Talitha June Pendleton, welcome to the world!! I am so in love with you, it’s unreal.
Even though we were scheduled to induce Talitha on the evening of the 6th, she got a jump start and my contractions started that morning at 2:15. I woke up with the worst cramps I’ve ever felt and knew it was time! Josh started packing up our last minute items and I jumped in the shower to help ease the pain. By 5:00 we were at the hospital, and Josh began the routine counter-pressure massage on my back every time a contraction came. He was my life saver! He was laughing at me because I never really cried out in pain, I would just whisper “ouuuch.”
I got the epidural at about hour 8, and it was magical. I was able to take a nap until I was fully dilated and ready to start the heavy pushing. At about 3pm, we were ready to start, but the doctor noticed that Talitha’s head was turned to my left side, and he wasn’t able to move her with his hand. He suggested that I just keep pushing till she moved a little farther down and then he would see if she straightened out. So… 3 hours of intense pushing later, she was no further along and still looking to the side. Plan B was to use the forceps, which of course freaked me out, but was better than Plan C (you know the one). He warned us that she may have marks on her head, but that they’d go away soon, and that they may not work, but he’d try his best.
It looked like Edward Scissor hands was delivering my baby! They were like 3 foot long metal salad tongs. I had to shut my eyes, but on the next contraction we did 5 big pushes, and out she came! I was crying tears of joy and relief and about 95 other emotions. She was so beautiful.
I really expected her to look like a weird alien baby with a dented, cone head and all wrinkly, but seriously, she was gorgeous!! Not a single mark from the forceps, and a full head of hair! Holding her close to me is unlike anything I’ve ever felt. I’m still searching for the words to describe my love for her that don’t sound trite but all I can say is that I literally want to eat her with a spoon and could cuddle with her for 23.5 hours a day.
It’s been about a week since she was born and we are definitely learning a lot! We had lots of family visit last week, and they shared so many genius tips on reading baby signals, breastfeeding, bathing, etc. The first two nights at home, I breastfed her for 6 hours straight. It was pretty torturous, but it seemed like the only thing that would make her happy. We’re on a much better routine now, and I’m actually getting sleep! I have since been pee’d, poo’d and barfed on, but in the sweetest way. :)
So that’s our story of beautiful Talitha June. Good one, God!
