Blakelee's Birth Story!

So, I've been off the blog radar for the last 3.5 months. I've been a little busy....busy rocking, cuddling, feeding, changing diapers, loving on my baby girl....it's been a good busy! Anyway, I'm going to do my best to play catch up and get back to blogging on a more regular basis! Here is my attempt to let you all know how we welcomed our sweet baby to the world!

   At our last Dr's appointment on 5/17 we decided to schedule an induction to begin 5/20 at 7pm. We were going to start with the cervidil and then pitocin the next morning if needed. The days following our appointment were filled with excitement as we anticipated what all was going to take place on Monday/Tuesday; however, I was still praying/hoping that I would be able to go into labor on my own! 

   I woke up Monday morning around 5:00am needing to use the restroom (what's new?!). Once I got back in bed I could not get comfortable and started to notice I was having contractions. They weren't terrible but they were definitely stronger than the ones I had felt before. I couldn't go back to sleep so I decided to start timing them, they were about 9-10 apart at this time. Brock woke up around 6:30 to go up to the office to get some things done before heading to the hospital. Before he got out of bed I hugged him and said "I've been having contractions for the last hour or so that are now 8-9 min apart...just sayin'!" He immediately asked if we needed to go to the hospital now! I assured him it wasn't time yet. He showered and reluctantly left for work. I told him I wanted to take a shower and get ready and see if the contractions continued (any time I thought I was having contractions they would always stop once I changed positions or started doing something else) and that I would call him and let him know. So I took a shower and bounced on my exercise ball as I got ready for THE day....and the contractions were still happening and getting a little closer together! Brock couldn't stand it and was back home by 9:00 and ready to get in the car and head to the hospital. So, we took one last "bump" picture and headed to Amarillo. I decided we could go and walk around the mall some and when they started getting closer then we would be close to the hospital. On the ride to the hospital my contractions definitely got stronger and by the time we got to Amarillo they were about 5-5 1/2 minutes apart. We decided to just go ahead and get to the hospital. 

   We got to BSA around 10:30, they checked me and I was only 1cm dilated and 80-85% effaced. They called Dr. Freeman and decided to go ahead and admit me since I was scheduled to be induced that evening anyway. They started me on the lowest dose of pitocin to try to get the contractions strong enough to help dilate. Once I was 3-4cm dilated I decided to go ahead and get the epidural. The contractions weren't terrible but the last couple I had while we were waiting on the anesthesiologist definitely brought tears to my eyes! The epidural was amazing, I'm pretty sure I even got a few cat naps in after that!

  The afternoon went well and was pretty uneventful. There were a couple times that Miss B's heart rate would drop and I would have to change positions to find one that she liked (picky all ready!). Around midnight the nurse checked me and said I was complete, 10cm dilated and 100% effaced. She wanted to wait to push until she dropped a little more. Around 12:20am the nurse came in and had me start pushing. Now, the position that Blakelee cooperated with throughout the day was sitting straight up and the lower end of the bed down and any time the would lie me down to check me her heart rate would drop....soooo this was the position they had me push in. Now, I haven't ever pushed in any other position previously to this (obviously) but it felt incredibly awkward! They would only let me push every other contraction because her heart rate kept dropping while I would push and would take a while to recover. I could tell the nurse was worried about her heart rate. Dr. Freeman came in and explained to me that there was a possibility he would have to do a c-section due to her heart rate. I told him I understood and it didn't matter to me, whatever was going to be safest for B! He checked me one last time and said "oh, she's just right there. Let's try one more time". I pushed through one more contraction with Dr. Freeman. After, he said he felt it would be in the best interest for the baby that we go ahead and do a c-section. (After she was here, he told Brock on the last push he felt her turn face up.) Now, he said it wasn't an emergency and I had fully prepared myself for this to be a possibility---I still went into a little bit of a panic. I wasn't panicking because I didn't want a c-section, that didn't bother me at all. But, all of these thoughts started flooding my mind. Why is her heart rate dropping? Is the cord wrapped around her neck? What if they can't get her out soon enough? etc. I was trying to stay calm and collected so that I wouldn't cause anymore stress to B, but I was scared!! From the time they were prepping to take me to the OR to the time I heard her cry I was in a constant state of prayer, I knew that's all I could do at that time. 
  

  
They wheeled me to the O.R. and Brock got decked out in his scrubs. They got me all set up and then Brock came in and squeezed my hand and gave me a big kiss and said, "it's going to be fine, we're about to meet our daughter". Thank gosh for my wonderful hubby knowing just what to say. It was only a matter of minutes and I heard the most beautiful sound I have ever heard, the sound of my sweet baby's first cry...music to my ears. Let the waterworks begin. Brock went over with the nurses, they wrapped her up and he brought her over to me. Now, of all the things that happened that day and the days following, this moment will be the one I remember forever. Brock brought her to me with tears streaming down his face, he held her up to my face so I could give her a kiss, he leaned down and kissed me and through all of our tears he said, "she's perfect, she's beautiful, she's ours!"

  The nurses whisked Brock and Blakelee away while they closed me up and took me to the recovery room. While waiting in the recovery room I just kept thinking, "oh my goodness, she's here, she's mine, she's healthy, she has lots of dark hair, she's beautiful, etc..." Brock brought her into me and I got to hold my baby girl for the first time. Let me tell you, I love babies. I love to hold and cuddle and rock babies....always have. I didn't think I could love it more. However, there is absolutely NOTHING like holding YOUR baby for the first time. Nothing. I held her, weeping with such joy...overwhelming. She was wide awake. She looked into my eyes as if to say, "hello Mommy, I'm all yours!". Ah, as I sit here typing this 3.5 month later I can barely see the screen through my tear filled eyes. It was a wonderful, amazing, exciting day!  

~"I saw God today"~

*Thanks to my sweet friend Alicia for taking pictures! I will be forever grateful to her for capturing such precious moments for us! Thank you for being such a wonderful friend and for sticking out with me til EARLY in the morning...love you!!