Normally I would not be one to share my birth story, but I've been encouraged to share it. If you've ever been pregnant you know just how quickly one wants to share their horror story with you. I personally never let anyone because I didn't care to hear it. Between my sister & my close friends I had a good understanding of what birth looked like, both the good & the bad. So I share my story with you because I want you to know that good stories do happen...
The night of December 7th I didn't get very much sleep after a night of contractions. They would be getting closer together and then just dissipate. I called my doctor on the 8th & went in to be checked. I was at a 2 so she advised me if I started contracting again to be sure to head to the hospital this time. That night I had excellent sleep, but woke up around 6:30 because I had "wet" myself. I called my mom & told her I thought my water had broken but not to come to the hospital just yet in case it was a false alarm (i.e. pee'd my pants).
We got to the hospital around 6:45 or so & got all checked in. The nursed check me and my water had not broken, but I was indeed in labor. I was dilated to a 3 so she was keeping me there. We called our parents to let them know it was a go. They asked if I was in pain & if I wanted an epidural. I had no pain but knew I wanted the epidural and didn't want to miss out on it because I waited too long.
The anesthesiologist was in with another woman, but would come see me as soon as he had a chance. Pretty sure it was a couple hours and I was dilated to a 5 by the time he came to visit me, but I wasn't experiencing any pain so I didn't mind. I wouldn't have known I was having contractions if it wasn't for the machine telling me so & according to my mother-n-law some of them were fairly severe so I was lucky. Getting the epidural hurt a little, but was totally worth it. It wasn't long before I couldn't feel from my tummy down. I was happy!
We spent much of the day just watching TV & talking. Sometime around lunch my contractions started getting more intense so my mother decided to tell my dad to get to the hospital around 1:30 because that's probably when I'd have a baby. My guess was closer to 3:30, but what did I know? So around 1:30 my contractions slowed down so much so that the nurse decided to put me on pitocin. She had to keep increasing the amount I was getting because I wasn't progressing at all. I was starting to have to push my epidural button to get more drugs because I was actually starting to feel some of my contractions just a little bit. At one point my nurse asked about my pain & when I told her I was feeling them but it wasn't too bad she told me that there was no reason for me to feel anything since I had chosen to get an epidural. So my sweet friend, the anesthesiologist came back to up my dose! Shortly there after the nurse came in to tell me it was go time, she was going to go call my doctor so we could start pushing. However, my doctor was busy so wanted to hold off 30 minutes. Fine by me I couldn't feel a thing ;)
About 10 minutes later the nurse came in to prepare me because my doctor was ready. They told me to pull up my legs and I just laughed because I couldn't do a thing with them. They just lay there motionless even though I was desperately trying to move them. The nurse took one leg & Cody the other. It was time to push. Four contractions & 16 minutes into pushing and we had a beautiful baby girl! My doctor really thought she might come out during the 2nd contraction, but it took just a little longer. Needless to say I was lucky!!
Emily came into this world at 4: 18 pm weighting 8 lbs 2 oz. & measuring 21 inches long. She was absolutely flawless & I was madly in love. As I lay there holding her I thought the sweet little grunts she was making was adorable until the nurse told me it wasn't a good thing. It was only a matter of minutes before they decided to take Emily to the NICU. She never let out a big wail to let loose the fluids so when she started grunting they were concerned especially since I was Group B positive. Hours passed by before I even received an update on my child & one with which I didn't want to hear. She was fine, but they wanted to monitor her for 48 hours. They wanted to definitely keep her in the NICU over night, but maybe even longer. I sobbed. All I wanted to do was hold my sweet baby again. I prayed & called on my closest friends to pray. I wanted her in my arms again. I wanted everything to be okay.
Around 10:30 that night I held my baby again. I went down to the NICU to see her. The nurse told us we could stay as long as we wanted. So as I sat there doing skin-to-skin I prayed over her. I prayed that we would get to have her back with us soon. As it got later in the night I knew I needed to get rest as I wouldn't be getting much of that so we left her even though I could have sat there all night with her on my chest.
Before we left the NICU they told me they would bring her down for feeds in the middle of the night & that I could visit whenever I wanted. I felt better as we headed back to our room. I slept pretty good that night & was so happy to see her that morning even though my sleep was interrupted. When 7am came they released her from the NICU to the regular nursery which meant my baby could be with me. God had answered our prayers! Our parents (aside from my mom) got to see her for the first time on Saturday morning. We were released Sunday morning which was a blessing because they originally weren't sure if they would be willing to release Emily until late Sunday afternoon.
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The night of December 7th I didn't get very much sleep after a night of contractions. They would be getting closer together and then just dissipate. I called my doctor on the 8th & went in to be checked. I was at a 2 so she advised me if I started contracting again to be sure to head to the hospital this time. That night I had excellent sleep, but woke up around 6:30 because I had "wet" myself. I called my mom & told her I thought my water had broken but not to come to the hospital just yet in case it was a false alarm (i.e. pee'd my pants).
We got to the hospital around 6:45 or so & got all checked in. The nursed check me and my water had not broken, but I was indeed in labor. I was dilated to a 3 so she was keeping me there. We called our parents to let them know it was a go. They asked if I was in pain & if I wanted an epidural. I had no pain but knew I wanted the epidural and didn't want to miss out on it because I waited too long.
The anesthesiologist was in with another woman, but would come see me as soon as he had a chance. Pretty sure it was a couple hours and I was dilated to a 5 by the time he came to visit me, but I wasn't experiencing any pain so I didn't mind. I wouldn't have known I was having contractions if it wasn't for the machine telling me so & according to my mother-n-law some of them were fairly severe so I was lucky. Getting the epidural hurt a little, but was totally worth it. It wasn't long before I couldn't feel from my tummy down. I was happy!
We spent much of the day just watching TV & talking. Sometime around lunch my contractions started getting more intense so my mother decided to tell my dad to get to the hospital around 1:30 because that's probably when I'd have a baby. My guess was closer to 3:30, but what did I know? So around 1:30 my contractions slowed down so much so that the nurse decided to put me on pitocin. She had to keep increasing the amount I was getting because I wasn't progressing at all. I was starting to have to push my epidural button to get more drugs because I was actually starting to feel some of my contractions just a little bit. At one point my nurse asked about my pain & when I told her I was feeling them but it wasn't too bad she told me that there was no reason for me to feel anything since I had chosen to get an epidural. So my sweet friend, the anesthesiologist came back to up my dose! Shortly there after the nurse came in to tell me it was go time, she was going to go call my doctor so we could start pushing. However, my doctor was busy so wanted to hold off 30 minutes. Fine by me I couldn't feel a thing ;)About 10 minutes later the nurse came in to prepare me because my doctor was ready. They told me to pull up my legs and I just laughed because I couldn't do a thing with them. They just lay there motionless even though I was desperately trying to move them. The nurse took one leg & Cody the other. It was time to push. Four contractions & 16 minutes into pushing and we had a beautiful baby girl! My doctor really thought she might come out during the 2nd contraction, but it took just a little longer. Needless to say I was lucky!!
Emily came into this world at 4: 18 pm weighting 8 lbs 2 oz. & measuring 21 inches long. She was absolutely flawless & I was madly in love. As I lay there holding her I thought the sweet little grunts she was making was adorable until the nurse told me it wasn't a good thing. It was only a matter of minutes before they decided to take Emily to the NICU. She never let out a big wail to let loose the fluids so when she started grunting they were concerned especially since I was Group B positive. Hours passed by before I even received an update on my child & one with which I didn't want to hear. She was fine, but they wanted to monitor her for 48 hours. They wanted to definitely keep her in the NICU over night, but maybe even longer. I sobbed. All I wanted to do was hold my sweet baby again. I prayed & called on my closest friends to pray. I wanted her in my arms again. I wanted everything to be okay.Around 10:30 that night I held my baby again. I went down to the NICU to see her. The nurse told us we could stay as long as we wanted. So as I sat there doing skin-to-skin I prayed over her. I prayed that we would get to have her back with us soon. As it got later in the night I knew I needed to get rest as I wouldn't be getting much of that so we left her even though I could have sat there all night with her on my chest.
Before we left the NICU they told me they would bring her down for feeds in the middle of the night & that I could visit whenever I wanted. I felt better as we headed back to our room. I slept pretty good that night & was so happy to see her that morning even though my sleep was interrupted. When 7am came they released her from the NICU to the regular nursery which meant my baby could be with me. God had answered our prayers! Our parents (aside from my mom) got to see her for the first time on Saturday morning. We were released Sunday morning which was a blessing because they originally weren't sure if they would be willing to release Emily until late Sunday afternoon. 
You're right! That is a great birth story! SO glad everything with Emily turned out ok!
ReplyDeleteSo so sweet. I'm so happy to read that you had such an easy delivery & labor. That's awesome. Mine were similar. We're so lucky. Isn't being a momma the best thing, EVER? Emily is precious!!!
ReplyDeleteHaving your baby in the NICU makes for a lonely hospital stay. Thank goodness she was healthy & able to be w/you sooner than you'd expected!
What a beautiful story! Praise God that all went smoothly, and she and you are fine! Thanks for sharing!!
ReplyDeletexoxo, Amy
Glad it all worked out! Congrats yet again! :)
ReplyDeleteShe is beautiful. I am so glad she is ok. I know, I heard so many horror stories I was surprised at how easy and smooth and pain free labor actually is (with an epidural of course).
ReplyDeletewhat a beautiful story!! isn't the epidural amazing?!?! oh yes!! so sorry your baby had to go to NICU in the beginning but glad it all turned out OK!
ReplyDeleteCongrats!!! That was a beautiful birth story. I found your blog through Stardust Decor & Style. We have a 7 month old daughter and are so smitten by her. Hope you can stop by our blog at www.lucasandmahina.com.
ReplyDelete