I thought I would share my baby girl's birth story from my experience. I would like to know Ben's experience. The anxiety and stress of a pregnancy after a loss was more then I could handle and an induction date was set.
After walking around for almost a week being dilated to a 4 and stretchable to a 5 and fully effaced, (I know! most women would have been sent straight to the hospital or could have walked around the block to start labor, but not me) I got the call to come in the next day, November 7, at 6:00 a.m. I went to bed super excited.
We drove to the hospital in the snow. Much more beautiful with this birth then the last. It was so calm and peaceful. It was perfect. Holding hands. Taking in the moments and relishing each other, while looking forward to holding a baby, again.
After checking in and getting settled in the delivery room the nurse started the monitors. She couldn't find a heartbeat for about 20 to 30 minutes. I also realized I hadn't felt the baby move yet that day. I had a mild anxiety attack. Ben tried to say comforting things, but he looked at me like, "Tami, calm your crazy".
Just before 7 the antibiotics were started. Now the waiting to get my water broken began. The nurses and Ben were a lot of fun so the time went very quickly. Around 10 a.m. the anesthesiologist came in. I really wasn't in pain, but knew I wanted one. He was fun too, around 11 a.m. I got the epidural.
At 11:30 my water was broken. Like with all my other births I don't progress until my water is broken and then things go fast and if I walk around my contractions stop. Even with pitocin. Learned that with David. At 12:15 p.m. Ben decided to go get lunch. At 12:30 p.m. I called him to tell him I was complete. Even though he probably had time to finish eating I thought because I wasn't eating he should just throw his food away and come be with me. :) Ben showed up around 12:45 p.m. and the doctor arrived shortly after him. I pushed three times and Alyson was born at 1:05 p.m.
They laid her on my stomach and I was undeniably overwhelmed with love and joy for my chunky little baby. She had the cutest, fat, little fingers. I was in love. We had been through so much to get her. I cried. There was a feeling in the room that I had never experienced before. I felt loved and known.
I nursed Alyson after I ate a sandwich. Sadly, this was the last time I held her until Tuesday because of complications with me. As I laid in bed, I got to watch some very sweet and intimate moments between Ben and his new daughter as he bottle feed and burped her. He held her every moment he could. It felt so good to hold a baby again. Alyson brought so much healing to us. We are eternally grateful for Alyson joining our family. While I really wanted to go into labor on my own, I realize her birth was perfect and we got exactly what we needed. A baby to keep.
more to come soon...
