We went in to Clinique Cecil at 5 pm last Wednesday for our induction. To summarize, it didn’t quite go according to plan, but it went better than plan. Everything from labor, delivery, and recovery was better this time around. Obviously it was always going to be better since last time was a tragedy with the loss of Thalia. But beyond that, this time was just easier.
We got checked in and were shown to our room. It was a huge double corner room with a sun porch and a balcony overlooking the lake. The other side was not occupied so we had the whole thing to ourselves. We were served dinner and I was checked out by the midwife so we could make a final plan for the night.
I was 2 cm dilated already, so the plan was to wait until 10 pm and give me the suppository to get my cervix going. Then in the morning I would start the pitocin drip depending on how things were progressing. Mark went home to sleep around 8 since it didn’t look like there would be any action until morning.
They inserted the suppository at 10 and I went on the fetal monitor for an hour to see how I was responding. Everything looked good so I was unhooked so I could sleep. But about an hour later I realized that there was no way I was going to sleep because the contractions were getting hot and heavy. I timed them for a while and realized they were already 3.5 minutes apart, so I called the midwife. She hooked me back up to the monitor, which verified the contractions were steady and strong. I called Mark around 2 to tell him he better get back to the clinic. The midwife called our doctor to give her an update and Dr. Beck decided she better get to the clinic as well.
Once she and Mark arrived I was moved to the delivery room. I decided to get an epidural for a couple of reasons. One – dang, the relief is indescribable. And two – last time my placenta wouldn’t come out on its own so the doctor had to essentially go in and get it. There was a good chance that this would happen again and an epidural would be needed anyway.
It didn’t take long to fully dilate. I don’t remember exactly what time I started pushing, but it only took about 2-3 pushes and a tiny, screaming, baby Cora entered the world and was placed on my chest at 6:05. The emotional flood for both of us at this time was huge. Cora was alive and wiggly and noisy. Not long after, our room was flooded with a beautiful sunrise from Thalia.
Recovery has also been easier because lo and behold, my placenta came out just as it was supposed to. I also didn’t require any stitches this time, which makes a BIG difference. We spent the next 4 days in our room relaxing, sleeping, and getting the hang of breastfeeding. We were both doing so well that we decided to come home one day early. I do miss the breakfast in bed but I was really missing my own bed and the comforts of home. I had also gotten a roommate so that made the room more noisy.
Cora’s pediatrician came the day she was born and the day we left and gave her a clean bill of health. My doctor said my delivery was a 10/10. We are so thankful and happy with the way things turned out for our little family this time. And we are grateful that our little angel was looking out for her little sister.
McCulloughs en Suisse 