In order to start documenting Ellie's life, I figured it best to start out with her birth story.
Let's rewind two weeks before my due date.
I was checked by my Nurse Midwife, who told me I was already 3 cm dilated and 70% effaced. For those not so labor-savvy... baby was getting ready to make her debut! Of course, as a first time mom 4,000 miles from home, I panicked. I needed my momma-and I needed her now. Phone calls were made, flights were changed, and my mom flew up a week earlier than originally planned for.
As soon as she arrived in Alaska, I felt I could finally relax. Now, baby could come whenever she pleased, still preferably sooner than later. Immediately, I started trying things at home to kickstart my body into labor. I walked. A LOT. I also bounced like crazy on an exercise ball, drank castor oil mixed with pineapple juice, ate eggplant parmesan and a few other unmentionables. I did all of the "at home" suggestions and thought for sure, if nothing happened by my next appointment, I would elect to be induced.
I showed up at my 39 week checkup, with the thought lingering in the back of my mind that I could very well become a mom that night. The midwife (and Ellie) had other plans, that in fact, I had not progressed at all. This midwife refused to do an early induction. (Seriously, lady, I was miserable!) As she denied any help to me, I BAWLED in the exam room, right in front of her and her student. I felt terrible that we flew my mom up early, and even more so it was taking away time she would have with Ellie. I calmly explained this to her, yet she continued to refuse and told me to enjoy the time I had left. To just relax. Yea. Right.
Days went by. No baby. No imminent signs of labor. Nothing.
Finally, my due date was here: September, 29, 2013. I called L&D at about 4 a.m. because I was having a burning pain in my upper chest, but not a single contraction to report. (I never had any Braxton-Hicks contractions, so I wasn't really sure what to expect). L&D said if the burning continued, to come in. But, wouldn't you know, it disappeared.
Once everyone else was up, we had a lazy day. Frankly, I was too tired to go walking. We watched the Dallas Cowboys game and proceeded to watch The Dark Knight Rises. Take note, this is the one where Bain is the villian, it plays an ironic role later. I ate spicy kimchi noodles, hoping this would induce labor.
The day continued, still nothing.
For dinner, we made spicy chicken tacos. I made sure to eat jalepenos as well, really riding the spicy train. My dad called and anxiously asked if his grand-baby was here yet, in which I replied "no".
But, then something I started having a TERRIBLE , terrible pain. I looked at the clock, and continued to talk to dad, but within seven minutes, it was there again. It could've been a fluke, or all the spicy food, so I told him I would have to talk to him later; I really wasn't feeling well. So, I decided to jump in the shower, because I knew warm water would help me relax.
Panic mode began. I was not ready. Not ready for this pain. And then there it was again, this miserable pain that was reminding me I had no choice. I cried in the shower, mainly due to the physical pain, but also, I was in denial. I had been so ready for labor, whatever that meant. And here it was, but I couldn't handle it. After deliberating in denial for a few minutes, I decided it was time to go to the hospital. And the urgency only made the trip worse.
To be continued.
The photo is of Jerry and I at Evangelo's Restaurant in Wasilla, AK. We became parents two days later!
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