Eleanor’s Birth Story

So, I’m a momma now!!!!  It happened to us a month early by complete surprise!  We were in God’s hands for sure.  It was not in our plans, but His plan is perfect. 

It truly doesn’t matter if you don’t have your nursery ready, your house clean, food in your fridge or your hospital bags packed.  I thought I had to have ALL of that perfectly in order before Eleanor came.  But you know what?  None of that mattered.  We managed.  We had lots of people help us.  It didn’t matter that I hadn’t shampooed the carpets.  Would I have liked to have all those things done?  OF COURSE!  But I’m here to tell you…..it’s A-OKAY. 

I’M A MOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!  AND IT’S INCREDIBLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  PERIOD.  :)

So, now for the story……

On Friday, April 20th, Tim and I went to the doctor at 8:30 am for my weekly appointment.  I was 36 weeks along.  We had a whole weekend of fun stuff planned.  We had a big banquet we were hosting for the college students at church, I was hosting a wedding shower and we were going to finish Eleanor’s Nursery. 

Our doctor’s appointment was going as normal.  I was feeling really good too.  It came time for our doctor to listen to E’s heartbeat.  Her face was funny.  She stopped talking to us and looked concerned.  Right away she said she wanted to put me on the monitors for a bit.  She didn’t tell us much….so we were trying not to be concerned.  She asked if I had eaten breakfast, and I hadn’t.  So, she brought me some crackers and I got hooked up to the monitors.  We sat there in a little room for about 10 minutes.  She came back and said she did not like how things looked.  We were still confused about what was going on.  She took me off the monitors and brought us back to an exam room so she could check me.  After she checked me, she washed her hands and then looked at both of us.  She said “Well, you are having a baby today.”  WHAT??????  No way!  Really?  Today?  I think both of our mouths dropped to the floor and we just starred at her.  What about all our weekend obligations?  We don’t have a hospital bag?  Yep, that didn’t matter.  She told us to promptly go over to Labor & Delivery and they would be expecting us.  I asked if I could eat something real quick and she said no.  haha!  I thought I would try anyways.  We were going to be induced because E’s heartbeat was not stable and our Dr. said I was far enough along that she wanted to get her out while she was still safe.  Our Dr. did not want to risk anything.  She is amazing and I’m so thankful for her quick decision making!

So off we went to Labor & Delivery.  We were in complete shock!!!!!  I truly didn’t know what to think.  I didn’t know whether to cry or laugh or what?  My OCD self could not stop thinking about my house and work and her nursery and my empty fridge.  Oh yeah…..and that we didn’t have any stuff with us! 

We got settled in a room and they hooked me up to a bunch of stuff.  Monitoring E’s heartbeat was the most important thing.  We had the sweetest nurses ever!!!!!  I seriously loved them.  Since me and E were safe and sound with the nurses and my mom made it to the hospital……Tim ran home to try and throw together a hospital bag!!!!  Oh yeah….and a camera!  Hello…..I was not going to have our baby with no pictures!   I know we weren’t prepared, but we MUST have pictures. 

So, they started me on Pitocin.  This is where things got a little hairy.  I was only on Pitocin for literally a few minutes and E’s heart just couldn’t handle it.  It dropped.  And kept dropping.  The nurses kept turning me on my side to try and help it.  I cannot tell you how scary these few minutes were.  And husband was gone!  I was so thankful my mom was with me.  I looked at my mom and told her I thought they were going to take Eleanor by c-section.  I allowed myself to cry for just a little bit.  I had held it in for long enough.  The nurses turned off my Pitocin and the phone rang in my room.  It was our Dr.  She told me she was going to be there in about an hour and was going to do a c-section!  I knew it.  My mom called Tim and told him to get back to the hospital ASAP!  So, Tim dropped everything and sped back to the hospital. 

Wow…..we were having a baby TODAY!!!!!!!

Tim barely made it back to the hospital in time for the c-section!  Thankfully, he grabbed the camera from home. :) He gave me a kiss and they wheeled me into the surgery room.  I absolutely HATED the fact that husbands can’t go in the surgery room while they prep you.  It is so scary and I wanted him with me soooooo bad!  I just wanted to cry through the whole thing, but I managed to hold it together.  I was thankful to have such sweet nurses that stood in for Tim and held my hand.  The spinal they gave me to numb me was actually not that bad.  I was afraid….but it was not a big deal.  Maybe it was because I was so scared and not in my right mind at the moment.  Feeling your body go numb is scary.  Being hooked up to so many things is scary.  Wondering if my precious Eleanor was going to come out ok…….the most terrifying thing of my life.

Finally they bring Tim in and start the procedure.  It only took minutes!!!!!  Goodness…..my doctor is FAST!  Right away we hear the loudest cry and all the nurses were laughing and saying how little and precious she was.  They were calling her a little peanut!  (that nickname has stuck with her!) As soon as I heard her little cry……I was sobbing!  Our Dr. said that Eleanor’s cord was wrapped around her neck 3 times!  I am so very thankful for how fast she worked and deciding to bring her into the world on that day. 

I was so happy that Tim was able to hold our girl right away.   He held her right next to my face and I was able to kiss her and love on her with my husband.  Tim and I were both crying and laughing and kissing each other.  I will never ever forget our first moments together as a family! 

Eleanor was perfect!  She had no health problems at all.  All of her scores were perfect.  She didn’t even have to stay in the NICU at all!!!  Praise the Lord!  She is just incredibly tiny! 

The past few weeks have been amazing!!!!!  I have never been so tired (which I knew was coming!) but I wouldn’t change a thing. 

I am doing what God has created me to do.  After almost 3 years of trying to have a baby……we are finally holding our miracle! 

I will be posting soon about our hospital stay, breastfeeding and life with a preemie!  Please forgive me for not being able to blog much!  I will be back soon!

Lots of Love,

Amanda