http://fromwoodfieldwithlove.blogspot.com/2016/01/abigail-worthington-wheaton-birth-story.html
It's now almost 24 hours since I checked into the hospital. I'm tired, hungry (as much as I love popsicles, they won't keep you full), and I wanted my baby.
After the epidural, we had the conversation about how things "could" go from here. Isn't it great knowing you have options? Like myself, my doctor had experienced a "failed induction"...simply, we told my body to go into labor and it said no. Go figure. In my sleepy state, Dr. Drake asked what I wanted our game plan to be and I responded "whatever you want!". Can you tell I was feeling much better? That was definitely a highlight moment.
Thankfully the epidural allowed me to sleep and I was able to rest for about 2-3 hours. Now it's about 8pm & when I was checked at that point I was at 5cm! YAY for progress. I remember thinking, "even if I have to have a c-section, I'm just glad to know my body will sort of do this thing". I was beginning to believe it wouldn't.
After an epidural, you aren't allowed to get out of the bed which is zero fun. My mom, ever the entertainer, brought coloring books for us to have distractions. Serious mom win! We colored, laughed at my husband who couldn't stay in the lines, visited with friends, and just enjoyed the calmness of the world around us. Thankfully we were one of the few people on the floor that night so we felt like we had the place to ourselves.
About 10 o'clock everyone left and I took another nap. Knowing now how little sleep I'd get for the next 48 hours, I'm so thankfully I got those few hours of rest. At midnight Dr. Drake came in, checked me, and said "Ok, you want to push?". I remember looking at Andrew and shrugging! :)
I have maybe pushed 2 times before my phone rang & it was my mama. I was torn, do I answer or keep pushing? My parents had left to go get some sleep at my house which is thankfully just down the street. Ultimately we didn't answer. I think I knew in my heart that if we didn't answer that mom would just show up...and I was right. It wasn't 20 minutes later that we heard a knock on the door and it was my mom. She came in, hugged me, then went to the waiting room.
If you talked with me at all during my pregnancy about how I wanted birth to go, I didn't have many opinions. We were very laid back about the entire process because I've been told by many that it never goes the way you want it to go. The one thing I was adamant about was how I wanted this girl to enter the world. I love my family & friends dearly and I enjoy sharing life with them, but I knew I didn't want a crowd there. I am so thankful that everyone was respectful of that.
We had been listening to Norah Jones radio all evening on Pandora, but I had turned it off once all the nurses came in. I just didn't think everyone would want to have to listen to my music. I know I could have danced for joy when my doctor asked "what happened to our music?". I know it's not the norm, but we were SO lucky that my doctor was there through the entire pushing process. My nurses were great, but I was so so so glad my doctor was there.
The next hour is really a blur of exhaustion. I was so tired and was starting to give up hope that Abigail was coming. My husband was the best coach I could have had. He kept telling me that I could do it, how great I was doing, and just being so encouraging. But I was getting close to my breaking point, I could just feel it...and thankfully so could my doctor. When she asked if I was OK with her using the vacuum to get Abby out I remember looking at Andrew & his eyes being as big as golf balls! :)
But that's all the help she needed...one push after that & she literally popped out. And in a second, my heart grew more than I ever thought possible. She was the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen. Abigail Worthington Wheaton, 6lb 8oz, 19.5 inches long...and born at 1:26am. She made it out with 4 minutes to spare!
We still don't understand how we got so lucky. Our lives will never be the same. We love you big time Toady!
Big love!
Such a cute post!
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