Labor of Love

I'm finally getting around to writing Gianna's birth story. I've had intentions of doing it sooner, but just haven't had the time. She's 8 weeks old TODAY already. Not that you all want to read her birth story or that it is so amazing, but it is after all HER STORY and I wanted to write it for my own memory too.

Without further ado....Gianna's story...

First, I have to start by letting you know that at my doctor's visit on her due date (February 14th), I was dilated to 5cm and had no contractions thus far. My doctor also hooked me up to monitors that day to watch and see if I had contractions and to make sure baby was doing well. Yup, all was well and even he was disappointed that there was no further progress. Truthfully, I think he was getting a little nervous to send me home again since he had been convinced that with me that dilated and this being my third baby that things would progress quickly. I was set for induction on that Friday, February 18th.

The next couple days passed and I walked around like crazy in hopes that it would get things going. It didn't. No contractions.

On Wednesday, February 16th, the evening brought more tightening/Braxton Hicks type contractions, but nothing lasting. I was uncomfortable, but still bearable. I was sure that these would all pass and we'd go another night without a visit to the hospital. I went to bed and slept well.

At midnight I awoke to go to the bathroom and started to feel pains that felt like contractions. Amazingly, I had forgotten over the last six years exactly how contractions were suppose to feel. Were these real? I got my watch and started timing them. They were sporadic and within the hour got to about 5 minutes apart. I decided I should wake up Reed and call the doctor. I told him I thought it was time and that I had been contracting. He slowly moved out of bed and began getting ready. The contractions started to feel stronger and I started to panic a bit. I then said, 'I think we need to get moving and should be calling somebody.' I wasn't sure who that somebody was at that particular moment, but I was feeling an urgency to get moving for fear that I would be bringing a baby into the world in the car!!

Reed called my doctor around 1:00am and he said to come in right away, to call him again when we were at the hospital and he'd be there right away. Reed then called his parents (who live just down the driveway from us) and asked them to come out to our house to stay with the kids. It was time.

We traveled the 17 miles to the hospital and my contractions remained strong and fairly regular. I remember feeling every bump and crack in the roads in my uncomfortable state. It was foggy as we drove, but thankfully not the awful dense fog that had been predicted. I called my parents as Reed drove and asked them to pray. Their newest grandchild would hopefully be born soon.

We arrived at the hospital and called my doctor's cell phone. He said he was already there and waiting for us in labor & delivery. At some point I started to get the nausea that usually accompanies my labor. As we walked into the ER I just about lost it as I sat there waiting for Reed to park the car. I could smell new carpet and I did all I could not to throw up. I was taken up to my room, greeted by a wonderful nurse, gowned and hooked up quickly. It was around 2:00am. I began to shake and my teeth were chattering uncontrollably. I wasn't really cold, it was all just a part of the laboring process. My doctor came in and greeted us with a smile. I remember even in that moment being grateful that God had gifted us with this doctor. He went ahead and checked me and I was 7cm dilated. He said if I felt comfortable, I could certainly be up and around walking. In the past that is exactly what I've done. No meds. No epidural. Relaxing, breathing, silently praying is the way I've labored with my children and I intended on doing the same again this time around.


to be continued...