Madison Grace Berg

This was typed up starting November 13, 2014

It's been a crazy and very special week!  A week ago today, my mom flew in to Houston to be here to take care of Brooklynn while Joe and I were in the hospital having our second baby girl!  Brooklynn was so excited to see her and followed her around everywhere that day.  Instead of saying "hold you" to me, she was saying it to "Nama." We spent the day practicing how to get to the hospital, and shopping at Sam Moon and Costco.  The GPS wouldn't give audio directions, so mom wanted to run through how to get there a couple of times.  So glad we did that, because she was a pro and didn't get lost once.   I knew Brooklynn was in the best hands, and I was able to relax and enjoy my time in the hospital.

 Joe and I checked in to Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital at 9pm on Wednesday, November 5th.  The waiting room was PACKED when we got there, and we ended up not getting a room until about 1:30am.  We were both SO tired, to say the least.  By the time I got changed, answered questions, got an IV hooked up, and got ready for bed, it was about 2:30.  I was dilated about 3 cm and told I could sleep until 5:30 and then they would start me on Patocin.  I never felt much pain as far as contractions go.  With the shift change, a new nurse came in to check on me around 7:15 and asked how I was doing.  She said the drs would be by around 8 to break my water.  A text that I had gotten from my sister-in-law when she gave birth to my niece a couple of years ago, vividly flashed through my mind.  "ALWAYS GET THE EPIDURAL BEFORE THEY BREAK YOUR WATER!  THIS HURTS SO BAD!!"  I told the nurse I really wasn't in much pain at all, and asked if it was okay to go ahead and get the epidural anyways before they broke my water.  She said that was a good idea, because once my water was broken, that cushion would no longer be there and the baby's head would put a lot of pressure on me.  You don't have to tell me twice!  Epidural was in and water broken around 8:15.  I was checked around 10am and told I was at a 6.  Joe and I had a bet going from earlier that day and I had said I would have her around 11:30 and he said 1:30.  I hadn't been checked again at 11:30, but James was working nearby and Joe asked if he could go meet him for lunch.  I told him that was fine, just keep his phone on him and don't go far.  They decided to eat at the cafeteria there in the hospital.  Around 12:15 the nurse came in to check on me and I told her that I was feeling a lot more pressure down there, so she said she wanted to check me.  She said I was a 9!  The baby's head needed to drop just a bit and my cervix needed to thin just a bit more.  She said "Where's your husband?"  I told her he had met his brother for lunch at the cafeteria.  She told me I should probably call and get him back to my room asap.  When I called I told him "I'm at a 9, the nurse said get back here."  His response was "Okay, do I need to like leave my food and come right now, or in like 5 min.?"  The nurse was right there so I asked her and she said he could have 5 minutes.  James and Joe came in the room soon after and I had my oxygen mask on.  They visited for a little bit and James helped turn off the alarm for the blood pressure machine that kept going off because my arm was bent and it wasn't registering.  Then he took a look at the monitor to see what my contractions were doing.  He said they weren't super regular so his guess was that it would be a couple more hours till I delivered. It had taken me a long time to go from a 9 to a 10 with Brooklynn, so it wasn't hard to believe.  The nurses came in again a few minutes later and started checking me again, and James said he was going to head back to work.
  It wasn't but a couple minutes after he left, the nurse said "Okay, this is it!  She's right there!"  A couple other nurses had come in too and were getting things ready.  The next thing I know, they are asking me if I want to feel my baby's head!! I reached down and they helped me feel her head!  So crazy!  Next thing I knew, Dr Cook was there in the room and he and the nurses were saying "She's right there.  Don't laugh, don't push."  Everything was happening so quickly!  I told Joe to grab the camera and hurry over next to me.  Dr Cook and the nurses said "Okay, here we go!"    I think they had me push one time.  My legs were so numb.  After I pushed they said "Okay stop!"  The cord was wrapped around her neck, so they took it off, and then Dr Cook said "Ok, Bre, reach down and pull your baby out!"  WHAT?!?!?  Did I dare do it?  I wasn't expecting him to say that!  It all happened so quickly and seemed so surreal.  I reached down and they helped me get a hold of her, and the next thing I knew I was pulling her out and then there she was, laying on my chest crying.  So so crazy!!  I was overwhelmed with emotion and the tears started to flow.  I can't really explain the emotions that overcomes me when I finally get to hold the sweet child that I have carried for 9 months.  All of the discomfort, the sickness, exhaustion, and pain are all worth it in that moment.  She was so little and her sweet little cry was music to my ears!  An incredible feeling of love overwhelmed me and brought me to tears.  Madison Grace Berg was born on November 6, 2014 at 12:58pm.  She weighed 6 pounds 12 ounces and was 20 inches long.  Dr Cook gave Joe the tool and told him to cut the umbilical cord.  He hadn't done that with Brooklynn, because he was kind of terrified and grossed out by the idea.  I think this time though, in front of Doctor Cook, he didn't want to seem like a wuss, so he went for it!  Everything always happens so quickly.  Just like that, it was all over!
     I got to hold Madison for a while, and got her to eat, and then got to cuddle her for a long while before they took her to do her measurements, foot prints, etc.  I always love and cherish that time when I just get to hold my babies.  We are so blessed to welcome another sweet little daughter into our family.  We love her so much already.