on who was going into labor next (we could see what was going on in the other rooms with our monitor). My nurse came in to check on me and she said I see you are having some contractions...yup sure was... but apparently nothing to get too excited over. So a couple hours has come and gone. Around 12:15pm I had to go to the bathroom very badly. I was having lots of pain but was a bit afraid to tell anyone. So after sitting in the bathroom with teas in y eyes I returned to my bed around 12:45pm. The doctor came in to check on me but unfortunately I was told I was still 1cm dilated...WHAT!!!! Anyways the doctor told my parents to go get some lunch as we had a long ways to go, and then my nurse came in again and told me she was going to go get her lunch too. Just as my luck would have it, the minute Tim and I were alone I started experiencing excruciating pain. I started having contractions every few minutes. So around 1pm the charge nurse came to check on me (my nurse was still at lunch) and I told her I was in tons of pain and wanted some medicine. Within the next few minutes my nurse comes into the room and says...wow I have been watching you have lots of contractions.I told her I wanted some medicine as the pain was becoming more intolerable. At this point they went ahead and called for my doctor (Dr. Arluck) as well as the anesthesiologist. It was now closer to 1:15pm. Dr Arluck arrived and was amazed and said I was now 9cm dilated. At that point my water broke and I knew this baby was coming soon! The anesthesiologist showed up but it was too late to get an epidural and I started pushing. A side note I was really scared about the epidural and prayed God would help me get through the pain without one and he did just that! My mom also walked in the room after lunch and the doctor told her "a lot has happened since you left" I motioned for my mom to stay and she came to the bedside. Tim helped me remain calm and I focused on him the entire time...I am so thankful for my best friend and love him more and more each day! Well after 30 minutes of pushing....Miller Joyce Harcourt was born at 1:45pm on July 1st! Everyone was surprised at how quickly she came and I never actually went through the whole induction process.
Bliss had arrived and Tim and I were in love!
Here are a few pictures of me waiting for Miller and of Tim and I meeting Miller for the first time