New Addition - The Details

(Birth Story - Proceed with Caution...)

5 weeks and 5 days ago I became a mother. Most glorious experience. It really started over a year ago.
In June 2009, I was told that I have Poly Cystic Ovary Syndrome and may not be able to have children. Conceiving would only be possible with fertility drugs.

In July 2009, I became pregnant with our first child. Sadly, 7 weeks later, we lost that baby. He or she is being taken care of by Jesus and for that I am thankful.

In December 2009, I went to the doctor and she told me that I did not ovulate and could not be pregnant. I went home and cried. I was devastated. We went to Nashville for New Years and I was experiencing pregnancy symptoms as I had before. I took a pregnancy test and found that I was pregnant.

Right before I became pregnant with this child, Michael and I read a book called Supernatural Childbirth. There were some things that we liked about the book - and a lot of things that we did not like. The basic idea that we took from the book was that we can ask God for anything...and he can say yes or he can say no. And either answer is ok.

So, we began to pray. We prayed for an easy pregnancy and a pain free labor, delivery, and recovery. I know, I know...may sound crazy...but we were in complete understanding that God could say yes or no to this, and we were truly ok with either answer.

My pregnancy was pretty typical. Nausea, aches, pains, etc.. No complications. Just typical. In my 3rd trimester, I began to explore the option of natural childbirth. I read a few books and talked to friends that had experienced it. I was planning on pursuing this option...while remaining open to other alternatives if necessary.

Now comes the birth story.... (again, proceed with caution)....

My due date was September 10...and at 3:45 AM on September 11 my water broke. Luckily, I was going to the bathroom...so no mess. :) I calmly called my doctor and she told me to head on in to the hospital. I woke up Michael (which took a minute because he was sleeping in the guest room due to my LOUD snoring)! We were both amazingly calm and headed into the ER. As soon as I walked in, I told them my name and they had a wheelchair waiting for me. My doctor had called them already.

I got upstairs and changed into my gown. The nurses were coming in and doing their duties....the IV, blood pressure, monitors, etc... One nurse in particular asked me if I planned on getting an epidural. I said no because I thought it could cause side effects for the baby. She explained to me the truth about the epidural and I began to explore that option. Once the pitocin started and I had a few contractions, I decided that I would definitely have an epidural.

I got the epidural around 5:30 AM and slept from then until 1:00 PM. My doctor checked me and I was fully dialated and fully effaced. But, she had not dropped at all. So, I was going to have to push for a couple of hours at the least. If she did not drop at a reasonable rate, I was going to have to have a C-Section...and that is not something I wanted. I would be ok with whatever would be best for Evie, but it would not have been my first choice.

So I pushed....from 1:30 PM until 4:43 PM when Evelyn was born. God gave me the strength to push. I was not tired. It did not hurt. They eventually unhooked the monitor and let me lead the pushing. Occasionally, the nurse would leave the room and it was just me and Michael pushing. It was such a peaceful experience. There was no pain through the entire process.

At 4:43 PM, Evelyn Louise Nelson was born. 7 lbs 14 oz and 20.5 inches long. And she was not breathing. Her little body was blue. They had to call in the respiratory team and preform CPR on my girl. It was the worst moment of my life...the scariest. Michael made his way over to me and we both cried and he prayed for our precious daughter. And she was quickly revived. God saved our baby. After we knew that she was ok, I realized that the doctor could not get my placenta to come out, which was the reason Evelyn's cord was wound so tightly around her neck. Every time I pushed, it made the cord tighter and tighter. If she was not able to get it, I was going to have to have surgery to have it removed. (Again....proceed with caution). She had to place both of her arms inside of me elbow deep to retrieve it. The pain that I would have endured had I not chosen to get an epidural would have been excruciating. She was able to get it and I was able to avoid having surgery - praise God.

God answered our prayers. I had a pain free childbirth and delivery. Some might argue with me saying that I chose to have an epidural and that is the reason it was pain free, but my God is bigger than any small decision that I make. He provided the nurses that I needed to calm my nerves about it. He knew of the small complications that I would have at the end of the delivery and that my focus would be on my daughter that was having her own complications. He knew. And he provided. God is good. All the time.

Evelyn had to be in the NCU for 6 hours - per hospital policy if a respiratory team is used. I missed my girl that day, but was thankful she was being watched closely by trained professionals. She came back to me at 11:00 that evening and the snuggling began. :)

I had a small amount of discomfort at the hospital from the stitches, but other than that...no pain during recovery. I took Motrin for a few days, but nothing stronger. Within a week, I felt 100%. By my 4 week check up, I was completely healed. God answered our prayers.

The past 6 weeks have been great. We have had our days when we are exhausted...and days when we are rested. Days when she cries and days when she is calm all day long. Typical parenting, I suppose.

She is smiling and giggling.

She has been reaching for toys since 4 weeks. I thought it was a coincidence at first, but she has been consistently doing it. She will hit a toy in her bouncer seat and as soon as it stops swinging, she'll hit it again. Or if she cannot reach a toy, she will fuss. As soon as I move it in arms reach, she stops.

She LOVES bath time! She is typically cranky by this point because we keep her awake for a while before...but as soon as the water hits her, she is calm.

She sleeps about 11 hours at night. (Not straight..) We get her up every 3 hours to eat...although she rarely wakes up and typically sleeps through the feedings. Michael and I have consistently been getting about 7 or 8 hours of sleep since Evie's 2nd week home.

She is currently 10 lbs 1 oz and 22 inches. :) Our growing girl.

Below is a picture of her right after birth and a picture of her a couple of days ago. It's amazing how she's changed.




We're thankful for our girl. We love her so much. We can't imagine life without her. :)

I'll try to update often.

Love to you all.