For the six first months after Zara was born I avidly tried to write her birth story but I was so tired and busy trying to figure out this tiny little human that I just couldn't get my thoughts straight. I was sleep deprived, I was overwhelmed with joy and with all kinds of emotions that it was very difficult to type anything that made sense.
After the first six months I thought it was too late and so I decided to wait until her first birthday to write it.
And this is how it all began...
It feels like it was just yesterday that I woke up at one in the morning on Valentine's Day last year and I started feeling some contractions.
Nothing too painful, they were not too close together and I was able to walk, so I thought it wasn't my time yet.
We waited until decent hours to go to the hospital and get checked. It was already two weeks after my due date so I was due for a check up that morning.
I told Jon that morning that we needed to take my hospital bags just in case I had to stay, my instinct was telling me this could be it, maybe we were going to have a little valentine baby.
At ten in the morning that morning that day my contractions were still not close enough but my blood pleasure was a bit higher than usual so the nurse re took it three different times and it was still high.
I'm not gonna lie, I started to get nervous.
After the third time I had my blood pressure taken and every time it came out higher than the last one, they had to do an ultra sound to check on baby.
The amniotic fluid was low, there was a leak and baby was now exposed to possible infections and there was a possibility that the fluid could run out so they told me I needed to get admitted right away.
Right after the sonogram my husband and I walked to the hospital that was just across the street from the clinic. The whole time I was calm and making all kinds of phone calls to our families who were eagerly waiting for news.
We checked in labor and delivery by 11:30am. My birth plan of having our baby at the birthing center was not even an option at this point.
I received a hospital gown ,the nurse hooked me up to monitors that were checking my blood pressure and baby's heart beat and she placed an IV.
After 30min. of monitoring us my midwife came in the room and told me I had preeclampsia so I had to be given magnesium through the IV to prevent seizures during labor and that because of the leak in the placenta I needed to get induced.
As if labor wasn't scary enough on its own I had to do it while under the effects of magnesium.
At 2:00pm they checked me to see how dilated I was and I was just 2cm dilated so they induced me at 2:30pm that day.
Other than blurry vision, slurred speech and nausea I spent the night at the hospital and Valentine's Day came and went and still no baby Zara.
The next morning I woke up and I was very tired from the magnesium and all the side effects that come with it.
Nurses came in and out, the midwife came in and checked me and I was dilating very slowly.
The magnesium made my body so weak that every contraction felt like I was gonna break in half.
Around 11:00 am the anesthesiologist came in the room and asked me if I wanted an epidural, I really didn't want it but due to the circumstances and the magnesium I caved in and had it.
An hour later my water broke, and it was go time.
With epidural and all I was still able to feel the contractions so I was able to push with every contraction instead of the midwife telling me when to push.
It sounds easier than it actually was but it really helped to feel when to go.
One hour went by and still no baby, I was getting very tired. My doula was a sweetheart, she fanned me and fed me ice cubes, gave me Chapstick and made sure to let me know I was doing a great job.
I kept pushing with every contraction for two and a half hours, I was exhausted I even remember saying "I can't anymore" until the midwife told me baby was crowning and at that moment I got a second wind and out she came. The most beautiful little human I had ever seen.
Zara was born at 2:34pm on Saturday, February 15,2014. 6lbs3oz - 20.90 long
So peaceful & quiet, she was placed on my chest with her eyes wide open and placing her cheek on my chest. Hands down the best moment of my life yet.
I had to stay under the magnesium for 24 hrs after delivery so we stayed at the hospital one more day and we were able to go home Monday.
And just like that "Ramirez party of 3" was born and ready to go home.
He tenido un par de días con más náuseas que de costumbre pero no ah aumentando desde entonces.
