Eleanor Rose Riggers Born May 5th, 2017
To fully appreciate Ellie's birth story, we really need to start the evening before.
We were now 40 weeks, 4 days, and although I was feeling really good - I was ready to meet our baby girl.
Business went along as normal until we had our (bi-weekly) chiropractor appointment. (If you aren't seeing a chiropractor and massage therapist at 40+4, God bless you).
 |
| Picture taken 5/4/17 at my last chiropractor appointment. |
Instead, I headed to my favorite store and did some laps, while your father, was a good hour and forty-five minutes away with some friends - not. working. (Important detail to note for later).
On the way home and before walked in the door, I started to feel faint contractions.
So I texted your dad, hey, you should be making your way home. This was around 7.
7:30 - texted him again. Time to be leaving.
7:45 - looks like.you aren't on the road yet....
8:15 - very angry phone call I won't include the transcript to (I think he then thought I was going into labor right then and there). He made it home in record time.
To which I promptly said - Okay! Now I'm going to bed. Because that's what all my birthing books said to do 🤣. He was super annoyed and so he planned now to work in Kentucky on Friday, as usual, the next day.
I slept through, I'm assuming, the contractions for the rest of the night until around 5am. Then things got interesting.
All the books had said to wait for your contractions to follow the 5-1-1 rule. Contractions should be less than five minutes apart, last about 45-60 seconds, and stay consistent over an hour.
Well. I started timing things and my contractions were about 2 minutes apart, lasted between 30-40 seconds, and so I began to wait to see how long they'd stay consistent.
That was the pace for the rest of the day.
So I texted my parents (who didn't think this newbie mom knew much because they waited to leave for quite some time), my Doula (get one), and called the midwife on call to see what she thought around 7. Lindsay (my Doula) and the midwife both said I was talking to easily to be ready, and that "I'd know." Would I though? Would I???
Now I already had an appointment set up for Friday morning so next, I called to see if I should still go, sure thing they said!
So into the car we went, and that is the worst...the sitting in the car. At the. Monsters test they were able to say that everything was going well, contractions had stayed consistent, about 1-2 mi Utes apart, lasting for about 30-60 seconds. They left it up to me if I should go home or headed to the birthing center.
Lindsay said it still sounded like I was talking okay, she recommended I head home. 45 more minutes in a car.
When I got home, I took a shower, then went to lay down, John at this point felt it was important to eat the leftover tacos and I was more than a little annoyed at the smell and just him.in general 😅🤣.
I maybe had been laying down for 2 minutes when I knew it was time to go.
30 more minutes in the car. (Should have been closer to 45 😉). I got checked in, John got in trouble for leaving our car in the fire lane, annnnnd at this point I was having trouble keeping my eyes open. They took me up a secret magical elevator that landed me right by my room while John parked the car. It was now around 1-1:30.
Side note: Up until this point I had opted not to get checked. I figured it would matter anyway 😉.
The midwife came in not long after and checked me at this point, she said I went from 2 to 6 cm while she was checking 🙀. The nurses got my bath started and soon I was in the birthing tub.
John and Lindsay got there soon after! Lindsay got the music going and was wonderful! We were both so glad to have her there!
Around three, the midwife checked me again, I was now 9 cm dilated and she said to let her know when I was ready to start pushing and she'd come back- to which I quickly said not to leave because I already did!
My water broke during the pushing, But I had no idea at this point how close I was to meeting our baby girl! I nearly gave up at this point, couldn't do it, she was staying in there for forever. Instead, they had me reach down and I could feel her head! I had no idea she was down that far and I also felt like I was smoothing her brain which made me really motivated together her out!
Two more big contractions and on the third push her head was.out - she had the cord wrapped around her neck three times, so I had to pause, but they got her all situated and then out she came. It was now 3:40pm.
I had two first degree tears (probably from rushing to not squish her brain) that were stitched up after I delivered the placenta. Easily was the worst part. Whatever they've told you about not noticing once you're holding your baby - I'm just saying, that's a big fat lie.
My parents and brother arrived around 11 to welcome their granddaughter and niece! And we officially named her Eleanor Rose, born at 21" and 8 lbs. 9oz.
Today we celebrate her first birthday! What a year it has been! We cannot wait for the next to see what's to come!
No comments:
Post a Comment