On August 29th around 11:00 p.m., we were so very blessed to welcome our little girl, Genevra Ivory, into the world. She was 8 pounds, 13 ounces and 19 1/2 inches long. The journey to get her here was not quite what we had planned or expected, but what birth is?
Joshua was born C-section due to his being classified as "macrosomic" (or too large to be allowed to deliver vaginally) at 41 weeks. When I look back at his birth, I realize that even though I was angry about not being given a chance to labor, I think the possibility of shoulder dystocia due to his size (10 lbs) was far too great and the doctors helped me make an informed decision.
But I was fiercely determined to have a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) for our next baby. I worked very hard and gained much less with this pregnancy and read every bit of literature I could on how to have a successful VBAC. I prayed for it in every prayer. Josh prayed that I would get my wish. Then at 38 weeks we had the ultrasound that would determine our fate. Baby girl came in at 9 lbs. I was devastated, as my hopes for a VBAC waned, but my midwife, Sarah Darby said that we would wait it out and see what would happen before 41 weeks came around. We went to the zoo in Topeka, on shopping excursions, to Clinton Lake, and did just about anything to keep our minds off of the "what ifs".
Then, at 5:30 a.m. on the 29th, my water broke. I doubt that anyone has ever been so excited to have their water break. I almost cried tears of joy. Serious. We had a wonderful woman from our ward come over and watch Joshua and Sarah (my youngest sister) and went to the hospital. The ride to the hospital was almost comical. I was chattering away, thrilled to my toes that at any moment I would begin to have the contractions everyone talked about (but I had never felt), while Josh was scared to death that I was dying-- due to all of the blood I was loosing. Looking back, the funniest thing was when Josh wheeled me into the labor area and started stuttering something incoherent about "labor" and "water" and I assured the nurses that I was fine and just needed to be checked in.
For five of the longest minutes, the nurses tried to get a steady heartbeat from the baby, but had no success. Before I had a chance to register that something was wrong, two of the doctors came in and said that we would get me into the O.R. to do a C-section as soon as possible. I burst into tears...totally embarrassed to be crying in front of three nurses and two doctors. Dr. Stone said she would try one more time to see if they could get a steady beat. And we did.
I spent the next 15 hours laboring. When I was checked only two days before, I was at a 3 and very thin. Somehow, my body defied physics and when we checked in at the hospital, I was not dilated at all. Zilch. Needless to say, it was a very long 15 hours with me alternating between using pitocin and having strong contractions that distressed my baby, to not being on pitocin and hardly experiencing any contractions. I could narrate the ups and downs of the labor progression, but that would get tiresome...as it was for me. There came a point around 10:00 that evening where little Genevra was coming down the birth canal, ready to make her grand entrance. But with each contraction, her heart rate would drop and then flat line for an instant. And with each progressive contraction, it took just a little longer for her heart rate to return.
Throughout the pregnancy, I had been given various priesthood blessings from my husband, assuring me that my will was also my Heavenly Father's will. I assumed that this meant that my pursuing a VBAC was right and that it was MEANT to happen for us. When Dr. Stone came into the room and told me that my baby's well being depended on us having a repeat C-section, both Josh and went through a series of mixed emotions. We had both had our hopes set on a VBAC and the possibilities of a faster postpartum recovery, as well as the opportunity to have a larger family that a VBAC could offer. I wanted to prove to myself that I was just as capable at giving birth as the women who deliver vaginally. It was at that moment that I came to realize that more than anything else, and most important was my baby's health-- and that was what the Lord wanted for me too. His will was that my baby was healthy.
Genevra could not have been healthier or more beautiful. After the C-section, the doctor explained that it was a miracle she was healthy. My placenta had stopped working properly and had begun to shrivel...literally. Most babies who have this happen are under five pounds and experience difficulties upon birth, which was happily not the case with Genevra. But, this was the reason behind Genevra not tolerating the stress of labor. We were also informed that my tailbone is exceptionally odd shaped, curving in. Thus the reason behind my lack of progress during labor. The result being that my chances of delivering vaginally and a baby making it past my tailbone are very slim.
The fact of the matter is that we have a bundle of joy sent straight from heaven. The timing of her birth could not have been more perfect. My family was driving back from Tennessee where they picked up my brother from his mission, so on the way home they were able to stop by the hospital and admire their newest grandchild. My mom stayed for four days after they left and saved me from going insane. She catered to Joshua's tantrums at being de-throned, cooked us amazing meals, did our laundry, and helped me cope with the steep drop in my hormones. Yeah, my mom is amazing and I can't say enough how grateful I am for her being there when I needed her most.
Our ward is also something to brag about. Joshua has been more than temperamental of late, throwing fits if I hold little sister or even look at him with my brows slightly furrowed, and upon my mom leaving, I had no idea how I would survive. But several angels from our ward volunteered to watch Joshua during the time Josh was in classes over the course of a few days. On top of this, meals were brought into our home. The service these women gave has made my life so much more easy to swallow with the reality of having two children to take care of. I will be posting pictures as they happen.
For now, life is good. What can I say more?
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