On Tuesday, August 2, 2022, our hearts doubled in size and our lives changed forever. It’s true what they say – there is no greater love than the love you have for your child. I can’t believe our baby girl is here and I’m so excited to share her full birth story. Meeting Nora was truly the best day of my entire life. She is a beautiful, healthy baby girl and it feels surreal that she’s ours.

– the day we met nora june –

39 Week Appt: August 22, 7:30 am

On Tuesday, August 2nd, I had my 39 week appointment at 7:30 am. I arrived at my appointment, hopeful that I would be dilating or showing signs that labor was near. Around week 38, my body started to feel like it was progressing, but at both my 38 and 39 week appointments, the doctor told me my cervix was completely closed and there was no dilation yet.

After my cervical exam on August 2nd, my doctor told me that since I wasn’t dilating, she wanted to schedule an induction for the following Wednesday (August 10th), in the event I didn’t deliver on my due date (Saturday, August 6th). Before leaving my appointment, she asked me if I had any questions for her and I told her that over the last couple of days, I noticed that I didn’t feel as much movement. I had felt a lot of kicks and movement throughout my pregnancy up until week 39. A couple of days leading up to my appointment, I had mentioned to Eddie that I was a little concerned, but I still felt some movement so I didn’t take any action. When I spoke up about it to my doctor, she made it very clear that it’s incredibly important to call the office if this ever happens.

Sent to Labor & Delivery

My doctor recommended we do some further testing and sent me to another room for a non-stress test. When she came in with the results, I could see it on her face that she wasn’t pleased with the outcome of the test. She told me that they didn’t detect any fetal movement and she was sending me to Labor & Delivery immediately. I left my doctor’s office and drove to L&D. They hooked me up to the fetal monitor and gave me some jello and cranberry/ginger ale to try to get the baby some sugar and hopefully stimulate some movement. After half an hour on the monitor, there was nothing.

They then sent me to the prenatal testing center and did an ultrasound to get a biophysical profile of the baby. This was basically a 30 minute ultrasound solely to check on the baby’s movement. You get scored out of 8 and after a half hour of waiting, the baby didn’t move at all. I got scored a 2, and both of those points were given to me based on the amniotic fluid. The tech looked at me and said, it looks like you’ll be delivering today. I was completely shocked. Just a couple of minutes prior to this, we were scheduling an induction for a week later.

They took me back to L&D and told me to call my husband and tell him to come now. Within minutes, the doctor came in the room and said that the baby is in distress and recommended we do a C-section, as it was really important to get the baby out as soon as possible. Again, I was in complete shock as I had never expected an emergency C-section, or that this is how our birth story would unfold. I called Eddie and he was on his way. While we waited for him, they prepped me to go into surgery. Everything happened very quickly.

Time to Deliver

When Eddie arrived, they took me to the operating room and explained how the process was going to go. I had not done much research on C-sections so I really had no idea what to expect. They told me it would be very quick, and it was. I went in, they prepped me, numbed me and then Eddie was able to come in and hold my hand. The numbing medicine took awhile to kick in, and then the surgery began. It was very surreal to feel them moving me and tugging me. I don’t think I will ever forget the feeling of her actually exiting my body. I felt the entire thing. From the time the surgery started to the time of her arrival felt like less than 5 minutes.

To be completely honest, I felt very nauseous the entire time and it was really hard for me to balance my emotions of excitement, the shock of being sent into the operating room so quickly and unexpectedly, and the nausea, mixed with feeling every push and tug from the doctors. After just minutes, it was time for the moment we had been waiting for the last 9 months. I heard the words come out of the doctor’s mouth, “we have a girl!” I couldn’t even believe it. It felt so surreal to hear those words and then hear her cry for the first time.

Although I couldn’t see her, I was so in tune with every word the doctors and Eddie used to describe her. I remember them saying “oh she has light hair,” and “she’s beautiful.” Eddie was able to be with her immediately and he told me she was moving all around. I felt such a relief knowing that she was okay and healthy and that she was here! After a few minutes, a nurse brought her over to me and laid her on my chest. It was so surreal to feel her earth side, hear her little noises and try to comprehend the fact that we now have a daughter! I don’t really have words to describe the feeling – it was just so amazing.

They cleaned me up, moved me to a bed and laid her on my chest as they wheeled me back to my room. For the next couple of days, we just stared at her, completely mesmerized by every little detail. I have so much to say about the entire experience, but at the same times I have a hard time coming up with the words. I’m still soaking in these newborn days with her and feel so blessed that God chose me to be her mama. I already have found so much purpose in being a mom. I truly have never felt more complete and I’m so thankful for every doctor and nurse that were part of our journey.

If I learned anything from this experience, it’s that no concern is ever too small in pregnancy. If you are worried about something, even in the slightest, talk to your doctor. I almost didn’t say anything to my doctor about decreased movement, because some movement was still present. When I saw my doctor in recovery, after delivering, she told me that she was so glad I said something and didn’t wait – as the outcome could have turned out much different. That line will stick with me forever.