To start the story of her birth, I must start with the day before she was born which was August 6th. Hubby and I went for my 38 week check up. As we were on the way, we discussed the hopes that progress had been made in the last week, because I had been doing a substantial amount of walking and "other activities" wink wink. We talked about how excited we were to have our little girl here with us. We got to the doctors office and did the business as usual. Then the midwife came in she told me she was going to "check me". While she was checking out my lady bits (which by the way I was 4cm already. WOWSA!), she decided to do some other things. These "things" she did said that they would make me go into labor within 1-3 days. The excitement that I had at that moment was like no other. I was so ready to have my baby here with me and not be pregnant anymore.
We left the doctor's office and immediately called our family to update them on my progress. My parents were in Florida, so I told them to start making plans to come to VA. My parents said they would start packing (ppsshh, my mom was already packed for weeks by that time), and get a rental car to head our way soon. We then went about our business, doing some yard work for my MIL. It was more like my hubby did yard work and I sat on the porch with lemonade and watched. My MIL brought us some Chick-Fil-A for dinner. It was Delish! It also happened to be my last meal before baby came.
That night we went home and decided that we should make sure we had everything we needed for the hospital. I unpacked my hospital bag, laid everything on the bed and repacked it, just to make sure everything was in order. We brought everything downstairs and by the door so that we could load up at a moments notice. Then, finally, we went to bed. I only slept for about an hour before I woke up with contractions. I made sure I was having regular contractions before I woke John up. He did the right thing and started to time them. After about 45 minutes of them being 4-5 minutes apart, I called the doctor and told her I was coming in, which was about 12:45AM or so.
Let me stop right there and share with everyone that going into labor does not happen like it does in the movies or commercials. It also takes a lot longer to get dressed and ready when you are in labor. I thought that it would take me about 15 minutes to get dressed and ready. Wrong. Having to stop for a contraction every few minutes really adds up. So instead of being ready to go in about 15 minutes, it took me about 45 minutes to get everything ready and out the door.
Our ride to the hospital was uneventful, with the exception of Charlie being with us. Poor charlie knew something was up, and looked at me VERY concerned the whole way there. Since we knew this was "it", we took our dog with us and my MIL would meet us at the hospital to take him to her house.
We got to the hospital about 2:15, but by the time we actually got to the womens center it was about 2:30 because I INSISTED on walking in myself. I did not want to be carted around the hospital in a wheelchair because, you know, pride. I have no idea why I did this.
Finally, we arrived at the women's center and got all of our paperwork in order, only to find out there were no rooms! I felt like the Virgin Mary on Christmas night. No room in the Inn. We spent a little over an hour in a waiting room, waiting. All the while my contractions are becoming more intense and closer together. It seemed like every 3 minutes I was asking John to go see if they were ready yet.
I wasn't until about 3:45, when the nice nurse came for me, saying that they were ready for me. We got to the room and I finally got to put on that ever so attractive hospital gown. I looked smashing.
The nurse asked if we wanted to take bets on how many centimeters dilated I was. I wasn't amused so I didn't guess. Hubby guessed 6, I believe. Before she could even check me, another contraction hit, and lo and behold, my water broke. Boy, was that awkward. When she finally checked me, she said I was 9cm and ready to go! Honestly, I couldnt believe that I progressed this far without any drugs.
My nurse said that the doctor was on the way, and asked me if I wanted the epidural. In the middle of my thought, my first contraction post "water breaking" hit. WOW. It was about 5342 times more intense than what it was before. I succumbed and said "yes". "give me the juice." She nodded and said she just needed to wait on the labs to come back. Apparently, the people running labs that morning were too wrapped up in a Netflix marathon to run my labs because they never came back.
With each passing contraction I was losing hope in the fact that I would get the juice. I looked at John and asked him to pray for me. we shared a quick prayer and finally, I made peace that I would never be able to get an epidural because I knew she was coming too fast. However my doctor wasn't. I felt, and fought, the urge to push for 45 minutes before the doctor showed up.
Then, to my relief, the doctor decides to make her appearance. I didn't even pay attention to the directions she was giving me on how to push. I just put my legs up and went for it. I only had to give about 5 good pushes, or about 10 minutes worth of pushing before my sweet girl was finally here. At 5:32 AM. It was the most rewarding feeling, knowing I did it. I delivered a baby into this world. I could hear my husband saying "Shes here, baby! She's here! You did it baby! You did so good!" My first words were thanking God that I my delivery was over and thanking God that she was here safe and sound.
I have to say, out of all of my accomplishments in life, tending to multiple infants at a time at the daycare, graduating college, getting a licence to teach, teach students with disabilities, I knew this was my greatest accomplishment. Bringing another life into the world with-out the help of any drugs what so ever, was the greatest thing that I have ever done, and it will be the greatest thing that I ever do in my lifetime. Anyways, back to the story.
The nurses immediately took her, made sure her lungs were in proper working order, weighed her and gave her straight to me. Holding Eleanor in my hands for the first time was so crazy. I waited 9 months to see the face of the baby that I created. I had no idea what she would look like. But she was BEAUTIFUL. She IS beautiful. I immediately Thanked God that she was in my arms and healthy. From that moment, we went from being John and Melissa, party of two, to John, Melissa and Eleanor, party of three.
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Here is our beautiful little family =)
Photo by: Alicia Austin
I leave you with this verse. We used this verse to announce our pregnancy with Eleanor.
I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him. I Samuel 1:27
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