Serena's Birth Story

OK-I know people are going to ask or curious to know about the how, when & what...So, instead of re-telling the tale, I'll post it on the blog...

First of all, we didn't expect Serena to be here so soon. Before we went to bed that night, we were still kicking around with the names, Serena & another one and didn't really decide it was going to be this one or another.

4:10am-I woke up with some mild cramps-thinking it was just Braxton-Hicks(false labor)& didn't think much-went to the bathroom, half asleep-wondering whether was that pee or was it my water leaking (it felt like just a trickle of water)... Thinking to myself, ok let's pretend it's pee because I'm tired & need some shut eye...then got up again within a minute thinking better be safe then sorry...and then I realized the cramps are perhaps are the real deal. Ok started packing for Devin's bag (my bag was done months ago) for his stay with Olivier (his little buddy) & his mom. Then I was making so much noise-I woke Andrew up. When I told him I might be in labor & my water probably broke-he got all nervous & started to jump into his clothes...I told him to relax & go take a shower-he looked at me like I was crazy. I told him I was feeling fine & it might still take a while...

5:10am-by the time we called my MD & Andrew went to get the car, I was doubling in pain. I was still thinking to my self, ok, still not too bad...woke Devin up, he was so excited-he said "baby sister coming-get the diapers!" (Because we told him the little bitsy diapers we bought were for his baby sister...) We dropped Devin off at Olivier's...but not without a bit of a funny story which we'll save for another time...

Around 6:00amish, we arrived at the hospital. Ooooh-the ride was not fun. Having intense contractions & riding on the bumpy road...hmmm...undescribeable-just try to avoid it at all cost, ladies!

At the hospital-as soon as we arrived on the labor & delivery floor, I requested for an epidural. The first answer I got was "we have to evaluate you first-then we'll go from there"...I requested a second time, "ok-we'll see", the third time-an honest answer finally(!)-"honey-you're so far along, you're too late for one! Your baby would come right out if you were to stand up." I was fully dilated. I think I wanted to cry. Or probably did.

Now the nurses & Andrew were great, they coached me through with breathing & tried to do what they could to get my mind off the pain...but really answering questions was not my favorite thing to do while in intense pain which at one point a nurse was doing. My MD was late, stuck in traffic. The resident, hmmm...if I could, I would've asked him to leave. One point I saw him kind of just sitting there, staring into space, and later on, he said to me, "Just do what you feel like doing, if you want to keep breathing, go ahead or if you want to start pushing, then do that." LOL...I'm laughing while writing this, but at that moment I was ready to show him what I was really feeling like doing...to him!

Anyway, my MD finally showed up, but he was in his dress clothes so he had to go change. Moments later, I started pushing, then everyone started to talk at once. About breathing, pushing, almost there, crowning, ring of fire...all a blur to me. All I did was screaming at the top of my lungs and I'm SO not a screamer...

7:00am, our baby girl arrived. The RN asked Andrew, what her name is going to be...Andrew looked over at me and half asking "Serena?" I chuckled or whatever I did to acknowledge in agreement. So, Serena Grace Lopez was born.

I just want to say that I loved my nurses while staying at the hospital. Especially the night time shifts-better experience than I had with Devin. And even Ina, the orderly from Labor & Delivery, she was wonderful! She basically cleaned me from head to toe & dressed me after giving birth. And so thankful that Olivier & his parents for having Devin stayed with them at the crack of dawn. And without the grace of God, I don't think I could've pulled off giving birth without the medication.