Aria's Arrival
The week and a half leading up to labor I was experiencing every. single. symptom. of imminent labor: the plug, the show, cramps, dilation, effacement- you name it, I had it. I was putting my friends and family on high alert. From everything I read, I was bound to go into labor at any moment! This lasted for two weeks until my blood pressure started creeping up, and my doctor scheduled me to be induced on October 11th. The funny thing about October 11th is that it’s my husband’s birthday, and he had been claiming that our daughter would be born on his birthday throughout the entire pregnancy. He was now confident in his prediction with the induction scheduled. At this point, I gave up waiting for labor to begin and accepted I would show up on a predetermined date to have my baby.
On Saturday night October 8th, I gathered up the last of my 39 week energy reservoir and went to watch the Florida State vs. Miami football game at a local sports bar. As most know, I am a diehard FSU football fan, and I did my best to stay calm, cool, and collected as I watched my team battle in a close game against our long time nemesis, Miami. FSU ended up winning the game by blocking an extra point as the clock dwindled in the fourth quarter.
It was only a couple of hours later that my personal overtime of excitement began. I felt the first contraction and thought, “hey, that one was strong…” but again I shrugged it off as just another tease of labor. Then another contraction came and then another. By the third contraction they were occurring five minutes apart, and I was quickly coming to know the intensity of labor pains. I was determined to be a “good” patient and waited the full 45 minutes before dialing the on-call physician who gave her blessing to come into the hospital.
Once admitted I quickly dilated to 6 cm and experienced the shock of my water, not breaking, but BURSTING. That was startling. I then received the beautiful, wonderful, gracious invention of an epidural and took a NAP. I woke up a little while later to feeling contractions on my left side to which I received more drugs through my marvelous epidural. About 30 seconds later, it was time to push- I was going to meet my baby!
I like when my husband tells the story of me pushing for 30 minutes because he chuckles the whole time. I was so thrilled that I kept laughing and repeatedly saying, “I’m so excited to see her!” between each pushing session. I think the nurses and doctor thought that I was amusing and probably a little crazy.
I remember every detail of that last push and knowing my daughter was entering this world and my life in that moment. The second the doctor placed her on my chest, I became a blubbering hysterical sobbing mother. I was overwhelmed with seeing that little life in front of me. It was like staring at the most beautiful forms of creation: the mountains, rivers, islands and seas all at once, and knowing, this most precious form of creation is personally given to you. The feeling is incredible.
My husband and I were then able to spend time loving our beautiful daughter while sharing what is surely the most memorable moment of our lives. Our baby’s tribe of supporters soon followed with all the love they could pour out onto such a precious, new baby.
I’m sure my birth story is familiar to innumerable women and many of the sentiments I write have been storied from the beginning of time. But it’s an experience that deserves to be told over and over again because it spreads Love and Gratefulness for an Amazing Creator who gives us the most breathtaking gifts. I am so thankful to have been blessed with the experience of growing a new life in my body and then having every moment ahead of me to gaze at her perfectly formed face and dark hair and gentle hands. Just as God intended, I am in awe.
Welcome to The World and my world Aria Ray. You are so very loved.
On Saturday night October 8th, I gathered up the last of my 39 week energy reservoir and went to watch the Florida State vs. Miami football game at a local sports bar. As most know, I am a diehard FSU football fan, and I did my best to stay calm, cool, and collected as I watched my team battle in a close game against our long time nemesis, Miami. FSU ended up winning the game by blocking an extra point as the clock dwindled in the fourth quarter.
It was only a couple of hours later that my personal overtime of excitement began. I felt the first contraction and thought, “hey, that one was strong…” but again I shrugged it off as just another tease of labor. Then another contraction came and then another. By the third contraction they were occurring five minutes apart, and I was quickly coming to know the intensity of labor pains. I was determined to be a “good” patient and waited the full 45 minutes before dialing the on-call physician who gave her blessing to come into the hospital.
Once admitted I quickly dilated to 6 cm and experienced the shock of my water, not breaking, but BURSTING. That was startling. I then received the beautiful, wonderful, gracious invention of an epidural and took a NAP. I woke up a little while later to feeling contractions on my left side to which I received more drugs through my marvelous epidural. About 30 seconds later, it was time to push- I was going to meet my baby!
I like when my husband tells the story of me pushing for 30 minutes because he chuckles the whole time. I was so thrilled that I kept laughing and repeatedly saying, “I’m so excited to see her!” between each pushing session. I think the nurses and doctor thought that I was amusing and probably a little crazy.
I remember every detail of that last push and knowing my daughter was entering this world and my life in that moment. The second the doctor placed her on my chest, I became a blubbering hysterical sobbing mother. I was overwhelmed with seeing that little life in front of me. It was like staring at the most beautiful forms of creation: the mountains, rivers, islands and seas all at once, and knowing, this most precious form of creation is personally given to you. The feeling is incredible.
I’m sure my birth story is familiar to innumerable women and many of the sentiments I write have been storied from the beginning of time. But it’s an experience that deserves to be told over and over again because it spreads Love and Gratefulness for an Amazing Creator who gives us the most breathtaking gifts. I am so thankful to have been blessed with the experience of growing a new life in my body and then having every moment ahead of me to gaze at her perfectly formed face and dark hair and gentle hands. Just as God intended, I am in awe.
Welcome to The World and my world Aria Ray. You are so very loved.
October 9, 2016 at 11:08am
6 pounds 13 ounces, 20 inches long
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