We have a daughter!! I still can't believe it. Miss Emma Grace Wheeler is a week and half old today, so I figure it's time to share the birth story since it'll soon start to fade because of mommy brain if I don't write it down. If only, babies came into the world without causing mommies any pain (oh what would birth have been like before Eve picked that darn Apple, right!? ;) ) So, here you go, the birth story in all it's fabulous honest glory.
I had Emma at 38 weeks and 1 day just for reference for anyone who's read all my weekly posts. It was a Monday. I had started having contractions a few days before this but they were not consistent yet nor very painful. I had also been drinking red raspberry leaf tea for about a week. I'm s supposed to help strengthen your uterus for childbirth and get labor moving, but of course any momma will tell you that baby comes when they're ready no matter what interventions you try. I did interestingly start drinking it just about a week before I had Gideon too, so maybe it's that magical? ;-) Anyway, in between contractions leading up to things that weekend, I had my family helping me deep clean the house. I was definitely nesting. I do love a clean house in general though. At the same time as doing all this, I felt like it was entirely too calm around the house. You know, like the calm before the storm? So I really knew labor was on its way. I had bets on April 20th the Wednesday that week, but I really had no idea, and I definitely didn't think it would be the day it was. Monday seemed pretty normal. I was able to do my quiet time that morning and prayed for God to be in control of delivery even if it meant changing the birth plan I had (how many times have I told ya'll to be careful what you pray for!? Lol). I started having contractions again that morning but I was definitely still able to control them and figured they were still Braxton hicks. I asked my mother in law to help
with Gideon for a bit that morning though because it was getting stronger. I should have known then, because I was asking for help which is not my thing. I sat down with my favorite kasha protein cereal and tries to rest. (Also a side note, this cereal was the last meal I had before I had Gideon and both were around noon when I ate it while watching Netflix. So interesting.) Contractions seemed to slow with rest, so I went about the day as usual. I really felt the need to stock up on snacks and a few foods from the German grocery store down the road so around 3pm, I went out with my mother in law and Gideon to shop. I was having contractions driving and they were getting stronger. My mother in law joked and asked if we should be driving to the hospital. I was adamant that I was totally okay and so we went through the trip to the store and I stopped and breathed through contractions. We got home around 4ish and we let Gideon play outside a bit. Our neighbors came by, and I remember not being able to talk too much because I was having a contraction but trying to hide it. I ended up saying I needed to go in and get dinner started. I wanted to have Mexican food because I had planned on it- quesadillas, chips, salsa, the works. As I started making the salsa, things magnified. I was really getting uncomfortable, but kept trying to finish. I finally had to go ask for my mother in law to come in and help. Then I started thinking, "just in case I do go into labor, I really shouldn't eat all these beans and salsa" lol. She insisted I sit down, and I told her I needed to go ahead and eat just in case so she rushed to make me some food and brought me a big plate of quesadillas and chips. I happily are them when I wasn't having contractions. During contractions, I stopped and realized I felt pretty bad. I figured I should see where Daniel was. I had him go to the store on base that day too to stock up (way to go me on this, right?;)). I couldn't get him to answer and started to panic. When he finally called back it was 5 something and he was on his way. I told him to hurry because I didn't know if labor was starting. When he got home, I was still eating. Within a few minutes, I decided to go take a bath (my favorite laboring spot). I knew things were starting to happe, but I've never wanted to get to the hospital too early. Once in the bath, I called Daniel in and he asked if it was time. I said I wasn't quite sure but it hurt really bad so I guess we should go. Somehow though I wanted to shave my legs and all, so I made myself do that really quick while timing contractions. Riduculous, I know lol. They were getting so close and all of a sudden I knew it was time or actually way past time! I rushed out, screamed for Daniel, and told him we had to go. I went through my list of what we needed and I tried to get dressed. It was so painful now! I couldn't get my legs into pants between contractions. I started to cry and say it was too late, I waited too long. I kept saying it would be too late for the epidural. Daniel assured me we'd get that and it'd be okay. I kissed Gideon bye bye and my mother in law wished us luck. Once in the car, we were in a rush to make it! I started feeling back labor or just really really low pelvic pain that stabs my tailbone area (I also had with Gideon). I cried all the way to the hospital but not because of the pain (although it's worth crying about) but because I was so sad to leave Gideon. I knew this was a huge change and it would just seem so all of a sudden to him. I felt so sad that he was no longer going to be my only baby. I get teary eyed just thinking about it again. Daniel assured me he's be okay as he sped through the towns and went around a slowwww truck only to get flipped off. We didn't care. He made it to the autobahn and we were going 130+ mph to get there. We made it in a record 9 minutes! We parked in the wrong area at first and I started saying some choice words (more would come soon lol). We made it to the right entrance and walked in where a worker at the lobby desk got me a wheel chair and took us up, but she dropped us off in the quiet area and the lady asked who we were here to visit and we told her we were here to have a baby not visit one! She said "Oh, you're in the wrong area!" Really!? They dropped us off in the mother baby unit, not L&D. Omg! I was losing time and patience. We were taken to the right area and calmly put in a room. They were all taking their sweet time, and I told them they needed to hurry or I wouldn't get pain meds. I demanded to be checked and told Daniel it was gonna happen soon if they don't come back. Sure enough, the nurse checked and I was at an 8. They put in an IV. She, still too slowly for my liking, got me a wheel chair to go to delivery room and by the time we got there (like 2 min later) I told them I needed to push. She and Daniel told me not to do that yetbecause it wouldn't help things. I had problems pushing too early with Gideon too. Not good for my already damaged pelvic floor but it's almost impossible for me not too. They kept telling me to breathe through it, and I told them that was stupid advice and to shut up. Ha. (Daniel knows to give me grace through these moments). I then told them I felt like I was gonna pee or my bag of waters was going to break. I told the nurse it never broke with Gideon and had to be ruptured while pushing. Then all of a sudden, POP, my bag of waters burst and got all over the nurse and Daniel. Classic. Grossly, there was meconium in it, so they got to wear that. We knew baby was coming. I told her to check me and I needed to push, and I was a 10, so I got the green light. All the while during this, I was still screaming and begging for an epidural. I was so upset that I was experiencing the trauma again like the first time and was so in shock. They said they were sorry but I just have too fast of labors. I was in so much pain and terrified. I said a few more not so friendly words and asked Daniel to pray for me. He prayed over me, and I was pushing before the doctor even came in. They all coached me through a couple pushes, and on the last one, I saw her head coming out. It was quite magical actually. I cherish getting to see that this time. She was born at 8:11pm weighing 6 lbs 14 oz., with no interventions praise the Lord!! They checked her to make sure she was healthy then she came back to me, and I got to have my first skin to skin after childbirth as I got stiched up. There was just no way around tearing for me unfortunately having it happen so fast. I was worried about my prolapse and how bad it was now, but after the weight of a baby comes out, I was also on the afterbirth high. I was also shaking uncontrollably from the hormones and in pain still, but Daniel and I were in awe of this little girl. All of a sudden, we realized how fast that had happened and we had a baby girl. It was crazy and awesome at the same time! I still cannot believe I have a little girl. She's such a precious gift to our family. She has brought with her so much grace and joy. I know God has big plans for her, and I'm thankful he chose us to parent her. He had his hands on this pregnancy and birth and I believe it happened just the way it needed to. Our baby girl is perfect and off to a great start with breastfeeding, something new to me this time around, and we're loving it. As far as I'm concerned, childbirth definitely doesn't make the problems I had any better. I've been praying for healing, and I know God is bringing it, but it will probably come through the hands of doctors. Im just in survival mode right now, so I am looking forward to my postpartum appointment to evaluate where we go from here. Until then, I'm enjoying snuggling my precious gift.
If you've followed my blogs on this pregnancy and made it through reading all this, then thank you! And, I'd ask you to please pray a prayer of thankfulness for God's hand throughout this pregnancy and birth and pray that He would bring me the healing He has promised. I'm am trusting Him! I'll leave you with a few pictures (don't worry, not of birth! ;-) )
There was truly so much joy in that moment. And so much more to come.
...Now, I'm gonna snuggle a baby and try to get more than hour of sleep ;-)
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