Amelia's Birth Story

Oh, pregnancy and labor.  I seem to have easy pregnancies and difficult labors.  Maybe we should have a 3rd to see if I can get it right.  Juuuuuuust kidding.

**A bit of info:  At our 20 week u/s, they discovered I had a marginal placenta previa.  I was put on pelvic rest the rest of my pregancy.  We prayed all the time that my placenta would get to the right spot so I could deliver vaginally and not have a c-section.  I had regular ultrasounds to check its status and by 38 weeks, PRAISE THE LORD,  my placenta had migrated.  YAY!

Since I was past due, the midwives had scheduled an induction for Tuesday, April 12th.  The previous Thursday, I was hooked up to a baby monitor and all looked well.  I was excited to have the weekend and Monday, April 11th to spend time with my boys.  

Saturday, I thought I might be leaking amniotic fluid, but turns out I wasn't.  Then Sunday AM, it seemed that way again.  But, it stopped.   

We played outside that evening and I remember telling Trent that I felt bummed.  That I wanted to go into labor naturally and I didn't want to be induced.  We watched Oliver play and enjoyed the beautiful weather.  Also, my outfit was clearly on point.

We went inside, fed the boy, and I started cleaning the kitchen.  I bent down to scrub a spot on the floor, stood up, and WHOA.  That was definitley my water breaking.  It was about 6:30.  Trent said, "what do we do now?"  I called the midwife and she said come to triage, they'll test the fluid and admit me if I'm in labor and get antibiotics going since I tested positive for Group B Strep.  Contractions hadn't started, so I took a shower, we got last minute stuff together, and waited for our neighbors to get back from church so we could drop off Oliver.  

Contractions started at about 7:00 and I was having one here.  Last pic with just us 3. -- Emotions. 

Last pic with just me and the boy.  -- Emotions.  

We got to triage, they tested me, and off I went to L & D.  I was excited and nervous about going about this naturally.  That had been my goal and prayer the whole pregnancy.  

The contractions got stronger and stronger, as they do, and my nurse and other staff complimented my breathing and walking and composure.  I had some music picked out for labor but when Trent turned it on, it annoyed me.  Ha!  I requested a room with a tub...I didn't use it.  

You guys.  Natural childbirth is not what happened.  It seems I'm a wuss. I progressed very quickly and the pain was something awful.  The nurse said I could get checked to see how far along I was.  She said sometimes that gives moms the last push to get through it.  She also said the baby was coming quickly!  The midwife came in and ended up having to help me through contractions.  I was crying, shaking, and all of the things and then I gave up.  I said, "I want the epidural."  Luckily, my midwife was supportive and didn't try to change my mind.  

The anesthesia team came in to prep me and I remember them being very loud, talking, and it was annoying the crap out of me!  Someone also dropped a metal tray and I about came unglued.  The epidural was placed and once it kicked in, I was so happy.  I didn't even care that I had not met my goal of no meds.  It was sweet relief.  

About 10 minutes later, I told my nurse I felt light-headed and my arms were tingly.  She wasn't concerned but came over to check my blood pressure.  I'm not sure how low it dropped, but it was low enough to bring in other staff and it dropped Amelia's, too.  I was so out of it at the time, I wasn't really paying attention to the poking and prodding.  

I was put on oxygen (just like with Oliver) and they continued to check my blood pressure.  They gave me something in an IV to raise it and it finally "took" and they all seemed satisfied.  So, we made it through that scare...even with the oxygen and blood pressure cuff messing up!!

My midwife came in to check me shortly after and I had progressed to an 8!  I was kind of surprised I made it that far.  Pushing happened shortly after and I pushed for an hour (which is how long I pushed total for Oliver) and nothing was happening.  They tried all different positions and she just wasn't moving.

  They decided to let us rest and to let my body and Amelia do the work for a little while.  Of course, there was no resting and my pain meds were wearing off and I asked for more.  They got me enough to be comfortable but I could still feel pressure.  I pushed for TWO HOURS and she still wasn't moving.  During that time I was also put on pitocin to speed things up.  By this time, it was 7:00 AM and time for everyone's shift change.  I was exhausted, couldn't make sentences sound right, shaking, blah.  I was upset and the pain was starting again.  We had been up for over 24 hours.  Terrible.  

The new midwife came in and explained what was going on.  She told us she had spoken with one of the doctors and it was looking like they needed to use forceps or a vacuum to assist the birth of our sweet girl.  I remember being scared.  Looking at Trent, wondering what in the world that all meant.  She said they were about to have a meeting and then she'd bring in the doc to explain.  

They all came in (I hate when a bunch of people come in - it means serious stuff) and the doctor explained the situation.  He said 98% of babies are born within 4 hours of pushing.  But that if she didn't come by then, we need to use the forceps and then if that doesn't work, a c-section.  They explained the risks of using forceps.   

They checked her position, because they thought she might be in a weird place, and it was the most painful thing ever.  Shortly after, I got a little more pain meds and then they said she was sunny side up and that it's a little more difficult for babies to get out that way.  

I pushed for another hour.  I threw up on myself.  Trent had to focus and look away so he didn't throw up.  Amelia moved a little bit but not enough to forego the impending intervention.  I was sad.  I was worried.  I was beyond exhausted.  We agreed to the forceps, I signed c-section paper work just in case, and we prayed.  A WHOLE BUNCH of people came in to prepare for the procedure.  They said I'd do 90% of the work and the forceps will do 10%.  Okay, whatever, just give me my baby!

They got the forceps in the right position, I waited for a contraction, I pushed for a bit and then they placed that beautiful, crying baby on my chest and all was well.  

Amelia came out ready to nurse and had an amazing latch.  Trent cut the cord, they saved my placenta so my hippie lady could encapsulate it, and a nurse brought me a turkey wrap that was the best thing I had ever eaten. 

Sweet nugget.

Family of 4 pic!

Amelia brought Oliver a big brother gift!  Such a thoughtful little lady ;-)

I stayed at the hospital by myself and Trent kept Oliver at home.  We wanted it to be as normal as possible for him.  It was a special time for Amelia and me and it was for Daddy and Oliver as well.  I'm glad we did it that way.

If I look tired, it's because I am.  Also, I had just finished crying because Trent and Oliver brought me a sweet card and a bag of yummy snacks!

Oliver is so sweet with his new sister!

Going home!

So big.  I can't even.

Amelia Donn Monk

April 11, 2016 at 9:11 AM

9 lbs, 4.5 oz // 21 3/4 in
(born at 41 weeks, 4 days) 

You were worth every bit of 14 hours of labor, sweet girl.  You are a precious gift!

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." James 1:7