THE KUPPERSMITH FAMILY: She's Here...Welcome Marlo Dawn Kuppersmith!!

While this is a little late in posting, it is never too late right?

As with Liam, I was told when I was 39 weeks along, I would be induced if I did not go into labor on my own. Well with Liam, my water broke right at 39 weeks. I prayed for the same thing to happen with our little girl, but no luck. Induction was set for Wednesday, October 5, 2011. I was told to go in Tuesday night to start the process and then on Wednesday morning, I would get pitocin. I again said many prayers that I would go into labor on my own. I just didn't want to be induced. Well Tuesday came and nothing. I went to the doctor that morning and he said I was not dilated at all. I spent the day a ball of nerves waiting for family to come and trying to make my last hours with Liam as my only child as fun and enjoyable as possible. Both sets of parents came early that afternoon and we all went to dinner that night. I got the call to come into the hospital at 9:00pm. We said our goodbyes after dinner and headed to the hospital. It is such a weird feeling to know your entire life is about to change. We got to hospital a little early and eventually got into our room at 9:30. As soon as the nurse left, I told Blake that I thought I was having contractions, but it could be just wishful thinking. By 10:00 I was sure I was having contractions and I thought my water was beginning to break. I talked to the nurse, who confirmed I was having contractions but said she didn't think my water broke. I stand firm even now that she was wrong. At that point, she checked me and I was 2cm dilated. With my irregular contractions, she could not start the cervidil. She started an IV of fluids, I am guessing to make sure I wasn't in false labor and said she would be back.

Well, the contractions kept coming and were SUPER painful. With Liam, my water broke and I got my epideral immediatly after checking in at only 1 or 2cm dilated. This was all new to me. We were in a waiting period because they were trying to make sure I was in labor and didn't need induced, yet I was convinced I was really in labor. The nurse gave me some drugs to calm me. We later found out they were supposed to relax me and help me sleep, which I did not need at all. I don't think she thought I was really in labor. I kept asking what sign we were waiting for to know I was really in labor and that I could get me epidural. She said that I wouldn't be able to talk I would be in so much pain. Well, that came quickly. At one point, she said she would come back and check me in 2 hours. I just cried when she left the room. I knew I could not take the contractions for two more hours. At this point I prayed my water would just break as a gush, not a trickle to show I was in labor and could get the epidural. FINALLY, it did. At this point, the doctor came in and I was 5cm dilated. She said that she needed to do a C-section on another patient and that my epidural was on its way. One of two things could happen. Either my labor would continue to progress quickly or the epidural would slow things down. All I knew was that the contractions were constant, with no relief in between. I haven't read all books on labor but I was pretty sure this mean delivery was soon.

The epidural finally came and took a while to fully kick in. I didn't care though because I finally got some relief. The hardest part was staying still while having contractions to get it. In less than a half hour, I was at 10 cm and the nurse was telling me not to push. We were waiting on the doctor to make it back from her C-section. A midwife came in because the nurse knew the baby was pretty much coming any time. Then my doctor came in right after her. She got things set up and I pushed a couple of times and Marlo was born at 1:10am. To say we were in shock is an understatement. Our moms never made it to the hospital as planned because we expected it to take quite a bit longer. Luckily Laura made it just in time to take pictures and be supportive. Poor Marlo was pretty bruised and swollen from her speedy entry but healthy. The doctor took a couple extra precautions to make sure I did not hemorrhage this time, like with Liam and we waited for the nurses to get everything done with Marlo. Marlo Dawn Kuppersmith was 8 pounds, 7 ounces and 20.5 inches long. We could not believe she was that big. She had lots of hair, as we expected, and as of now, resembles Blake and Liam but definitely looks different than Liam did as a newborn.

The next day Liam and our parents came to visit. We had been anticipating Liam meeting Marlo. He came in with flowers for me and Marlo. He climbed on the bed to see her and then seconds later asked for his snack and was off playing with his cars. People continue to ask how he is doing and truly, he felt as though it was a party for him with 4 grandparents at home and lots of presents from family and friends. He was very spoiled. Rick and Jean left Saturday and Luke and Tori came on Friday. Mom and Dad stayed through the following week and then Jean came back for a week. This meant we had help for almost 3 weeks and it was AMAZING. Blake and I could not be more thankful for two sets of wonderful, loving, and helpful parents.

Recovery this time was so much better. I felt like myself only a few days after deliver, minus the sleep. I don' t think that you ever truly get used to sleeping in 1 or 2 hour increments. Marlo came home waking up to eat every 3 hours around the clock. She is quite a noisy baby with almost a growling sound she makes. This meant that after only a week in our room in a bassinet/pack and play, she transitioned to a crib in her own room. Unlike Liam, she prefers to be rocked to sleep, not just put down after eating at night. We will slowly transition her to going to sleep on her own but for right now, we do what she needs and of course, she is too young and cute not to:) Marlo regained her birth weight and then some. By the time we went to her check up on the following Monday, she was 8 lbs 12 ounces. She is a healthy baby and a great eater. She is also super strong. She can lift her head up and almost get up on her forearms already. The photographer that took her newborn pictures joked that she seems like she may even start crawling soon:) We could not be happier to welcome Marlo to our family and be a family of 4.