We welcomed our precious little girl into this world on Sunday, November 20th at 6:42am. At that moment when you first see your little one and you are holding her, there are no words to describe what you are feeling... and maybe it's because there is still so much co motion going on in the room, with doctors and nursing buzzing around, each doing something to you or around you like a bunch of crazy bees. (It amazes me that no one bumps into the other). Or maybe it's because you're in such shock, like the world around you has stopped and you can't believe you are actually holding this precious little gift from God. For me, it was a little of both.
I was due Nov. 15th and should probably apologize to my friends and family, especially to my husband for my complaining and few melt-downs. November was a long month, especially those last few days of waiting. I did not expect to be late. I had started feeling contractions early on and every day thought, "tonight's the night". I tried everything to induce my own labor for weeks and the frustration I was feeling got the best of me. I just wanted to see & hold her so bad. I must have told Greg a thousand times "I am soooo OVER being pregnant". So I'm sorry to those who had to listen to my nagging.
Well, on with my experience. I woke up Saturday morning, unsure if something was wrong. I called the hospital, told them my concerns and they suggested to come in. I told Greg to stay at home, that I was just being a worry-wort. I expected them to check me and send me home. I got to the Labor and Delivery around 12:00pm. The nurse monitored the baby's heart rate for about 20 mins. Said she sounded perfect. The mid-wife checked to see if I was dilated. I was still only to a two. Stripped my membranes, for the 2nd time ( i don't recommend that, it hurts). Checked to see if I was leaking...couldn't find anything. Finally did an ultrasound. To which the mid-wife asked,
"What are you and your husband doing today?"
I responded, "nothing." and before i could finish saying..." he's putting up Christmas lights with his dad."
she said, "Well you wanna have your baby today?"
I immediately sat up and said, "what?"
To which she explained that the ultrasound found I was really low on amniotic fluid. They said I should have measured in the "teens" but was down to a "3" so she wanted to induce me. My doctor told me at my check-ups I would have to wait til 42 weeks to be induced so to hear this was quite surprising. Even though I never made a physical birth-plan, Greg and I talked about what I hoped to happen...being induced was last on my list. I went into a state of panic when I realized I was going to have this baby that i threw away my necklace, which was gone by the time I realized.
I texted Greg at 12:53pm, "Coming to get you! They are admitting me because my fluid is low. Nothing to worry about. We are having a baby today!!!!"
On the drive back to the hospital, I kept telling Greg, this doesn't seem real bc I am not having contraction. It was also weird driving to the hospital in the daylight, feeling fine. Everyone taking their time and not stressed. I imagined it to go very differently. I received my IV and Pitocin around 4pm. I did fine with contractions for about 4-5 hrs. Then out of no where, the pain went from "no big-deal" to uncomfortable and from uncomfortable to shooting pain where I couldn't breath. My body went into some kind of shock and was causing me to shake. I was holding on to the rails of the bed so tight, holding in my screams and trying not to fly out of the bed with pain. Greg was almost laughing. I told the nurse I had changed my mind and wanted the epidural "now"! Also not part of my "imagined birth plan". My contractions were coming too close together and my body was still not dilating at the pace of my contractions that I labored for another 9 hrs. As I watched the monitor peak every few seconds with a contraction, I was so grateful I was drugged. I was a bit loopy, not gonna lie. I had a perfect epidural. I could still feel pressure so I could slowly feel her drop (such a weird feeling) and still had control of my legs, which i liked. I didn't like the fact that I had wires and needles everywhere though, those all got annoying.
Every few hrs. I was dilated another centimeter and around 6am, I buzzed the nurse saying I felt alot of pressure. My mid-wife came in, checked me and said, "don't move, I can see the baby's head. I need to find an assistant". The next 20 minutes were so long as I waited for them to arrive. I got brief instructions and before I knew it, I was pushing. I pushed when I was told to push and rested when I was told to rest. I heard things like I can see the head, hold this push, there's her hand, push harder. I heard Greg say I can see her and then i had pushed one finally time before she was laying on the chest crying for the first time. We were in such awe and had so much immediate love for her. I looked at Greg and neither of could believe our daughter was here. It was an incredible moment for us as a couple and now family. I loved getting to see her precious face and kiss her for the first time, which I haven't stopped kissing since.
Zoey Mae Steele joined our family at 6:42am on November 20, 2011. She weighed 6lbs. 7oz and measured 20 inches long. She is long & skinny. She has the deepest blue eyes and such pretty blonde hair. She is perfect in our eyes.
I am giving many thanks this holiday season for my beautiful baby girl and my supportive husband. Greg was such a great support throughout the whole sleepless night. When she came we had been awake for 24hrs straight and by the time family had come it had been almost 40 hrs. of no sleep. We were and are still running on adrenalin for sure. Although I couldn't think of a better reason to give up that sleep.
Zoey
