Emelia’s Birth Story!

Feb 26

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After two weeks on bedrest, twice a week appointments to monitor the babies heart, and getting off bedrest, we officially got our induction date. My high-risk doctor said with the polyhydramnios I couldn’t go past 37 weeks and let me tell you I was not disappointed. I was more than ready to have this baby of mine.

I woke up on Valentine’s Day morning, kissed my boys goodbye as they were getting ready for school, and Joel and I packed up the car to head to the hospital. The whole morning was so surreal because I couldn’t believe I was getting induced after everything that was going on during the pregnancy. Then of course those super fun nerves start to set it. I know I somehow made it through three other labors, but this could be the one. This could be the one that makes the rest of them look like cake.

We pulled up to the hospital, of course with Starbucks in hand, and rode the elevator up to labor and delivery. Joel and I just kept looking at each other wondering how we finally made it to this point. The next few hours consisted of Joel driving me crazy trying to make me laugh, getting hooked up on Pitocin to start my labor, and basically just chatting it up with my Aunt and Joel. The pitocin definitely started up my contractions, but they were so mild we were just hanging out and chatting throughout them.

Then the moment of truth. I’ve had my water broken before and I hardly remember it. It was super easy, and not memorable in the slightest. I assumed this would be the same especially seeing as the doctors were so worried my water would break at any moment this whole third trimester. It’s the biggest reason that they ended up inducing me at 37 weeks. They didn’t want my water to break at home because of the complications with polyhydramnios. They wanted it to break at the hospital where they could monitor me and make sure nothing happened.

Instead of fully breaking my water, they had to do a small little prick to let it release the fluid slowly. You would think that would be easy. Oh no. It was like a freaking indestructible sac of water. My water would not break. It took them a good 2 minutes to break it. All while I’m covering my eyes saying the F word over and over and over in my breath. It hurt like a b...

Once it finally broke, I was so relieved. That part of the pain was done and now I could focus on labor. Then things went from 0 to 60. My mild contractions went from barely noticeable to excruciating within about 20 minutes. It was that moment I looked at my husband and said epidural time!

I don’t know about you, but I am absolutely terrified of the epidural. I’d love to say I was super brave and that’s why I had two natural childbirths, but it was purely because epidurals scare the crap out of me. When the anesthesiologist came in I thought I was going to cry. I let him know that I was terrified and made a joke that epidurals are scarier than labor for me. He was the sweetest and kindest man ever. He explained to me that it’s like geometry and walked me through exactly what was gonna happen and what I needed to do. He somehow calmed me down within seconds. Before he gave me the epidural, Joel asked if he could pray. I felt myself calming down, but I still definitely held onto Joel‘s hands for dear life. He jokes that he has arthritis in both hands now, but mom‘s who have been in labor before, do we care? Nope. Unless you’ve pushed a baby out of your vagina, no pain of yours that your wife inflicts on you during labor matters. Sorry babe.

The epidural was heavenly. It kicked in so fast and what was excruciating contractions went down to pressure. I was able to rest and labor peacefully and calmly.

We did have one scary moment. Apparently with an epidural you can experience a moment where your blood pressure drops. My blood pressure dropped very low and all the sudden I felt terrible. I thought I was going to pass out, while having a heart attack, and could hardly see. The whole ordeal only lasted for about two minutes, but it was terrible. I didn’t even realize that was a possibility. The nurses quickly came in and gave me medicine because Emelia’s heart rate dropped as well. The nurses were phenomenal and it was all taken care of very quickly.

You guys, let’s take a moment and think about this. The doctors and nurses throughout my entire pregnancy warned me of all the crazy complications that could happen during my labor. They talked about the fact the cord could come out first and hurt Emelia, I could bleed out, and all sorts of other scary things. Not to mention preterm labor which we experience firsthand. Out of all the possible complications we hardly experienced any of them. I still can’t believe my labor went as smoothly as it did. Other than that quick two minute ordeal my labor was a breeze.

A few hours after that, the nurses came in because they notice how close my contractions were getting. They checked and it was baby time. Two pushes later and welcome to the world Miss Emelia Jane.

When they laid her on my stomach, I looked at her in complete disbelief. How did I just make this little girl? How do I have a daughter?

I just sat there holding her and cried. I was so grateful in that moment for the journey God brought us on to have this little girl, that He kept her safe the entire time, and that I now have this beautiful baby girl in my arms. I looked up at Joel to see if he was experiencing the exact same thing I was, an oh man… The strong man I love had tear filled eyes and was just staring at his daughter. It was the most precious moment to experience together, meeting our little girl.