Ava's birth

So here's Ava Rachel's birth story-if anything so I don't forget anything!

Monday, November 12th I had an appointment with my doctor and to have a non stress test, since I was 2 days past my due date. When my doctor checked me she said I was dilated 4 centimeters, and 60% effaced. I was really excited to hear that! The stress test went well and I was having some contractions on and off during it...which kept going during the day, until they were 5 minutes apart and lasting 1 minute. So I called the hospital and they told me to come in! Rory came home from work, and my mom came to be with the girls, and off we went! We got there about 4 pm and they started monitoring me. For the next 4 hours I walked and walked and had contractions and they started getting stronger and a bit more painful. The nurse suggested I take a shower to help with the pain, which helped....a little too much! The contractions totally petered off. So I rested (couldn't sleep though) for a few hours and then the midwife checked me. Still at a 4! What!? grrr.....She suggested we start pitocin or go home and wait. After some tears of frustration we decided to start pitocin since we were already there with baby sitters set up. (and I was tired of being pregnant!) They started me on pitocin around 2 in the morning, just a light drip, and continued that til the morning. The contractions continued but also not very steadily or strong. (still at a 4 at 9 in the morning)They decided to amp up my pitocin in the morning and go for it. I requested an epidural, since I'd been through hard core pitocin before and didn't think I could handle it after being up already for 48 hours. I was so wiped out. I hadn't ever had an epidural with my other girls, mainly because I was nervous about the needle in my back, but I felt strongly that I needed to have one, and felt really calm about the whole thing. It went fantastic-no problems and worked like a charm. (got that about 9 am) After that the midwife turned up my pitocin and suggested we break my water. (10 am) That did the trick! Two hours later, with little pain...LOVE epidurals!.....I started feeling pressure and told the nurse it was time to push. She was a little laid back about it, like Sure go ahead and try! I was like NO GET THE MIDWIFE she's coming! She believed me and the midwife had barely enough time to run in and get her gear on before Ava was born! Only pushed for 5 minutes-so easy! She was born at 12:10 pm November 13th, 8lbs 7 oz, 20 1/2" long.

Family of five now!

The girls just adore her!! 

We're all doing really well so far!