She's Here! - Evie's Birth Story ✨

 Evie's Birth Story

After everything we have been through, the greatest gift the Lord gave me was an "easy" pregnancy. Now, I put quotation marks around easy because, in theory, it was easy. 

I was considered high risk due to my son's stillbirth (Luca's birth story), so we received extra appointments, extra tests, extra ultrasounds, extra monitoring and all the extras we could receive to bring babygirl earthside.

Starting at 32 weeks I began the consecutive appointments, starting with a growth scan that showed me my babygirl's sweet face! I did NSTs (non stress test), BPPs ( biophysical profile ultrasound) and growth scans twice a week and an additional appointment for gestational diabetes and growth conversation with my MFM (maternal fetal medicine - high risk) doctor. As you can imagine, it gave me a sense of control and peace that I was doing the absolute most I could possible do for my girl.

My perfect babygirl at 32 weeks 💜

Evie had been measuring ahead since her anatomy scan, so it was no surprise that both my OB and MFM warned me that she was still around 3-4 weeks ahead in the 90th percentile. 

I went on maternity leave at 37 weeks and it was by the grace of God that I survived that 36th week! Mama was TIRED! I told myself I would take it easy but also finish up the last couple things in our to-do list to finish preparing for her arrival. I always knew in my gut she wouldn't make it to 39 weeks...I just KNEW. We still needed to build the crib, set up her diapers and wipes station, wash the rest of her stuff, set up the sound machine and finish cleaning what we could. 

 

The Tuesday of her birth week, during our scheduled NST, my blood pressure was unusually high. Now, up until that point, I had never had a high reading or any issues with blood pressure. I was taking baby aspirin (help blood flow to baby) and Lovenox (help blood flow for me) to help prevent what happened to my Luca. So, with all my history in mind, the nurse wanted to be sure it was just a fluke and sent met to Labor&Delivery for monitoring. Stayed hooked up to the NST monitor for about 4 hours and my blood pressure was normal the entire time. No high reading, at all! I was sent home with the reminder that if I felt less movement, had another high blood pressure reading, severe headache or bleeding, I would need to return to L&D immediately. Talk about triggered.

9/5/23 Three days before meeting her 💜

Went home that day to finish up everything we were missing. I knew she was coming, I just didn't know the exact date. She was coming and I knew it!

My next appointment was that Friday, September 8th at 10am. I arrived at the Perinatal office on time and winded, the usual. I signed in, waited for my name to be called while drinking my water. Hot days call for hydrated mamas! My usual nurse, Melissa, called me in and walked me to the room. Hooked me up and dimmed the lights for me. I listened to Maverick City, which is the music that got her moving. (Praising God from the womb!) 

She walked back in about 5 minutes later and took my blood pressure, which was routine for her to do. She looked at the results and joked that I was mad at her because my blood pressure was a little high. "Do you not wanna see me anymore?", she joked, as she put the cuff back on. She said she would leave the cuff on and let me rest again and retake it, just to be sure. She came back 10 minutes later and saw the reading was about the same, high. She looked at the NST reading and saw babygirl was doing well. She moved on to the BPP, and this time, it was going to be detailed. She got more serious and quiet. As she was moving around my bump, she was explaining what she was doing and what she was looking for, which I'll be forever grateful for! She was timing babygirl's movements and breathing. I could see it all on the little television in front of me, where I had been watching my girly move and kick these past weeks.

As babygirl passed all the tests, my nurse was writing everything down. Fluid levels were perfect, her breathing was perfect, her movements were perfect. Now, it was time to take my blood pressure again. I was calm and I knew it, but so much was going through my mind as I was waiting for the results. "141/90". It might not seem high, but my normal was always around 118/70. My nurse wrote the number down and let me know what was next. She was going to take the data to the OB on site. It felt like a lifetime waiting for her to come back.

Melissa, my nurse, walks back in and informs me of what the OB said. "I spoke to the doctor and she recommends you go to L&D. She spoke to OB on call at the hospital and everyone is aware you are headed that way. I want to be realistic with you. Scenarios like this almost always lead to being admitted. You have the final say, the doctors will only give you all the options they see fit for your history and your current situation." I knew it, I felt it, I walked in that day with the possibility of giving birth that day in mind. I responded "thank you so much for all you have done for me, Melissa. I am forever grateful for your bedside manner that kept me informed throughout the last weeks of my pregnancy. I had a feeling I was not gonna make it to 39 weeks, so I had come to terms with it. I would be lying if I said I'm not nervous." To which she replied "you are so welcome!", proceeds to hug me with the hug I needed, being that I was by myself at that moment. "It's baby time, mama!", she said as she wiped away a tear.

I am forever grateful to God for answering the prayer I said since the beginning; to have the most compassionate and caring medical team we could possibly have. My prayer was answered.

I proceed to walk my way to the hospital, which is behind the OB offices. I walked into L&D, signed paperwork, called hubby and waited to be walked in. 

Once I was all checked in and hooked up to the NST monitor, the nurse taking my information lets me know that doctor will be coming in shortly. As doctor comes in, my heart starts racing. I try not to think about anything and just surviving each moment. This is the first time in my life that my baby is doing well and feel so close, yet so far to meeting her. *Taking deep breathes*

Doctor walks in, gives me all the information about my options. She knew my plan A was a VBAC (vaginal birth after C-section) and mentioned how pro VBAC she normally is. Now, my health history is not normal in the slightest. Given my history and current state, she does not recommend a VBAC. Says I'm not dilated, not even a little bit, to which she says she doesn't recommend induction. An induction would require a lot of medication, cause a lot exhaustion and possibly too much pressure on my previous C-section uterine scar, and because I am not dilated, we run the possibility of having to do an emergency C-section (again!). Then, she proceeds to give me information about a second C-section. This would be a controlled environment. I would be in and out of the Operating Room in about an hour (prep, surgery and closing). I would be awake, rested and able to witness the birth of my daughter and participate in the "Golden hour", the hour right after babies are born is meant for skin to skin with mama and nursing! 

There was no debate, let's do another C-section. 

I know what you're thinking...it's a major surgery! I would be submitting my body to another surgery and risking my life. Yes, I know. But it took me a split second to decide for a C-section. Why? Because this is the moment I have been waiting for, for 8 months. 

A VBAC was in my birth plan and I hoped with all my heart to be able to have one. I learned all about VBACs and how it can be done and have the possibility to decrease the amount of future C-sections I expose my body to. Unfortunately, it wasn't in the cards for me. I accepted it so fast because the best chance of survival, no, not just survival, the best chance for a calm, tranquil birth was a C-section. 

I was terrified, petrified. The "what ifs" of it all could've taken over my mind with anxiety and sent me spiraling...but they didn't; because in that moment, in that moment all I could think about was that in the next couple hours, I was going to have a second birth. I was going to give birth, and this time, the chances of her crying as she's born were way higher. The chances of me carrying my newborn and feeding her were higher. The chances of taking my baby home were so much higher. I was not going to risk that, ever. 

"Let's do it. I'm so impressed at how quickly you gave your answer. Most moms feel a loss when their birth plan doesn't go the way they wanted" she said. "Unfortunately for me, I know what my chances are and I am not willing to risk her life for my wish. For me, it's an easy answer. To bring my baby home, whatever that entails" I responded. 

It is now 3:30pm and have been pretty much resting the entire day. Working on my mind, thinking about what else we need to finish once we bring her home. Gosh, "bring her home". We're bringing her home. Yup. It's happening. This time, it's gonna be different. This time, we're BRINGING HER HOME. My God, how good it felt to think of the future. I refused to think otherwise. 

Hubby is making his way over to the hospital, installing the car seat in the car, bringing the hospital bags and all the other little details. Finally, he's going to be by my side.

It's 4:14pm and I'm settled into what will be my recovery room. The room where I'll be for a little while until I give birth, and then about an hour after for all the measurements, vitals and necessities for babygirl. The nurse lets me know that it will be an hour until the OB will be ready for me. I have hubby with me, it's all I need.

It is 5:30pm and nurse comes in and lets me know that they just received a laboring mama, but that it won't be long since it is her fourth baby. Well, that birth took about 3 hours. 

So now, it is 8pm and my OB walks in and checks in on me and baby. Says she still looks great and OR is being prepped for me. I'm walked over to the OR (across the hall from my recovery room) and get prepped. 

I received a spinal as my anesthesia. That in itself was such a scary process, but all I kept imaging was holding my sweet, sweet babe. That held me down, taking each moment as it came. I honestly gotta say, I'm so proud of myself. I was able to have some control of my mind and not freak out. That was so big and I commend myself for that, sometimes we have to give ourselves props!

The anesthesia worked perfectly, but as the time passed and I had to remain laying down, my anxiety crept in. I told my anesthesiologist about it and she added a little bit for my anxiety, which made me feel a little sleepy. I just remember telling them "I'm gonna take a little nap" and they agreed and said they'd wake me before she arrived. Funny how they just rolled with it. 

I hear my anesthesiologist and my hubby say "she's coming!". I open my eyes, I wake up and hear her cry! THANK YOU, JESUS. THANK YOU, LORD. Praise, God almighty. SHE'S HERE. Thank you, Lord! They clean her up a bit and bring her over. She's here, she's really here. I can't believe my eyes, I'm on cloud 9!

It was a long night of tests, for both babygirl and I. She was born perfect, except for bilirubin. Her sugars were perfect, her weight was perfect, her breathing was perfect. My blood pressure was great, going down, which is what they were looking for. 

"Waking" up the next morning was a dream. She's real, she's here. My dream come true. I'm an earth side mama and I still can't believe it! I look at her and, it might be the drugs, but I feel so good! Nothing like my recovery after having my Luca. 

We arrived on Friday morning and left Monday evening. Great medical team, great care, great experience and I'll be forever thankful for this experience. Getting to be wheeled out with my babygirl, wow. Grateful. Driving home with babygirl in the car seat? Grateful. Settling home with my newborn babygirl? Grateful. Thank you, Jesus. 

First night home 💜

If you've been following our story, praying with us, praying for us, or part of our village...THANK YOU. Your prayers were felt, your love was felt and we can't wait to share our adventures with y'all.

If you're still waiting for you rainbow, please know I know exactly what you're going through. Please reach out if you need a village or an ear to vent to. You are not alone and I am rooting for you! ✨

With love, 

Mama and Evie 💞