Elena is my first born. She was born on May 1, 2020, right in the craziness of COVID/Quarantine. I was teaching at the time as well as completing my Masters, so basically an insane time to have a baby.
I'll never forget that week she was born. She was born on a Friday. The Monday before, I submitted my FINAL paper and forms to complete my Masters. Tuesday, I had a meeting with my instructor to wrap things up as well as doing everything I can to have things ready for my long-term sub. Wednesday, I was VERY sick and extremely uncomfortable. Thursday, I had my 38 week appointment, and got some not so good news. Friday, she was born. I'll try not to cry while writing this. Writing about the birth of the baby that made me a mommy, is something special. This is Elena's Birth Story.
I go to my 38 week appointment which was in the morning at 9am. My husband was not allowed to go with me to this appointment. It was patient only. He was at all the other appointments before COVID, so at least he had that. Typically, the weeks at the end of the third trimester starting at week 36, is an appointment every single week. Just to make sure everything is okay before the baby is born. At that point, it could be any day. Since it was early COVID time, they did not do an appointment every week at the end of the third trimester. It was alternating face to face and virtual appointments. They saw me face to face at 36 weeks, virtual (which was a waste of time) at 37 weeks and then face to face at 38 weeks. I would have been virtual at 39 weeks, but she was born before then. So going into my 38 week appointment, I was super excited and had a lot of questions to ask. I also was nervous that I was leaking fluid, so I wanted to bring that to their attention.
I have my appointment and they do all their vital checks and check baby's heartbeat. Everything was normal. I bring up possibly leaking fluid. The doctor did not seem concerned about that. But just to ease my nerves, he did an ultrasound for me. I was not leaking fluid, but they did notice something else. The ultrasound technician was checking and measuring everything. She came to the baby's stomach and noticed it was significantly small. She measured it a few times. I could feel my heart beating so fast because the look on her face was kinda frozen and she looked at me and said "I need to get the doctor, sit tight". The next couple minutes which felt like forever was the scariest I've ever felt in this pregnancy. I didn't know much, the technician looked concerned and then just left me there. I didn't know what was going on. After a few minutes of anxiously waiting, the doctor walked into my room. He said to me that my baby's stomach is currently in the 2nd percentile. He said since I am 38 weeks pregnant, it is safe to have the baby now and he wants to induce me that day. He could tell by my face that I was nervous about the stomach size. I think I even asked him, why did it get so small. He said there could've been a few reasons why it basically stopped growing but we need to get the baby out so we can start feeding her immediately. Just hearing those words, "let's have a baby", I started to tear up. Everything I dreamed of and waited for was finally happening. Not in the best of circumstances, but she was alive and going to be in my arms very soon.
I called my husband as I was walking to the car. I explained everything that happened and then told him to get the dogs ready because we're having a baby. He was way more freaked out and nervous than me. Before going home, I went to McDonald's first to treat myself to a breakfast. Their sausage egg mcmuffins can really hit the spot. Especially at 38 weeks pregnant. I get home, my husband is all flustered, and I am surprisingly very calm. We grab our hospital bags, our two dogs and their things and go to our dog's locations that agreed to watch them while we were at the hospital. We were ready.
We get to the hospital and of course have to wear masks. They were very strict during this time because COVID was still new. My husband was allowed with me but that's it. He was also not allowed to leave. So once in, he had to stay or could not come back in. We finally get our room. It's around 1pm on April 30, 2020. We told all our family and friends we needed to tell about being induced and why we were being induced. Some were concerned but I explained the doctor said we just got to get the baby out as soon as possible and everything will be fine. All the nurses and the midwife that was at the hospital was also prepared for me to be induced as well. I did not realize it was going to take three hours before being induced though. I wasn't induced officially until about 4:30pm. So many people came into the room. I was getting hooked up, had to get tested for COVID, they did a membrane sweep (sooooo painful), continual cervix checks, paperwork to fill out, etc. It was crazy. Like I said, had no idea.
I'm finally induced. They induced me with Pitocin. I think that's what most hospitals use to induce. That was around 4:30pm. At that point, it was a waiting game. I made it very clear from the beginning that I wanted an epidural. They did not want to do the epidural yet. They wanted me to wait until the contractions were an 8 on a pain scale. It took a while to start feeling contractions. Apparently, I was having contractions but I wasn't feeling it until around 10:30pm. That's when it started to get painful. The contractions started to get closer together too. They ordered my epidural and the anesthesiologist was in my room by 11:15pm. The anesthesiologist was absolutely amazing. He had the calmest voice, our nurse during that time was my favorite too. Of course my husband held my hands the entire time. I felt so safe with everyone and it helped my nerves too. From the time I got the epidural to when it was time to start pushing was about 6 hours. My husband slept and I tried to sleep. I was feeling pressure which I was told was the contractions, but zero pain. This is going to sound so gross, and I'm sorry if it's TMI, but each contraction felt like I had to poop. It was that kind of feeling.
The "feeling of pooping" was happening every 2 minutes or less around 5:00am on May 1st. I called in the nurse to let her know, she got the midwife to come in and check my cervix and it was go time. I had two nurses, the midwife and my husband with me when I started to push around 5:30am. After about an hour of pushing, they called in the doctor on call. I was so exhausted at this point. I just wanted her out. But there were some complications. Basically, the baby was stuck. That's the best way to describe it. The baby's heart rate was dropping I had to wear an oxygen mask. So with the oxygen mask on, I had trouble hearing what the doctor said was going on. I had no idea the baby's heart rate was dropping. I actually found out that detail later. My husband knew though because he could hear the doctor. The doctor was wearing three different masks and then with the oxygen mask I was wearing, I could not hear a single thing.
The doctor then suggested we use a vacuum. It would add pressure to the baby's head and suck the baby out, giving her the extra push she needed along with my pushing. My husband agreed to this and asked if I wanted to do it. I of course agreed. They did warn us that she may have a "cone" head for a short while because of the vacuum and probably a bruise on her forehead, but since they guaranteed it was only temporary, I trusted them. My next push, they used the vacuum. Within 30 seconds, she was officially born. 7:04 am, Elena Maria entered into our world. She was 19.5 inches long and 6lbs.6oz. They immediately cut the umbilical cord because it was wrapped around her neck. Usually they let the significant other do it, but since it was wrapped around her neck, my husband was not able to do that part. That explained why her heart rate was dropping. But she was okay. The placed her on my chest, and I held her for the first time. I looked up at my husband and we both started crying. It was such a beautiful moment. The moment we became parents. A specialist came in shortly after so they had to take her from me to check her stomach and vitals. Everything was fine and after about 15 minutes, I was able to hold her again. And my husband was finally able to hold her. I can't even begin to describe what I felt at that moment, the moment she was born. *Cue the tears*. There's something special about the first time. Going in, I had no idea what to expect. I didn't know what it would feel like. I've heard so many birth stories. Every story is so different. That's what I love about the experience. There is no other experience like it. I didn't realize how much went into labor and delivery. It is quite the process and in some cases can take FOREVER. That is what this experience felt like. There were a lot of steps. That's because I was induced and then chose to get an epidural. It was a waiting game. But once I held her for the first time, it all didn't matter. My husband was crying, I was crying, the nurse was taking pictures, and after about 30 minutes, our room was empty and peaceful. She was the sweetest baby and we started to soak in being mom and dad for the first time. It felt surreal. I remember laying there, staring at her while she was asleep in the bassinet, in such awe because I could not believe she was mine. Life really can have some pretty incredible moments. This one is one of my favorites.
Two years later and I have the most energetic little two year old. She does not have any stomach issues, but she is petit for her age (8th percentile). She has a very feisty and stubborn personality and looks just like her daddy. We found out shortly after she was born that the reason her stomach was so little was because my placenta stopped giving her nutrients. I'm not really sure what the medical term is for it. Basically, it stopped working. I always wonder that if I had a face to face appointment at 37 weeks, if they would have caught it a little sooner. Who knows. I am just grateful I did request an ultrasound for leaking fluid at my 38 week appointment and they were able to see the shrinking stomach. She is thriving and healthy today.
Check out below for some pictures from the day she was born.
As always, thank you again for reading. This one was special and dear to my heart to share with you. I am going to share Talia's (2nd born) birth story next week. That one is so different!
Love Always,
~Susana
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