Our Birth Story--Annamaria Elizabeth

I really wanted to jot down my birth story as quickly as possible so that I don't forget ANY little detail.

Let me start off by saying that I am a truly anxious and nervous person. With that being said, being pregnant was not per say DIFFICULT, but presented a lot of opportunities for me to feel anxious and worried. I didn't give much thought to labor and delivery until I was about 32 weeks and then BOOM--it hit me! I HAD to give birth and suddenly, I became VERY worried about everything...so I really wasn't looking forward to labor AT ALL.....

I went to my 39w 5d appointment to find out that baby was high, posterior and I was "about" 1 cm dilated. I was so disappointed because even though I was SCARED about going into labor, I had reached a point that I couldn't take being pregnant anymore. I was tired, could hardly carry my weight around, had non-stop heartburn and was just ready to meet my baby...

On my 40w 2d, I recall texting DH and telling him "where is this little lady already?"...

That night, I had a restless sleep. I kept waking up with aches and pains. At about 4:40am I got up to use the bathroom and noticed that when I wiped, I had a slight green discharge. I woke up DH and asked him to come look to make sure I wasn't seeing things. I went back to bed to try and go back to bed. Within the next 20 minutes, I had to use the bathroom another 5 times! Each time I went, I had green discharge so I assumed that iether it was my mucus plug OR it was meconium. I called my DR's service and the DR on call told me that I should get ready and probably go to L&D because if it was in fact meconium, the baby could be in distress. I told DH and then decided to CALL my OB on her cell phone to let her know what was going on. She told me that she wasn't 100% sure, but that if I wanted to come into the office that morning I could be seen OR I could go to L&D to be checked out...it was my call. I hung up and stood up to use the bathroom and WOOSH--my water broke!!! And when I mean broke, I mean GUSHED EVERYWHERE!!! This was around 5:15am.

IT WAS TIME!!!

I took a shower, had some toast with butter and jelly and we got ready to leave. By the time we go to the hospital and admitted, it was about 8:20am or so.

JUST A NOTE ON WATER BREAKING: I read EVERYWHERE that your water NEVER breaks or gushes so much that it goes everywhere. UMMM...not true!!! Not only did I have a huge gush at home, but I also had a HUGE gush in the car ride to the hospital and then just kept leaking!!! It didn't drip down my pants or anything but I mean, it soaked through my pants AND coat.

Anyway, when I finally got into a room they confirmed that my water had broken but I was still only "slightly" 2 cm dilated and having irregular contractions. At about 10am they inserted cervidil and prepared me to be there for a couple of hours (up to 12). The baby was swimming in meconium so they were keeping a close eye on her as well.

I prepared for a long day ahead.

Within two hours, however, my contractions became VERY intense and consistent and were coming CLOSER. When they checked me around 12:00pm I was 4 cm dilated!

I was in pain at this point...nothing UNBEARABLE but it definitely was becoming VERY intense so I asked for an epi. The epidural was great!!! I could feel some contractions here and there but I was able to just relax and prepare myself for labor.

At 1pm when they checked me again I was 6cm. The nurse told me to try and take a nap at this time since I might be delivering as early as "later that evening". I shut the lights and tried to nap.

About 20 minutes into my "nap"...I started to feel pressure in my rectal area. It was a sensation like I had to use the bathroom and wuold happen about every 10 minutes or so. At first it was bearable but slowly they became more and more intense. I let the nurse know and she told me it was a good sign that the baby was "coming down". By 2:15pm the DR came in to check in on me and I told her that I was having A LOT of pressure down there. She was like, "Let's just check for the heck of it"

Sure enough, I was FULLY DILATED!!! I couldn't believe it!!!!!!!!!!!

They started to prep the room for my delivery. I couldn't believe it! I really had no time to think or even process what was going on...all I know is that in the moments right before you are giving birth, all you are focusing on is the feelings you are having, the "pain" you are experiencing and the fact that you are going to meet your LO!!!!!


I started to push at about 3:10pm and little Annamaria Elizabeth was born at 4:05pm!!! It was the most AMAZING experience of my life!!! I had the epidural shut off in order to push better and even though I was scared to do this, it didn't really hurt as much as I expected. It just felt like I had to go to the bathroom and push REALLY bad..LOL! I think the most exhausting part was the fact I had to keep pushing and I was getting frustrated that the baby kept coming out and then going back up!!! I thought I couldn't do it!!! Thank goodness for DH, my mom and my nurse though. They held my legs for me and really were the greatest cheerleaders ever!!! I think the best motivation though was when my DR told me to reach down and touch my baby's head. As soon as I felt it, I was DETERMINED to get her out!!!

After the head came out, I had to stop pushing because the umbilical cord was wrapped around her neck twice. They rushed her right over to the corner and cut the cord and then had to make sure there was no meconium in her lungs. For 15 minutes I could only admire her from afar, through all the tears of happiness I was shedding!!!

After everything came back fine, they laid her right on my chest and I just FELL IN LOVE. I remember people telling me how much I wuold love her, but I didn't believe it until it happened and it surpassed ANYTHING that I could have ever imagined.

NSUH was wonderful and the nurse & staff are amazing ESPECIALLY the L&D nurses and specifically, my nurse, EVELYN. She was an angel!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

At the end of the day, I labored for a little less than 12 hours. It went by SO QUICKLY and I want to tell any other girls who are scared, nervous or anxious that in the end NONE of that matters--all that matters is that beautiful baby you will be holding in your arms.

They call it PAIN WITH A PURPOSE and what a purpose it is!!! I almost feel SAD that it's over now...that's how wonderful the experience was and that's how WONDERFUL I WISH ALL OF YOUR EXPERIENCES TO BE AS WELL!!!

LOVE OF MY LIFE:
Annamaria Elizabeth
1-19-2011
4:05pm
7lbs 13 oz.
20 inches long

Message edited 1/23/2011 11:01:39 PM.

Re: Our Birth Story--Annamaria Elizabeth

What a beautiful story and beautiful daughter you have!!! Congratulations!!! You were VERY brave and made it through like a trooper!!!

Re: Our Birth Story--Annamaria Elizabeth

Congratulations Penny!! Such a great story and such a beautiful baby girl!!

Re: Our Birth Story--Annamaria Elizabeth

am i seriously crying???? lolol yes!

AMAZING is all i can say...i cant wait to hug you all and tell you how much i love you all in person.

and of course...i CANNOT wait till we are as well blessed with annamarias future lil hubby

MUAH!

Re: Our Birth Story--Annamaria Elizabeth

Penny!!z OMG what a beautiful experience! I am so happy for you and AnnaMaria is beautiful! I'm glad you had such a wonderful experience! I'm all choked up! (but im still laughing about your water breaking...lol)

Enjoy your little princess! Na sas zisi!

Xoxo

Re: Our Birth Story--Annamaria Elizabeth

great story!! congrats on your baby girl!

Re: Our Birth Story--Annamaria Elizabeth

Congrats Penny! I also felt sad about the whole birth experience being over! I thought I was nuts because it was so painful but it really is such an amazing experience! You're little girl is adorable!!

Re: Our Birth Story--Annamaria Elizabeth

what a great story and a beautiful little girl! congrats

Re: Our Birth Story--Annamaria Elizabeth

reading this actually made me tear up. Such a beautiful story and your words are very touching. I cannot WAIT to hold my little girl in my arms. I, too, get worried sometimes thinking about labor & delivery, but I know I can do it. I'm just so anxious to meet her. Congratulations!! And again, thank you for your encouraging words. Annamaria is BEAUTIFUL!!!!!

Re: Our Birth Story--Annamaria Elizabeth

great story!! And your water broke on it's own, that's great! Your little baby girl is so beautiful!

Re: Our Birth Story--Annamaria Elizabeth

Thank you so much ladies!!!

I truly mean it from the bottom of my heart for all moms-to-be that you have a blessed and wonderful delivery!!!

Re: Our Birth Story--Annamaria Elizabeth

Posted by EndlessSummer719

Congrats Penny! I also felt sad about the whole birth experience being over! I thought I was nuts because it was so painful but it really is such an amazing experience! You're little girl is adorable!!

Re: Our Birth Story--Annamaria Elizabeth

Posted by kostena

am i seriously crying???? lolol yes!

AMAZING is all i can say...i cant wait to hug you all and tell you how much i love you all in person.

and of course...i CANNOT wait till we are as well blessed with annamarias future lil hubby

MUAH!

Re: Our Birth Story--Annamaria Elizabeth

I chocked up while reading ur story!!!
God bless u, ur DH and ur precious little girl!!!
May u always admire her and watch her grow and be proud!!! Nifoula na tin deite kai na tin kamaronetai!!!


Thank u for writing this. It makes me look forward to delivering my babies SO MUCH MORE... and I didn't think that was possible.

xoxo

Message edited 2/9/2011 10:21:58 PM.

Re: Our Birth Story--Annamaria Elizabeth

Oh Nayia!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm so glad that my story helped to make you feel that way!!! I can't wait for you to have your own amazing experienceeeeeeee