Sam & Amelia

Mommy’s Perspective:
Finally! Our baby girl has arrived!

I was a little bummed out after my ob appointment last Tuesday (July 29th). I was dilated 3-4 cm, which was not much change from the week before. It was only one day before my due date and I just knew that I would have this baby early! We scheduled an induction for the following Wednesday (Aug 6th), which seemed like an eternity away. I was secretly hoping that the doctor would send me straight to the hospital after my appointment. I didn’t sleep well that night, just wondering when you would arrive. I started feeling some minor contractions around 4am and didn’t really go back to sleep after that. I kept lying in bed wondering if we would go to the hospital today or if it would be just another regular day. After an hour, I got out of bed and turned on the TV, eating a bowl of Rice Krispies w/ strawberries (which I shouldn’t have done) and timing my now-regular contractions. They were 10 minutes apart and I was starting to think that I should pack a bag, wake up Robert and take a shower. I woke Robert up and told him I think we needed to head to the hospital b/c I was having contractions and they were getting stronger. I’m not sure what he said but I knew he was awake, he understood was I was saying, and he would call our parents so they could start driving to LR. I jumped in the shower, my mental checklist of things to do and pack kept getting interrupted by the frequent and painful contractions. He wanted me to time the contractions on his phone, but after the first two were closer than 1 1/2 minutes apart, I decided I didn’t want to know anymore. Sam woke up while Robert was taking a shower and it took everything in me to lift him out of his crib. Things greatly accelerated between the time Robert got in and got out of the shower. I could barely stand up during the contractions, but was still trying to get everything packed for Sam and myself.

We finally got in the car and dropped off Sam around 6:45am. As we were driving to the hospital, I silently wondered why Robert wasn’t driving any faster. I never looked at the odometer, but it sure felt like we were going on a leisurely Sunday drive. I remember having to wait to talk/respond to Robert until a contraction passed. When we finally pulled up to the hospital, we had to wait on an elderly lady getting out of her car. We waited VERY patiently. I got out of the car and sat on a bench outside the entrance waiting for Robert. It was kind of a blur after that, but I did get a wheelchair – thank goodness! I could hear the elderly volunteer breathing heavily as he pushed me through the halls of the hospital, trying to make small talk. We got to a delivery room and I sat in a chair just waiting on a nurse. After a few more contractions, I started getting nauseous. Thankfully, I had grabbed a plastic bag on my way out the door. There’s just something about throwing up in a trash can that I can’t handle. Throwing up is bad enough…why would I want to stick my head in a trash can while doing it? Robert called the nurse and took over! The nurse wasn’t convinced that we were having a baby today. It’s kind of a blur between putting on the lovely hospital gown, doing blood work, starting the IVs and getting Stadol for the pain. I was so glad to see the anesthesiologist, although the epidural didn’t take as quickly as he thought it should. I actually saw a little concern in his eyes when I told him I could still feel my legs and feet. After that it was smooth-sailing! My doctor came in and told me he would be back in 2 hours after a scheduled surgery. He checked to see how far along I was, then decided he shouldn’t leave. I was so glad he was able to deliver you! It was a beautiful birth! After the epidural, I was able to enjoy your delivery. It was pain-free and I only had to push for about 30 minutes until we saw your beautiful face. Welcome to our family, Amelia! We’re so glad you’re here – healthy, happy and right on time!