Introducing...

Emma Jane Bender

Born: July 6, 2011 at 9:30 PM

7 lbs 12 oz, 18 in

Adored by all in the Bender home!

Newborn Emma

Proud Mamma!

Loving Daddy!

Getting weighed... Big girl!

A thumb sucker... We're working on the binky...

The big brothers

"Really?!? Another picture of me with a swollen face? Oh, well, look how cute and tiny she is!"

Ready to go home!

Our little lady

Words cannot express the absolute JOY we feel at having little Emma in our home. She truly is a blessing and we feel this was the right time to bring her into the world.

I had my 38 week appointment on Tuesday July 5 not expecting any change. I was dilated to a 3 (previously I was a 2.5) so you can imagine my excitement thinking I could go any day now. The doctor asked if I wanted my membranes stripped. I asked if it hurt. He said some women think it's a 1 on a scale of 1-10, others think it's a 5 or 6. I decided to get it done and I absolutely regretted it. OUCH! I left my appointment feeling some slight twinges of contractions, but nothing major. Dr. Bean said it could cause some mild ones. I woke up later that night to a few more contractions, but after I got up and moved around, they went away. I went back to bed thinking a few more days until she would be born.

Wednesday, I had a RS Presidency meeting at my house. Steve wanted to stay home from work, but I told him I'd be fine and I'd let him know if I had any contractions come with any regularity. During my meeting, I monitored my contractions and they were sporadic, coming every 20, 14, 18, 10, 19, 16 minutes. After my meeting, I called Steve to report and he said he was coming home. I really didn't think it was going to happen. Once he got home, we continued to monitor my contractions and they still weren't regular and I could talk through them but we decided to go to the hospital to be checked anyway. My sweet neighbor, Kim, came over to stay with the boys until we either got home or until my mom came (if I was admitted). All the way to the hospital, I felt like it was stupid to go and they would send us home. Once we got there and into a triage room, the nurse checked me and said I was a 4. A FOUR?!? I gave her some history and told her about Jackson's birth and she went to talk to the doctor who would be delivering baby Emma. My contractions were coming closer together and getting more regular... according to the monitors. I guess it was a good thing we went in! When she came back, she said they could admit me and we could have a baby tonight if I was open to Pitocin, willing to have my water broken, and get an epidural. I said "yes". I would absolutely be willing to do those things.

Once we got admitted and into the delivery room, the doctor was there to break my water. I was worried that it would be painful, but it really wasn't! I got my epidural right after that and I'm glad I did. This labor was harder than Jackson's. It took a while to place the epidural, but sweet relief when it was done! After 2 hours of contracting, I was still only dilated to a 4. They started my pitocin at level 4 and put an internal contraction monitor in and waited a half hour. I still hadn't changed and so they upped my pitocin again, to 8, and that was enough to really get some contractions going. Steve went to go and get some dinner. He got back just in time because when he did get back, I felt like things were moving along fast. Finally, 2 hours after the pitocin was started, when my epidural was wearing off a little, I could feel some contractions and the urge to push. My mom had just called to find out how things were going and for me to talk to Brady because he didn't want to go to bed without me. I told her we tried to text her to let her know I was almost ready to push and if the boys were awake, to bring them up. I had Steve call for the nurse because they were getting bad enough that I couldn't talk through them. She checked me and sure enough, I was a 10 and a +2 station. Baby Emma was ready to be born! They paged the doctor and got the equipment ready and after just a few minutes of pushing, she was here! Sweet, perfect, baby Emma.