eloise's birth story

posted by mommy

eloise seemed like she was never going to come! since everett was born almost a week early, we were sure we could expect the same of little miss. however, like her oldest brother, she didn't want to budge. she was obviously comfy and cozy inside. no matter what we tried - walking, chiropractor, acupuncture, and more walking - she decided to wait until six days past her due date to finally make her appearance.

her first hello to the world, wrapped up and cozy with mama

for eloise's birth, we were again focused on having a successful VBAC. her original due date was april 12. the week before was filled with lots of braxton hicks contractions, but no further progression. by the middle of the following week, i began experiencing some prodromal labor contractions (just like with owen). knowing that these could last for days and days, we just tried to take it easy and not expect much.

loving on our baby girl!

on saturday, april 18, after taking the boys to the mall to see the lego americana structures on display (and doing a lot more walking...still trying!), i went for a last-minute adjustment with my chiropractor. by early evening, i finally began feeling more active labor contractions. around 11pm, we began timing them. realizing that contractions were definitely in a pattern, and changing positions/movements didn't stop them, we headed back upstairs to finish packing bags. around 2am, we started making phone calls to the midwife, our neighbor, beth (who graciously and wonderfully had agreed to watch the boys...again!!), and my parents (who would be coming up to denver to help us out...again!!). we were so thankful all of this was happening while the boys were asleep...again!!!

since it was a sunday, we had the undivided attention
of our midwife, sharon ("shana")

we arrived at the hospital around 3:45am sunday morning, april 19. unfortunately, when the nurse checked me, i wasn't as far along as we had hoped, nor as far as my contractions would have indicated. after a couple more hours of intense labor, talking a couple times with our midwife, and knowing the length and intensity of labor we'd experienced with the boys, we made the familiar decision to get an epidural (it felt like almost an exact replay of everett's birth!). at this point i was also hooked up to bags of fluid as eloise seemed slightly distressed when i arrived (and praise God she turned very quickly after getting the fluids and did beautifully the rest of the day!), and was also receiving antibiotics since i was again group b strep positive. so late morning, i received an epidural and was able to settle down and relax for a while. james and i both needed a little sleep since we'd been awake for more than 24 hours. this turned out to be a good thing especially because again, as with everett, labor lasted almost 16 hours since we had begun timing at 11pm the night before.

proud gampa and grammie, exhausted from their long drive from albuquerque,
but so excited to hold only the third girl of nine grandkids!

around 1pm, i felt a very strange popping sensation and told james that i thought my water broke. i wasn't totally sure since i'd never felt my water break before. the nurse then came in and i told her what i'd felt. she looked and sure enough, my water had broken! at this point i was around 8cm. by 2pm, i was complete and ready to push. during this phase we received amazing coaching and support from our midwife, shana, and nurse, terri, and at 3:31pm on sunday, april 19, eloise esther may entered this world via successful VBAC!!! emotions were high as our first baby girl was quickly snuggled and kissed and cuddled. eloise was perfect in every way. she weighed 7 lbs. 15 oz. and was 20" long (taller than either of her brothers!), and has a birthmark on her right knee.

the boys were so excited to hold her and kiss her at the hospital

we praise God again for blessing us with a healthy momma and healthy baby, and watching over all of us as we experienced the birth of another child. but we are even more thankful to Him for blessing us with our first sweet baby girl whom the boys are so excited to watch over and protect.

eloise esther may