Our Maggical Days : 2017

Sara Jaymes Maggi was born on September 6, 2017 at 3:03 a.m.

She weighed 7 pounds 1.8 ounces

20 1/2 inches long

This is the story of how she entered this world

The weekend before was a very rough weekend for me. I had developed a TERRIBLE AWFUL unheard of case of hemorrhoids, and I couldn't sit, stand, sleep, lay, breath, cough, sneeze, drive a car without the most excruciating awful pain I have ever been in. I was miserable. My poor mother spent about $60 on me to help with the relief. I knew this was going to persist despite the best drugs until this baby came out.

Monday was Labor Day, and Tuesday afternoon I had my 40 week appointment. I was HOPEFUL for some good news regarding my cervical progress. I wasn't the type to really put too much stock into that, but with my current condition, I was in agony and anxious.

Dr. Keeley checked me, and said that I was "firm, closed, and high" Needless to say that I left the office crying, sad, and overwhelmed. It wasn't that I was just nearly 40 weeks, it was that I was very uncomfortable with the other conditions to keep it polite here.

I went home and took about a 40 minute nap while Dennis finished up his day at work. I decided since it was Tuesday and I wasn't in the mood to cook, that we should go to Pizza Hut for the $4.99 buffet. So I met him there. We talked with a sweet

waitress, ate our salad & pizza, and I headed home. On the way home I started having what I would have considered some very light cramping, nothing alarming just enough to chalk it up to having been checked that day. We get home, we are watching some tv, and I start noticing some fairly consistent, yet not too painful contractions. I start to text my mom and let her know something may be up but not to get too excited.

We watched some tv upstairs after Daniel went to bed. Dennis laid in bed, and I bounced through them on my blue exercise ball. The time was getting later, and they stayed consistent and steady.

Around 10:30/11:00 I started to think that these may not actually go away as they did the Friday before, and that this may be the night. And when I look over, this is what I see:

This was just before I hit him, to jar him awake. I fussed at him because I was in labor and he is sleeping and he is supposed to be my coach and support. He wasn't thinking tonight was the night either, and just then..... MY WATER BROKE.

I exclaimed "I think my water just broke!!"

I stood, checked, and sure enough, it seemed to be so!

He jumped out of bed and started the mad dash through the house to collect our things while I called Labor & Delivery and my mom.

They recommended I come on in, and I was in agreement because my contractions went from like a 3 to a 5/6 in pain level almost instantaneously.

Dennis gets Daniel up, bring him into our room, and as I was contracting and then packing, and then stopping to contract, I took this picture of Daniel. His last photo as an only child.

The car was ready for me once I made it downstairs, and we left for Richie and Judy's to drop Daniel off about 20 minutes away. The car ride was the WORST part, almost. Man! I would not recommend being in active labor in a car. Yikes!

We arrived at the hospital around 12:30 am and had to enter through emergency room. Some crazy over reactive man wheeled me up to the 2nd floor saying "just breathe lady" "don't have this baby in this chair" almost as if he was the extra in a movie or something. It was really awkward, and I was glad when that part was over.

I got settled enough for the nurses to be sure my water broke, and it did, and to see how far along I was centimeter wise, and I was at a 2. That wasn't shocking since my contractions weren't that big of a deal. Then they had to put the port in my hand for later. That took almost 2 hours! I wished I could adequately EXPRESS how irritated I was. I know that had a job to do but all I wanted was OUT OF THAT BED! And I couldn't get up, sway, etc because they were all taking turns pricking my arm over and over over, until they had to settle on my hand.

I FINALLY got out of the bed, and was able to get in the tub that had been running for me. It was like heaven. My mom was so sweet to take pictures during this process, and I am so glad that she did. Some of them are blurry, but that's ok, I am glad to have the memories.

This photo is of Dennis having a little snack talking to me as labored in the tub.

I was in the water for about 40 minutes managing the pain super well. I could tell they were intense, because as soon as I would try to get out of the water, I couldn't do it, my body would go back down into the water. The relief was unmatched. Dennis was faithful to push on my back as I worked through each contraction. Not long into them I discovered I had that familiar urge to "poo" in my far lower back, and on the second round of that I decided I'd like to be checked. My mom asked the contraction before if I wanted to be and I said no because if I hadn't progressed I didn't want to be discouraged. But once the next one came, I thought it might be a good idea. The nurses came in, and I said: "Either I am a wimp, or she is on her way."

I got out.

They checked me.

I was a 7-8cm!!!!!!!

I CRIED.

Dennis looked at me and he said "you did it!!!"

We both wanted a natural child birth, and we both had read books, and talked about this in pretty good length in the weeks/months leading up to this day.

With Daniel we wanted this too, but we weren't equipped for it, and his labor was so long!!

Then, I got out of bed to continue laboring those last 2-3cm away. By this point the Dr. had come in, introduced himself to me, all the while, I am groaning deeply with contractions. These things are INTENSE, and REAL by this point.

The Dr. suggested that he check me again.

I said "they just did and I am about 7-8cm" and he said "I think you're probably a little further along"

He checked and I was at a 10!

(In less than 5 minutes)

He said he would be right back, they all leave, and as they're walking out, I am gripping the side bar and I am exclaiming "I am pushing!!"

They come running in.

I would say in 3-4 pushes, I had her OUT.

After she was out, and I got all cleaned up, Dennis got some sleep, and Sara and I stared at each other in my bed for a couple of hours from 4-6am or so. I didn't sleep for at least a day or more, but overtime I would go to get some sleep, it was time for something, a visitor, medicine, food, etc.

I never realize what a fog it is to deliver a baby. Everything happens so fast.

Daniel meeting his baby sister was so sweet! He came in and nearly avoided her because he was so nervous, but once het met her he was smitten and has since stayed that way.