October 21st, 2018 I had a BFP (Big Fat positive)
My husband Tyler and I had talked about trying to start a family around the spring/Summer of 2018, I went to the doctor, started taking Prenatal vitamins and we decided to let nature take its course, we agreed, “Whatever happens.. happens.” I ended up spending that summer traveling to see family, going on adventures, and having Knee Surgery. During that time both Family and friends had asked when Tyler and I were going to have kids, we said the same thing if its meant to be it will happen. I was out of work most of 2018 because of my knee injury (I Tore my ACL November 2017). I had a second surgery scheduled for September, and a new job lined up to start the Beginning of October once I was healed and medically released. My new job was so understanding and could not wait for me to start. Near the end of October, I realized my period was late. I told Tyler and he said we’ll just see what happens. Well, two days go by, then three, and at four days there was still no sign of my Monthly friend. I was going to wait until I was a week late to take a test but I had to know! I took a test while Tyler was at work. I ripped open the package, peed on the stick, recapped it and set it on the sink beside me. By the time I was finished pulling my pants up I had two Pink Lines! I was in shock! I Gasped, I Giggled, and I Cried. I couldn’t wait for Tyler to get home to tell him, (I can’t keep a secret from Tyler.) I called him at work acting completely casual, Asking him how his day was going, If it was busy, If he had gone to lunch yet, Normal Questions I would ask if I called during the day. After a little chit chat I couldn’t wait anymore, I said Guess what! I’m Pregnant!…….. This mans reaction was Nothing like I was expecting. He said Huh! like he was surprised and followed with, “Call the Doctor.” I agreed I would make an appointment and I started to cry, Suddenly saying it out load I was flooded with emotions. Tyler did what he’s best at and assured me everything was going to be ok and that this is exciting. We were going to have a baby! Not too long after getting off the phone with Tyler I received a text from him. He and his buddies at work were looking at the picture of the test I had texted to him, and they decided that the test line was too light and to be sure and I needed to take another test. I went down to Target and got the Clear Blue Digital Pregnancy Test, If that wasn’t confirmation enough for that guy then I didn’t know what would be! I took the test and again it almost immediately said Pregnant on the little screen! Once he received the picture he was like YUP, YOU’RE PREGNANT! I made a doctor appointment to be seen at 8 weeks for our first ultrasound. We decided to only tell the Immediate family at that time because I was only 5 weeks. This was the beginning of our Pregnancy Journey.
My Delivery Story!
When I was 38 weeks pregnant I went in on a Friday for my weekly doctors appointment leading up to having Baby E! My doctor had informed me the week before that they were estimating that she was around 9 and a half pounds at 36 weeks. She had known for the last few weeks I was ready for this baby to come out. The week prior to this appointment, we discussed scheduling induction or C-section. I felt like a house, my back ached constantly, my feet felt like I walked 5 miles barefoot on hot pavement and I was ready to be done!! Luckily, at this appointment my doctor asked me what I wanted to do, after lots of discussions with Tyler we agreed that a C-Section would be best for multiple reasons. She kept reminding me that if they pulled the baby out and their estimate were wrong on her size and she was small, she didn’t want me to be upset . But bless her heart she said, “Well I’ll be at the hospital on Monday let’s do it then!” I went from begging to have this child out to having to mentally prepare that she would be here in just 3 days!
When Monday came around I was so nervous. We arrived at the hospital around 10:40am for a 1:00pm scheduled C-section. They hooked me up to IVs, shaved my bikini line, and had Tyler dress up in a paper gown, then we sat for about 4 hours. Emergencies had come up so I kept getting pushed back which just made me even more nervous! I sat on the uncomfortable hospital bed, listening to newborn babies cry in recovery around us and I kept repeating to Tyler with amazement, “We’re about to have a Baby!”
Finally my nurse came back and said it was my turn, I had to walk into surgery with this nurse alone! They said they would go get Tyler when I was all prepped. Tyler is my rock and having to go in alone did not help my nerves. The team was in the ice cold surgery suite waiting for me! They sat me at the edge of the bed and my deaf (yes he couldn’t hear me unless I was practically yelling…) anesthesiologist was marking my back preparing me for the spinal block. I was so scared I wanted to cry. They placed my feet on a swivel chair in front of me and one nurse held my hands. I squeezed her poor hands so hard as he injected the medication into my back. No sooner did I feel my toes begin to warm, so they rushed me to lay down. The pulled up a curtain in front of my face so close that I had to keep my head turned to the side so I could breath, my arms were spread eagle to my sides and I felt nothing. IT WAS A HORRIBLE FEELING NOT BEING ABLE TO FEEL MY BODY. I expected a pins and needles, fall asleep wrong on your arm type of feeling but it wasn’t even close. They taped my belly up and got me sterilized. Even though the anesthesiologist warned me, I wasn’t prepared to have trouble breathing. With a combination of my asthma and the spinal block I felt as though my lungs were iron, I really had to focus on breathing. No one was talking to me and it seemed like it took forever! Finally, they brought Tyler in right when they were ready to cut me open. I could barley recognize him with his cap and surgical mask covering his beard. His eyes had a worried look as did mine. Tyler asked if I was ok and all I kept repeating was “Please just hold my hand!” I could feel the frog in my throat as I fought back tears. After what seemed like forever with uncomfortable pressure in my chest I heard my baby girl cry. My doctor exclaimed, “Shelby, she’s not small!” Tyler stood up and snapped pictures and would later explain to me that when he stood up he was not expecting to see my insides all opened up. He really had to focus and take the pictures of E. They dropped the fabric curtain in front of me and pressed my sweet baby’s face against the plastic curtain so I could see her. Tyler walked over to the baby as they got her and myself cleaned up. He finally walked over to me holding our baby girl, 10 pounds, 22 inches long and absolutely perfect! They placed her on my chest so I could see her but, unfortunately with the trouble I was having to breath I had to ask Tyler to take her back. A few nurses walked Tyler and the baby over to recovery as they closed me up so the pediatrician could look her over. At that point most of the nurses and the doctor left and I felt like it took them forever to clean and close me up, then they had to transfer me to a bed before rolling me to my new family!
Once I was in recovery I saw Tyler holding our baby girl, he had waited so long for this moment and he wasn’t ready to give her up. Seeing him hold our baby melted my heart, In that moment I fell in love with him all over again. Unfortunately, I got super itchy from the spinal tap so I had to wait to hold the baby because I was so incredibly uncomfortable. The nurses gave me some Benadryl and once it started to kicked in, I was finally able to hold my E. My nurse helped me latch her on to my breast and she was a natural! Even though I was SO tired, in that moment everything felt perfect.
Mommy, Milk and E 