IT'S A GIRL!

Introducing Carmella Isabel Roehl! Weighing in at 6lbs 4ozs and 19 inches long! Mommy and Daddy are in LOVE with our beautiful baby girl!



Labor Story

So Dan kept joking that he thought it would be great if I went into labor on the boat. Well, I'm pretty sure the boat ride for the fireworks on the 4th of July is what caused my water to break. When we got back, I was pretty sure that's what happened but wasn't positive. We drove home and went to bed. At 5:45 AM on the 5th, I was now positive that my water had broken so we finished packing the bag, called the Dr. and headed to the hospital. Dan was a little disappointed that the car ride wasn't more exciting. He was hoping to be able to run several red lights but since I wasn't actually having any labor pains yet, I wouldn't let him:)

We arrived at the hospital at 6:30am. My Dr. wasn't on call so we had another Dr. from the practice. She verified that my water had broke and sent us to our room for me to be hooked up to Pitocin to get my labor started. The contractions started and they weren't too bad at first. I was able to breathe through them and felt I was doing a pretty good job. However, Pitocin brings on the contractions pretty hard and fast, but I wasn't dilating. The pains started to get pretty bad after about 4 hours and I was getting pretty uncomfortable. So the Dr. gave me something for the pain to take the edge off. That lasted about an hour and then the pains got bad again. I was still handling them fairly well...but really wanted an epidural. They don't usually give an epidural until your 4 cm dilated and at this point, I was still only 1.5 cm. The Dr. decided it would be ok and they hooked me up with the epidural (Ahhhhh!!!!). I would recommend an epidural any day of the week:)

The epidural took me through most of the night, I was able to get some sleep and Dan was as well. Then the contractions moved to my back and got really bad. That's when I really lost it. I had handled it very well up to this point but I couldn't take it. They gave me a redose of the Epidural (a strong dose, I had been on a consistent pumping dose at this point) to take away the horrific pain. I had dilated to about 7 cm at this point, it was about 7am. My Dr. was now on call so she was there to deliver Carmella. At about 8:30 she decided that it was time for me to push. Even though Dan was planning on staying up at my head, they didn't give him much choice, he was an active participant and saw everything and more. He handled it like a champ! After pushing for 42 minutes, the Dr. announced, it's a girl! Dan and I were quite suprised because we both thought we were having a boy. It was an amazing suprise and we couldn't be happier! Our little Carmella was here!

Well, I wish that was the end of the delivery story...but it wasn't. Apparently, my placenta wouldn't detach. After about 20 minutes of trying, they handed Carmella to Daddy, had me sign a waiver that said they have to take me to the OR to do a manual removal which could lead to a DNC, blood transfusion, hysterectomy, etc. Needless to say, I was scared and Dan was left in the room holding his infant daughter as they wheeled his wife away. As they were wheeling me to the OR, all I heard was she's losing a lot of blood, we need to hurry. Luckily, as soon as they got me in the OR, they gave me the good stuff that makes you not care about anything in the world and gives you short term memory loss. Poor Dan was left in the room for 1 1/2 hours and didn't hear anything until they wheeled me back in.

Turns out it went as best as they could have expected and they were able to remove the placenta, they did do a DNC but were hoping not to have to do a blood transfusion, they were still monitoring me. My blood pressure had dropped to 75/25. SCARY! They were able to bring my blood pressure back up and had me transferred to the post natal floor. Total labor and delivery time - 34 hours:(

We ended up being in the hospital a total of 5 days and it turns out I ended up with a separated symphysis (2cm). When I tried to get out of bed at the hospital, I couldn't walk w/o major pain. They took xrays and figured out why. How a little peanut like Carmella could cause this is crazy to me. I apparantly am not made to give birth to big babies. So, I'm on a walker and unable to carry Mel or change her diaper. Although, I do get to do most of the feedings and lots of cuddle time! Luckily, A. Jenny is here to help us and Gramma Jean gets here on July 13th to help for 2 weeks. Grandma Sue is also ready for some major Carmella time. We don't have a lack of people that love this little one!

Welcome to the world baby Carmella! It was a crazy delivery but you are so well worth it!