I have never written a birth story before…I now wish I had written one for Everly, our firstborn. I think that I may now write one for her so that she can look back at highlights of her birth. Anyway, the birth of my precious Isabelle Isla Grace was fast, but the wait leading up to it was mentally long and hard. In lieu of so many details, here is the reader’s digest version as well as some grainy hospital pics, which happen to be my favorite. I hope that you all enjoy! 🙂
Isabelle Isla Grace was born on October 17th at 4:32pm, weighting 7 pounds 13 ounces.
Because of my prior c-section with Everly, I knew that another c-section was very likely. I also knew that I couldn’t be induced. However, my doctor was aware of my desire for a VBAC. As my pregnancy progressed and as it became clearer that I would not have the extreme swelling issues I had with my first pregnancy, the possibility of a VBAC was greater and greater. Isabelle was VERY LOW…but as the weeks went on, my body wasn’t showing any signs of labor. At 38 weeks, my doctor gave me the option of re-scheduling my first c-section appointment. I gladly did…but what I did not know was that the surgery would be pushed back four different times, which was very hard mentally since I didn’t know fully what to prepare for. Every time I visited the doctor, he wanted to give my body a few more days to go into labor since Isabelle was so low and in position, for the lack of a better explanation. My mom and I walked nearly 36 miles during the last 2 weeks of my pregnancy all the way up to 40 weeks and 4 days. I kept saying that I was going to walk the baby out. I did acupuncture and chiropractic work as well, both of which were awesome, but still NO BABY. I literally tried every old wives tale of what they say “works” to get a baby to come, including all that walking. As October 17th was nearing, I kept praying so hard that Isabelle would just come in the night. As the nights went on, I started to feel a little anxious about another major surgery. I had complications from my first and had fear about having another. I also felt like why would a very natural person like myself not be able to “give birth.” I had planned a home birth for Everly’s birth, so the first c-section was mentally crushing.
As someone who has now had two c-sections, I am praising God for amazing doctors and nurses, technology, and modern medicine. Even as a very natural and holistic person, I firmly believe that c-sections are just as natural and God-given as having your baby “naturally.” God gave doctor’s incredible wisdom and skill and God gave us modern medicine. What a gift. At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter as long as the mama and the little baby are safe and healthy.
It was 6am on October 17th when my husband woke me up. With no sign of labor, I knew that this was the day that our precious daughter would be born. We had one last OBGYN appointment at 10am that morning just to be sure that my body hadn’t dilated at all. We knew that the chances were slim, but we wanted to be sure. I also knew that by 7am I couldn’t eat or drink anything, knowing that my surgery was scheduled for 3pm that day. Craig, Everly and I ate a huge breakfast that morning together. I will never forget what a sweet time we had with little Everly. I was so scared to leave her for some reason that morning. Life is just so much more fragile and precious now, it seems. I knew that my mom was the best person to watch over her, however, so that gave me a lot of peace. Once we got to the doctor’s office and were told that no, my body hadn’t dilated at all, we headed home to grab our bags and go to the hospital.
Walking into the OR was just as surreal and EXCITING for me as it was the first time around…I mean you know that your baby is FOR SURE coming within two hours at most, but I also get crazy emotions about it. At 1pm, they started all the paperwork and medication and prepped everything for surgery. We were delayed a bit because of an emergency c-section that had to go ahead of me. They finally wheeled me back around 3:30pm to start the anesthesia. Even though the operating room is kind of scary to me with nearly a dozen people rushing about, I felt so much more at peace this time. I knew that it was God’s plan for my second daughter to be born this way and I couldn’t have been more excited to meet her. I had this insane calm that came over me. It was a little weird to lay down on that operating table and slowly feel your body becoming completely numb. At that point though, Craig came into the room and I just started crying happy tears knowing that he was there. A surge of adrenaline came over for me for sure. I don’t like all the pulling and tugging, but as they were working on getting Isabelle out, Craig played some very soft music, prayed over me, and kept telling me of all the happy memories we had made recently on our travels, which for some reason, helps me a ton! 🙂
Within just a few minutes, the nurse told me one last tug of major pressure and then I heard my doctor say, she’s out. And then, HER SWEET CRY, which totally made the atmosphere of the OR fade. I was so in love that I didn’t even care where I was. I always wondered how I could love another child as much as I love Everly, but in that moment, I had the most intense love for her. The doctor and Craig brought her to my face for a few seconds. The tears just started flowing. That moment that you meet your child is something I can never put into words. It’s the most beautiful few seconds in time that’s completely euphoric. Craig went with her to get weighed and to finish everything else they do to check a newborn while the doctors finished sewing me up. Little Isabelle kept crying and crying while being weighed. The minute that they brought her back to me though, she stopped. She knew I was her mama. That bond is so powerful and precious. I will never forget this day and those moments that followed. The newborn snuggles skin-to-skin are so precious. I just want to stop and bottle them all up forever. I know that you will see this some day, Isabelle. I love you so much, my precious daughter. I am so thankful God allowed me to be your mama.
xo,
Christine
