Eliana's Birth Story

Eliana was born at 5:37am on January 8th, 2014.  She was 7lbs 11oz and 20 inches long.  Here is her birth story:

7 Jan 2014
On Tuesday morning we were getting ready for work. I was kissing Jesús good bye since I was working from home and he had to drive to work. All of a sudden, I felt some leaking. I told Jesús and he wasn’t sure if he should go to work or not. I told him it wasn’t like a gush or anything and it could just be my bladder, so he should go ahead to go to work and I’d call him if I felt it again. So he left for work.  I ended up having this leakage for the entire morning. I ended up calling Dr. Gladdin and he told me to go straight to labor and delivery.  So I called Jesús and let him know. He immediately left work (and he was so excited!) and got home around 11:30 am. We packed up the car with everything we needed (hospital bag, car seat, etc.) and headed to the hospital.

We checked into labor and delivery and they checked to see if my bag of waters broke.  It had! So we were admitted into labor and delivery even though I really wanted to go back home since I wasn’t having any contractions yet.  At this time I was feeling excited that I was going to meet my baby girl that day or the next. I couldn’t believe that the wait was finally over!

After we got settled into our room, we decided that I needed to walk around and try to get contractions started. Soon after, the doctor called me and said that he wanted to induce my labor since my water had broke and I was more prone to infection now. That is not what I wanted since I really wanted everything to happen naturally. I asked him if we could wait 24 hours to see if my contractions started naturally and he didn’t feel good about that, but said I could. However, he asked if we could meet in the middle and only wait 12 hours. I agreed.  So, I had until 8:30pm that night to get things started. So Jesús and I took a lot of walks around labor and delivery and I did a lot of standing and swaying trying to get her to drop enough and get contractions started.

I ended up having some contractions, but they were not strong at all.  So, at 8:30pm my doctor called and asked if I was still ok to start Pitocin to induce labor contractions. I agreed since he started me with a very low dosage.  I honestly thought that the low dosage would trigger my natural hormones to get things started, but my body just wasn’t cooperating!  So each hour they increased the dosage by 1ml and the contractions go stronger.

8 Jan 2014
By 2:30am I was having very strong and intense contractions. They were lasting a 50-60 seconds long and only 30-60 seconds apart. I knew that I had to be almost ready to deliver because they were so intense and so often. Jesús was so helpful and such a source of strength for me. He helped me with my breathing and was so supportive and encouraging to me during the contractions. I am so thankful that he was with me every step of the way.

The nurse came in to check on us and asked me if I wanted any pain medication. I told her that I really didn’t want to go that route, but I could make a better decision if I knew how far along I was.  So I asked her to check to see how dilated I was. I was thinking to myself that if I was at least 8cm, then I knew I could make it through the pain because the end was near. Anything less than that, I decided I needed to have some sort of pain medication.  So, the nurse checked and told me that I was 90% effaced, but only 3cm dilated! I couldn’t believe the pain I was having and that I was only 3cm dilated. So Jesús and I talked about our options. The options were to have nubain (which would take the edge off the pain, but make me and the baby drowsy) or an epidural. We opted for the epidural since we didn’t want the medication to affect our baby like nubain does.

The anesthesiologist was there within minutes and got everything ready. He was moving very fast since I was having contractions one after the other with only a minute between them. So when my contraction ended he did the epidural within that minute. Jesús said he’s never seen anyone work that fast. I still had a few contractions after the epidural, but they felt less intense since the epidural was working.   Finally, I didn’t feel any contractions, just pressure. So I decided to dim the lights and get some sleep since they said it might be awhile until I am fully dilated.

About an hour later, the nurse came in to adjust the fetal monitor since it lost the signal. So that woke me up.  She told me to let her know if I felt a consistent pressure (or if I felt the feeling to push or have a BM). I let her know that I was already feeling that consistent pressure so she said she would check to see how far along I was.  At this time, Jesús was sleeping on the chair that turned into a bed in our room so he wasn’t really aware of what was going on. However, he woke up when the nurse said loudly “Girl, you are 9 ¾ cm dilated! I can feel the baby’s head!”  Jesús jumped up out of that bed so fast! The nurse started getting everything ready for the doctor…turning on lights, turning on the warmers for baby, etc. I started crying because I was feeling so many emotions (excited to see her and meet her…scared about delivery…overwhelmed with joy…).  Once the nurse prepared everything she said I could push when I felt the urge to push.  So, I started pushing!

This next part I want Jesús to write in his own words. Things were happening so fast and I was concentrating on pushing that I don’t remember all the details that happened with him.  So this is his version of what happened once I started pushing:

Before Lisa started pushing, the nurse (Melissa) said she could see the head. I said that I wanted to see. I was able to see her hair and I got excited and my eyes watered and then Melissa said “Put your gloves on because I saw on your birth plan that you wanted to catch her”. So I put on the purple gloves and stood by Melissa. So I copied what Melissa was doing on Lisa’s left side on her right side.  As Lisa pushed, Eliana would come out about a centimeter, but then when Lisa was done pushing she would go back about ½ centimeter. After that happened a few times, Eliana started to crown. At that point I stopped and looked at Melissa and said “Melissa, have you ever delivered a baby without the doctor?” And she said “Yep, it happens all the time”. Then I said “Then let’s go!”  {laughing} So then Lisa gave one more set of two pushes.  Eliana was right there. At that point the doctor walked in and it was kind of like “Hey everyone...” Like he didn’t realize how far Lisa was. Then he looked and said “Whoa! We are having a baby!” and started moving more quickly. So he put on his leg covers and gloves. Then he grabbed a sponge with soap and water and said “Lisa this is just soap and water and cleaned Lisa up”. Then he said “Alright, it’s time…just a couple pushes when you are ready.”  Then he said “Jesús, are you ready?” I said “Are you for real? Yes, I’m ready!” He said “Well come here then” and I went where he was. When Lisa pushed for the first time, she was fully crowned and he told me where to put my hands. And the second push, her head came out into my hands and his hand.  Her umbilical cord was behind her back so he reached around and put it to the front. Then he said “Jesús, she’s going to be slippery, grab her by her shoulder and when Lisa pushes, pull her out.” So Lisa pushed, I pulled and Eliana cried.  Then I put her on Lisa’s chest as quickly as I could. The doctor waited for the umbilical cord to stop pulsing and told me to grab the scissors. He clamped her umbilical cord and told me where to cut it. So after I cut the cord, I went back up with Lisa and I heard the nurses say “Grab the camera!” But I had to thank God first and jump up and down a few times, and then I grabbed the camera and gave it to the nurse and returned to Lisa and Eliana.

Once Jesús placed Eliana on me I was so filled with joy. I couldn’t believe that she was here and I was holding her in my arms.  She was able to latch on and start feeding right away! We started talking to her and she recognized our voices and opened her eyes.  It was simply amazing.  The nurses gave us about an hour and a half to just bond with her and hold her before they weighed her and cleaned her off (they call it the “Golden Hour”).  I was very thankful for that time.

After that, they cleaned her up and cleaned me up and transferred us to our room where we would stay for the day and night.  The doctor came back later that day to check on me and said I was free to leave the next day or we could stay another night. We decided to go home on Thursday (Jan 9th) and begin our new life with Eliana.

She is our blessing from God, a miracle. We love her so much! We are so thankful that God has entrusted us to be her parents.

 

38 Weeks -- Momma is getting sore!

Hi! Well, today I am 38 weeks pregnant.  I have a couple updates for you regarding two different doctors appointments we had.  But first, I want to wish everyone a Happy New Year since today is New Year's Eve.  I pray that 2014 will be a blessed year for you and your best year yet!

Our pastor challenged us to look back on 2013 and forget what lies behind (or forget the things that strip us from our joy because we keep thinking about it over and over in our head...) and look toward what is ahead (looking forward to the blessings God will give us this new year).  So I want to challenge you to do that as well.

Philippians 3:13-14: Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Mommy Update:
The last couple of days I have been pretty sore in my hips and pelvic region. I know this is because she is low and it's putting pressure on my joints and this is all part of the last weeks of pregnancy so I try not to complain....but it is pretty uncomfortable! But so worth it! I am so ready to meet Eliana and see what she looks like. I can't wait to see her chubby cheeks and her little toes and just gaze upon the miracle that God has blessed us with.

We had an ultrasound last week on Dec 26th.  They estimated that she is about 7 1/2lbs and if I go the full 40 weeks that she will be a little over 9lbs.  So, because of that, the specialist is recommending that they induce labor between week 39 and 40.  This is not something I want since I prefer that she comes naturally.  So we are praying about this and seeking direction from God as to what we should do.  Also, we are praying that she just comes naturally before week 39 so we don't have to even worry about making the decision.  I started doing some natural things that can get labor going (walking, sitting on an exercise ball and bouncing, etc.) so I am hoping that will help as well.

Then, on Dec 28th we had our weekly checkup with our doctor. He checked me and said that I am still 1cm dilated. But, I am also 25% effaced now as well. So things are progressing! Hopefully the walking (and gravity) will help progress it even more.

I am having more braxton hicks contractions as well so I know that things are going as they should.  I just need to be patient and trust the God has everything under control. :-)

Baby Update:
As I mentioned before, she is about 7 1/2lbs right now. So she is growing and is healthy. Also, the long bones in her arms and legs have hardened and her organs have matured and are ready for life outside the womb. Her grasp reflex is very strong now and she is often grasping the umbilical cord or curling her hands into little balls.

She's been moving/adjusting alot everyday.  Sometimes she stretches her leg out and my stomach bulges out in one spot...it is so funny to watch! I know I will miss these movements I feel from her after she is born since it's something special we share right now.  But, having her with us will be even better!

Well, that is all for this week! Hopefully next week I will be able to announce her birth! ha ha!  We shall see...

Happy New Year!

37 Weeks -- I am officially considered 'early term'!!

Wow, 37 weeks today! This is such a relief knowing that if she is born now, that there is minimal chance of any health issues due to being born early.  I can't believe we are here...that any day she can arrive! She is such a blessing and a gift from God and everyday this is becoming more real to me.

Mommy Update:
I am feeling so good for being 37 weeks pregnant. I know many women complain that they are ready for the baby to come by now because they are so uncomfortable, but I really don't feel uncomfortable.  I mean, sure, I can't tie my shoes that well...or put on socks that easily...and I am up 3-4 times a night to use the restroom...but all-in-all, I feel really good.  I am still in awe of how it feels when she moves around and adjusts herself.  I have noticed that she is the most active now first thing in the morning and late in the evening.  I am really interested to see if that will be her awake schedule in the first few days/weeks of life.

My last weekly checkup was on last Friday.  My doctor did an internal exam to check for dilation and said that I was 1cm dilated, but hadn't started any effacement yet.  He said I most likely will not make it to my due date (1/14/14) and the question is whether she will be a tax write off or not! I am not having any signs of labor yet, but I just have a feeling she will be coming either on Dec 30/31st or the first few days in January. Obviously, I could be completely wrong! Only God knows when she will be entering the world. I know I can't wait to see her beautiful face and touch her little hands and toes.  It's going to be so hard to share her with others...but I will do my best!

So, I am going to let you in on the name we chose for her since my husband posted it on Facebook and he's the one who wanted to wait it out. :-) I wanted a name that meant something, particularly one that meant what a blessing from God she is and to describe the fact that we have waited and prayed for her for 10 years.  To make a long story short, I found a Hebrew name that means "God answered my prayer". I saw the meaning and I was instantly floored! I was amazed that God led me to this name...and it's beautiful, just like she is. So...her name is...

It is pronounced "el-ee-AH-nah".  I can't wait to meet our little Eliana and welcome her into our family.

Baby Update:
There isn't much more to update on Eliana since now her main goal is to put on more fat and gain weight.  She is fully developed now and if she were born today she would be fine.  She is most likely about 6 1/2 pounds and around 19 inches long.  The lanugo hair that has covered her body until now is being shed and replaced by short, fine hairs called "vellus hairs" (more commonly known as "peach fuzz").  Her ears are fully developed. Since noises easily penetrate the womb at this stage in pregnancy, we may notice that loud noises startle your her.

We have an ultrasound on Thursday. I am excited for that. I know she is in the head down position, but I am anxious to know if her head is engaged and if she is occiput posterior or anterior. Also, I can't wait to see what their educated guess is for her weight. :-)

Well, tomorrow is Christmas! I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas and is able to enjoy quality time with their family. Have a wonderful week! I will update again next week...unless she comes before then! :-)

36 Weeks / 9 Months!! Only 4 more weeks to go!

Wow! We are at week 36 now, which means I am 9 months pregnant! We are on the final stretch now...only 4 more weeks if she holds out until then! I have a feeling she may come a little earlier, but that could just be me wanting to see her so badly! Ha!  This last weekend I did get my hospital bag packed and I packed her diaper bag as well.  So I think we are as ready as we can be for her arrival.

Mommy Update:
This week my boss let me start working from home until she is born. I am so thankful for this since it allows me to rest a little more since I don't have to commute an hour to and from work now.  So I have some extra time to sleep in the morning and I don't have to worry about walking to work with the weather. It's really a blessing and it was just in time because walking for me right now has become a little difficult! My pelvic area and hips are hurting because they are stretching out, preparing for birth.  It takes a little while to get moving after I stand up and I am moving pretty slow! But, other than that, I am feeling great!

We had our normal doctors appointment on Saturday.  She is in the head down position now and very low according to the doctor.  So that explains why it is harder for me to walk (and bend over to tie my shoes for that matter)! The doctor was very impressed with how well the exam went (meaning how low she is and how I am progressing) and said it at least three times. He just couldn't believe how well everything was when it is my first pregnancy.  So that is good news!  I think that is why I have a feeling she may come earlier than expected.

When he took my blood pressure, my diastolic (lower) number was high. It was 95 when it should be below 90.  So he sent me over to the Labor & Delivery section of the hospital to be monitored just to make sure that it would decrease over the hour, which it did.  So they released me and all is good.

Baby Update:
As I stated before, she is head down now...which makes me very happy! She is moving around still, but instead of kicks, it's more of a rolling motion that I feel.

I am guessing she is a little over 6lbs now since she was pushing 6lbs a couple weeks ago. She's shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered her body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected her skin during her nine-month amniotic bath. She swallows both of these substances, along with other secretions, resulting in a blackish mixture, called meconium, that will form the contents of her first bowel movement.

At the end of this week, she will be considered "early term." (Full-term is 39 to 40 weeks. Babies born before 37 weeks are pre-term, 41 weeks is late term, and those born after 42 are post-term.)

Last week a family friend took some pictures of us. So here's a sneak peak.  We still want to do some edits on them, but I wanted to at least share a few :-)  Have a blessed week!

35 Weeks -- Only 35 more days left until she is due!

Welcome to week 35! Wow, only 5 more weeks until our due date. I can't believe it! We are in week 35 and only have 35 more days to go. Crazy! [Yes, I love math and numbers!]

We had an ultrasound on Wednesday, Dec. 4th.  I was excited to see our daughter again and to see how much she has developed. She has chubby cheeks and legs. We got a really good face picture of her and you can see her chubby cheek!  So adorable! 
We were able to see her chest rise up and down as she practiced her breathing. Her heart beat was still strong and beating at about 140 beats per minute.  I think she has my feet! Her big toe looks to be shorter than the toe beside it so that would be my foot, not her daddy's :-)  The doctor said that she was about 5lbs 14oz (nearly 6lbs already!).  Her head and stomach growth ratio was 1 to 1 which is what they look for and she was in the 61 percentile for size.  They said they start to worry if babies are over 90% because that means they are growing too big due to gestational diabetes.  So she is perfect! He said that by all the stats they took he wouldn't even guess that I have gestational diabetes.  So that was good to hear.

She is laying sideways and hasn't moved to the head down position yet. I have to admit that her position worried me a little bit because if she stays that way then I would most definitely have to get a c-section.  But, after talking to the doctor, he showed me that she had plenty of room to move into position and nothing was blocking her.  She's just cozy right now.  He also showed me the method he'd use to manually move her if she doesn't move within the next 3 weeks. He told me not to worry...we have time for her to move.  So, after talking with him I felt much better.  We have another ultrasound scheduled for December 26th...by then I will be considered full term at 37 weeks!

Also, last night we attended a breast feeding class. I'm so glad I signed up for it. I actually learned a lot and feel more confident now that I know what to do and signs to look for.  Plus, they have lactation nurses on staff from 7am - 3am every day so I can always call for help, which is nice.


Mommy Update:
This last week I have felt joy. I have been in the Word and praying daily so my spirit is full. The anxiety I was feeling the weeks before have subsided because of this. So, spiritually, I feel so much better.  Physically, however, I am kind of sore.  My right hip is bothering me every now and then and I know it is just because my ligaments are loosening and preparing for child birth.  So, I just need to continue to take it easy and move slowly. Also, I have experienced more braxton hicks contractions. They are more frequent now, but they do not hurt.

This is my last week of commuting into work.  It is a surreal feeling since I have been commuting for 8 years! My boss is allowing me to work from home starting next week until our baby is born.  This is a huge blessing to me.  Because now I don't have to battle the Chicago winter weather and other commuters (who are sometimes pushy). Instead, I can stay home, rest, and do my work comfortably from home.  Another benefit is that I won't be exposed to co-workers and/or commuters that are sick so hopefully I will stay healthy during the last few weeks of pregnancy.

So, overall, I am feeling good and eagerly waiting for our daughters arrival!


Baby Update:
She has been moving like crazy this past week.  I don't know if she's changed positions yet, but she is definitely moving and making herself comfortable. I love it though! 

At 35 weeks, she is mostly developed and most of her effort is geared towards rapid weight gain and putting on that body fat.  Her lungs are maturing and some research suggests that a baby girl's lungs mature more quickly than a boy's lungs.  So if she were born this week, she would most likely have less trouble with breathing than a boy would. Also, her kidneys are fully developed and her liver can process some waste products.

Well, that is all for this week.  I hope everyone has a blessed week and that you aren't getting too stressed about Christmas coming up. Remember, it's not about all the spending of money and buying gifts...it's about Jesus and celebrating His birth. Have a great week!

34 Weeks -- Only 6 more weeks to go!

Today I am 34 weeks pregnant! If I go full term, then we only have 6 weeks left!  However, I know that technically she could decide to come at any time now.  It seems there are several mommy's around me that have had their babies early and it has me wondering what is going on. Ha!

Mommy Update:

I feel good this week. It was so nice being able to spend time with my family in Indiana during Thanksgiving weekend.  It was surreal knowing that that was the last visit home before our daughter is born.  Next time I go home we will be hauling a lot of baby things and our baby! It's pretty crazy to think about.  My dad, step-mom, and niece were all able to feel her move for the first time while I was home.  So that was very special.  She finally cooperated!

While I was home my mom and I went shopping for items that I needed for my hospital bag.  I found pretty much everything that I needed, but have a few more items left.  So I need to get that packed up and ready. My goal is to have that finished by this weekend. 

Tomorrow we have an ultrasound to see how she is doing. I am excited to see what her measurements are...how long she is and an approximate weight.  Plus, I am just excited to "see" her again.  Now that I have been diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes, I'm not sure if there will be any differences in the ultrasound or if they will be checking different things than they normally did.  My guess is that they are more concerned about her weight and size and if she is larger than average.  I am also excited to find out what position she is in. I hope she is head down and occiput anterior since that is the ideal position for natural childbirth.  So, we will find that all out tomorrow!

Baby Update:

This past week she has been active some days and not so active on the others.  The non-active days sometimes get me worried, but I just have to hand that worry over to God.  Those days I normally take the time to count her kicks after dinner and make sure I get 10 kicks within a 2 hour time frame.  The longest it took her to give me 10 kicks has been 16 minutes.  So she is just fine.  When she does move, it feel so different.  Now, I feel more of a rolling sensation since her leg, foot, knee, hand or elbow is rubbing against the side of my uterus!  When she stops, I am able to feel the hardness of her body through my stomach and I'll put slight pressure there and then she'll move again.  Ha!  I know, I shouldn't bother her...but it's hard not too.

According to the websites I look at, she should weigh 4 1/2 to 5 lbs and may be as long as 18 inches (about the size of a cantaloupe)! Her fat layers (which will help regulate her body temperature once she's born) are filling her out, making her rounder. Her skin is also smoother than ever. Her central nervous system is maturing and her lungs are continuing to mature as well. Her digestive system is mature now. If she were born this week, she would be able to digest food. The digestive enzymes in her gut are now functional.  By now, she most likely has settled into her birth position.


Well, that is all for this week.  I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Until next week...be blessed!

33 Weeks - Baby is about the size of a pineapple!

Today marks 33 weeks of my pregnancy. I can't believe how close to the end we are getting!  I am so excited to meet our daughter! I keep wondering...what she will look like? How big will she be?  Will she have hair? If so, how much and what color? What will her skin color be...darker like her dad's or more pale like mommy's?  All the unknowns are so exciting to think about...

Mommy Update:
This week I am feeling very good.  I saw the dietitian since I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes.  Every since I saw her, my glucose levels have been below the cutoff. So I feel good that I am able to control it will my diet only. Because of my diet changes, I did lose weight this week...about a half of a pound.  So now my total weight gain so far is only 11.6 pounds.  However, I know that she is gaining weight because my belly is still growing. 

Also, I am feeling good emotionally.  We finally have the nursery set up!  Well, at least the important things are set up and ready to go.  The only thing missing is a rug and a rocking chair!  Last weekend I was able to wash all her clothes and blankets. Also, I washed most of the cloth diapers and prepared them for her.  My friend Carol came over on Saturday and helped me organize her clothes and get everything put away in a good spot. Many thanks to her!  So I feel that we are pretty much ready to welcome her into our home when the time comes. Granted, there are some things we still need to get, but we have the necessities taken care of for now!

We found a great pediatrician this last week as well. I went and had a consultation with her and absolutely knew she was the perfect fit.  She is a more holistic type doctor that will try home remedies first before prescribing medications. Of course, if it is an emergency that only medication will fix, she will go straight to the medication.  So I like that she has a good balance of natural healing and medicinal healing.

After Thanksgiving is over, I will need to focus on packing our hospital bag.  I have the list ready, I just need to gather everything and put it in a bag.  I feel like I have a really long list...but I figure I would rather be more prepared than not.

So, I feel like everything is falling into place!  God is good (all the time!) and He's guiding every step we take through this.


Baby Update:
This past week she has been very active during the day and also in the evening.  So her schedule is changing a bit. She get hiccups at least once every other day or so. She still hasn't given me an kicks that hurt yet...so she's being very nice to mommy already!
According to the websites I look at, she should weigh over 4lbs and may be as long as 17.2 inches (about the size of a pineapple)! Her brain is busy maturing and increasing in size. Parts of the brain are starting to function, including the auditory cortex (the area of the brain that's responsible for making sense of sounds), visual cortex (the region of the brain that processes visual information), and Broca's area (the part of the brain that's involved in speech and language processing).

Her fingernails might reach the tip of her fingers now, but they are still soft because of the amniotic fluid so she won't scratch her face.  Her bones continue to harden and her nose is almost fully formed. The bridge has formed and she no longer has that "button nose" appearance. Her face is rounding out and she may be a bit chubby from here on out.

Also, she is making faces in the womb...smiling, sticking out her tonge, and making goofy expressions!


This week is Thanksgiving. I hope that all of you will be able to enjoy time with your family and reflect on what you are thankful for.  I know for me, I am extremely thankful for this pregnancy (an answered prayer) and that our baby girl is healthy and growing strong. However, I am most thankful that Jesus came to this earth and died for my sins even though I do not deserve it...and since I have accepted this truth, I know that I will one day be in heaven with my savior, Jesus Christ.  Thank you Jesus for saving me!


Psalm 95:2-3
Let us come into His presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to Him with songs of praise! For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods.

John 3:16
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.