A Labor of Love:

It took me a few days but FINALLY here is my birth story. On Jan 30th I went for a weekly OB visit knowing that the week before she offered me a possible induction still unsure of what I wanted to do I got to the appointment and again talked it over with my OB we talked about the pain I was having from the split pelvis (SPD- a pregnancy condition that causes alot of pelvic discomfort and made it uncomfortable to sleep, walk.. or do pretty much anything). She suggested that I go with an induction not only to help relieve some of the pelvic pressure but also because the baby was a good size for a vaginal delivry but if she continued to grow it may cause to much of a strain on my pelvis so with that said I went ahead with planning an induction. She said she would talk to her nurse and get her to call L&D to book a date and she would be back in a few minutes. While we sat waiting Mike and I could not wipe the smiles off our faces it was soooo exciting to know that with in the next week or so we would have our baby in our arms we laughed and joked about how he would end up missing the super bowel and I think our nerves started to set in as we started listing off things that still had to be done before our daughter arrived. The doctor walked back in and said that our induction would be 9 am THE NEXT DAY!! At first I smiled and tear'd up I could believe how soon it was happening I still had 2 weeks until my due date and I thought she would get me a date for the next week so I was in complete shock, I looked at Mike and he took looked suprised but happy. So she sat down and explained what would take place during our induction and what to expect I dont think I heard two words of what she said my mind was all over the place. A few minutes later she was hugging us and sending us out the door to enjoy our last few hours before becomming parents. We headed home only to realize we needed some last minute supplies to we went to the mall then out to dinner and then returned home to clean and finish packing our hospital bags. We made some phone calls to let everyone know our exciting news and the more phone calls we made the more exciting it became. Mike was so excited how ever alot calmer then myself he was able to fall asleep and a reasonable time..and I was up until 5 am.. we had to be up at 6 to leave by 7 because there was a big snow storm that morning. &am hits and we are on our way we made it to the hospital with 30 mins to spare so we sat outside the room that starts the inductions and we were like two kids on christmas morning unable to focus on one topic for more then a second. At 9 am the office opened and we went in where I was put in a bed and hooked up to a fetal heart monitor at this point I became a lil emotional thinking about how these would be the last times I felt my baby girl kick inside me and how in a few short hours I would never hear the racing heart beat of a baby inside me. The induction started off by a nurse putting a mediciated gel on my cervix to help me start to efface and dialte (at this point I was only 1cm) The gel gets done twice 6 hours apart so after the give you the gel they monitor you for an hour then your free to go and return for your second session because of my SPD they admited me and had me stay in bed which was nice. My second gel session happened in L&D since the day clinic was closed by the time i needed my gel. It was sooooo exciting going into the L&D room it looked like a hotel room there was abed for me and one for mike and a nice lazy boy chair a tv and then ofcourse all the things required to deliver a baby I was very excited to see the baby warmer I kept day dreaming about what would happen over the next few hours. When it was time for the gel to go in the discovered I had not progressed much and so they said they would be back in another 6 hours to see how things were going. 6 hours passes and they return only again to see nothing much has happened. They at this point give me a shot of pain meds and insert a balloon type device into my cervix to cause it to open faster they leave this balloon in until your cervix is stretched out enough and then it falls out. At 6 am the balloon fell out and they started talking about breaking my water so I reminded them I would like an epi before things got more intense (contractions are no fun and i was having them about every 10 mins at this point front and back labor). So I got my epi which was not THAT bad.. it wasn't something I look forward to having done again but it was well worth the few moments of discomfort, Mike was in the room while I had it done and he looked so nervous he was already feeling bad about all the pain I was in so this made him feel worse and his entire face went white. He wanted to hold my hand but the docotr told him he had to be seated because husbands were known for passing out. To me the epi felt like they were blowing up a very tiny balloon into my back and it felt tight and there was lots of pressure. I had what is called a walking epi so that I can still feel my legs.. trust me they aren't good enough to walk around on but its nice to still hve some control over your body. At noon they broke my water which was a weird feeling it was very warm and felt like i took a 2 litre pee all over myself at this point I was still only 4cm so they started with the c-section talk and how at this point I should be moving up a cm an hour or I would be looking at a c-section so when 4pm hit and I was only 5cm I started to get worried. Around 6pm I began to feel a ton of pressure and got really uncomfrotable the nurse had the doctor come check me and to everyones suprise i was now 100% effaced and 8cm but now the issue was the babies position she was head down but not facing the right way so her shoulders were not in the right place for a vaginal delivery so now the goal was to get her to move before I hit 10cm so they had me turn from one side to the next every 5 mins to see which way she would roll. They had me on pitocin drugs aswell they started those at about 10 am so I had been on it for a few hours with them increasing the amount every 30 mins and suddenly my baby's heart rate started to drop and they put me on oxygen and they started to page for an OB so I started to get very upset and Mike was asking a million questions and to be honest I coulnd't hear anything anyone was saying I just was in panic mode. Finally a doctor came in and decided to turn down the induction meds and that the baby would just fine but my body would now have to continue labor on it's on.. and again they mentioned a c-section. So the pressure increases and I am feeling a ton of discomfort in my lower back and starting to feel like i really need to go to the bathroom so they check me again and its now a lil past 7pm and I am fully dialted and ready to go so the doctor said we would start pushing at 8. At 8pm I started pushing they turned down the meds so I could feel the contractions and know when to push. We only pushed when I felt like I needed to push which was nice because I felt like I was in control and it really helped me to focus. Mike who all along said he didn't want to watch the birth just wanted to hold my hand got tossed a front row seat when my legs still felt a little numb the nurse had him hold up one of my legs and he had no choice but to look right at the main event. By 8:50 the nurse called in the delivry team and by 9:04pm I was a Mommy. I felt her head and shoulders pass through me and it was the most amazing feeling I am so glad I was able to experience the full feeling of giving birth because it's something I will never forget. After she was born they placed her on my belly and Mike proudly cut the cord I was crying and he was teary eyed and he looked at me and said it was the most amazing thing he had ever seen and he was so proud of me. I must mention at this point that I am a huge baby and I did not scream cry or complain from the start of the induction until the birth so that shows you its really not that bad. He kept telling me over and over again how amazed he was and how strong i was and how much he loved me then he ran after the nurse to see his baby and find out her weight (which was 6 pounds 14 ounces) While I was passing the placenta and getting my 3 stitchs Mike walked around the room with his lil girl in his arms and the biggest smile on his face he showed her off to all the nurses and the doctors and it was funny as i sat back and looked at him.. he went from being my husband to the father of my child and i continued to cry. After about 15 minutes of Mike walking the room with the baby one of the nurses had to stop him and say "Do you think your wife can see the baby now" and he laughed and walked over to me and kept telling me how beautiful she was and how she looked just like me LOL. It was such an amazing experience I still can't believe its all over. Aurora (which is our daughters name by the way) left the hospital that sunday we had an extended stay because she ended up with a tiny fever and lost some weight she came home weighing 6 pounds 3 ounces so we had to rush out and buy some premie outfits since she was swimming in everything we had packed for her. I have now had her home for over a week and I am so crazy inlove with being a Mommy I walk around liek a zombie and don't remember the last time I brushed my hair but everytime I see her little face it makes me feel like I am the luckiest person in the entire world. For those of you that are still prego enjoy every moment of it because as hard as it can get.. when its gone you will feel a small loss and miss the kicks and hiccups and believe it or not you will even miss the big belly. I am so happy to finally have my baby girl in my arms nothing has ever felt so magical as holding this little person that me and my husband created its an amazing feeling to look at her and see the best of us in her she is a perfect mix of the both of us and a constant reminder of our love for one and other. It's not even possible to put into words how wonderful it feels to be her Mom. So now that you have the entire story I want to thank all of you who shared your pregnancy adventures with me this site has given me the opportunity to start some amazing friendships and I will not forget all of the support you girls have given me. I hope to keep my page updated but I find it impossible to get any free time these days which I am sure most of you can relate too also I will do my best to add more pics of my little princess very soon ;o)

I have got a few questions asking just how big Aurora is since she looks so tiny. Aurora was born at 6 pounds 14 ounces and due to a slight fever and trouble breast feeding she dropped to 6 pounds 3 ounces and is currently 6 pounds 9 ounces she really is my "little" princess. ;o)

Aurora watching her first lunar eclipse Feb 20th, 2008.

This onsie reads "my finger may be small but Daddy is wrapped around it" and it is 100% true LOL

I can't believe how fast time is going when your prego it drags on forever and when they get here it flies by. She is 3 weeks old today (Feb 21st 2008)

Aurora sitting in her bumbo seat at 3 weeks old!

Me and my Princess!!

Aurora @ One month old (Feb 28th 2008)

Aurora in my favourite outfit ;o)

Aurora doesn't seem to pleased with the dating rules LOL

"I'm cute, my moms cute.. my dads lucky!" haha SO TRUE!!!

Aurora reading about the Aurora Borealis (the northern lights)

Aurora got to meet the Easter Bunny at the mall this week! Her face is so priceless!! LOL

These pictures (below) are of my OB and Aurora at my 6 week follow up visit. I really loved my OB and it was so great to get to show off my little princess. Going to the appointment and seeing all of the prego ladies made me miss my big belly and prego days LOL.

Aurora @ 6 weeks old (Below)

Mike bought that outfit for Aurora from Baby Gap as her "Take Home" outfit. It size "newborn" and it's is still so big LOL she is my tiny princess at 6 weeks she is finally just over 8 pounds

Today is Aurora's first St.Patricks Day!!! We took a few silly pictures. She is wearing the "I've got Irish roots" t-shirt my Mom bought her in Ireland this summer. There are a few more pictures in the photo section of my page ;o)

Aurora's 2 month pictures (Below)

Aurora's 1st Easter (pix below)

Aurora will be 11 weeks old tomorrow (April 17th 2008) Here are some recent pics of her with the flower her Daddy picked for her ;o)

Aurora had her first trip to the playground today!!

Aurora at 11 weeks old (pics below)

I love how she is sticking out her tounge in the pic below, she is just too cute!!! :o)

Below are pics from the day Aurora turned 3 months!!!!

Me and My baby Girl (wearing matching outfits lol)

Aurora's 4 month pix (above) There are also a ton more in the photo section of my profile so check them out ;o)

Aurora is my fairy princess ;o)

Mike's tattoo. He got this as a first father's day gift from Aurora and I. It is over his heart and the most beautiful tattoo ever.

I also got a tattoo of Aurora's footprint it is on my back.

Aurora watching her Daddy get his tattoo.

Mike also ended up getting this tattoo of my name on his back, it made me feel so special ;o)

The above pics are of Aurora in our backyard in her splash pad, she loves it!!!

The above pics are of Aurora in our garden.

The above pictures are of Aurora going swimming for the first time with her Daddy in my in-laws pool. The mermaid outfit is what she wore after her swim to keep her warm I think it is the cutest thing I have ever seen lol.