Introducing...

Cora Elizabeth Bender
March 1, 2012, 5:28 pm
7 pounds, 3 ounces
20 1/2 inches long

Our little girl is here! We have quite the birth story, but seeing her precious little face was worth every minute of it.

I had been having mild and very irregular contractions for 2 days straight, and I was getting frustrated that nothing seemed to be progressing. At 2 pm today they became very strong and very regular, so we got Evie packed up to go to my sister's house, thinking that we would hang out there until the time was right. Well, we did not need to wait. I called the doctor and they wanted me to go straight to the hospital. While checking in, the contractions became unbearable, but our doctor still wasn't at the hospital yet, so I had to go to triage to get checked. At 4:45 pm I was 6 cm dilated and begged for an epidural. With all else that had to be done before getting into a labor and delivery room, it was 20 minutes before they checked on me again. At this point I felt an intense urge to push and asked them to please get me an epidural before I have to do that. Well, in those 20 minutes I became almost 10 cm dilated, and they yelled for the doctor and wheeled me into labor and delivery. They told me to wait to push until the doctor got there, but oh my, it took everything I had to hold back

This is me in between contractions as the idea of delivering a baby without an epidural was starting to kick in. I was not happy.

I was still begging for an epidural as they were wheeling me down the hallway, and I'm sure all the nurses were inwardly chuckling about the ridiculousness of that request. The doctor rushed in, they got everything set and after 8 minutes of pushing, little Cora came into the world, screaming with just as much force as her big sister did 2 years ago. (Somehow, our children have a great set of lungs- I wonder whose side that's from!)

I cannot tell you the relief I felt afterwards. This was my worst fear come true- I even had my Bible study praying last week that I would make it to the hospital in time for an epidural. I have so many friends that have done births naturally, and many times I wished that I could be brave to want that, but I'm really a wimp when it comes to pain. This whole experience wiped me out, yet I was so immensely proud of myself for doing it, even though it wasn't by choice! But hopefully this won't happen to us again!

I was so happy to have her in my arms.

After a nice, warm bath

Chris, again, was an amazing partner to have by my side during this slightly frightening experience. We're so glad it's over and so thankful to have a great set of nurses taking good care of us!

We are a happy family of 2 girls! I still can't believe it. I, and it seems many other people, was so sure I was having a boy because of the differences in the two pregnancies. But I am so glad that God gave us this amazing surprise.

And now, it's time for us to sleep- in 3 hour intervals for the next 3 months! :)