First off, I want to say thank you for all the support, well wishes, and prayers that you all have provided throughout my pregnancy. Being pregnant was a special time, but I’m so glad to have it all behind me and to have my baby in my arms. Waking up the morning after the birth without feeling nauseous and being able to brush my teeth without gagging was an incredible feeling!
Two weeks ahead of my due date, my blood pressure started creeping up. One week before, I spent a few hours in the hospital on monitors before I was released to go home. A couple days later, it was still high, so the nurse midwife scheduled an induction for the following day. She had also performed an ultrasound to make sure that Baby was doing well (which he was, praise God). The bad news was that he was measuring around 9 lbs, give or take about a pound. All the doctors and nurse midwives at the practice were shocked that I was “hiding” such a large child. I can only imagine how big he would have gotten if he had arrived two weeks overdue!
On the day of the induction, I had to fast starting at 3am, so I woke up and made myself a cheese sandwich. I understand that’s a bit of an odd thing to eat at 3am, but it was all that my tired self could come up with. We arrived at the hospital eight hours later, and the midwife started the induction drugs by 12pm. She started slow because I was only dilated 1 cm at that point. For the rest of the afternoon, my contractions slowly became stronger but were not yet painful, so Mr. Handsome’s mom and sister-in-law kept us distracted with games and conversation. The nurses were very kind and popped in frequently to make sure I was comfortable. I was surprised by all the menial tasks that they were eager to do for us, such as refilling our water bottles, fetching snacks, and re-positioning my pillows. They truly were there to serve their patients, rather than just monitor the medical side of things.
During those initial hours, the most difficult part was not being able to eat anything but clear liquids. By the time the baby arrived, I had fasted for 30 hours! I drank all-natural ginger ale to keep my stomach from becoming queasy and consumed who knows home many cups of Jello and bowls of chicken broth. Throughout the day, I felt my brain slowly becoming foggier, likely a combination of the drugs and a lack of food, so my mother-in-law ran to the store and bought saltine crackers. It wasn’t technically “allowed,” due to the risk of having food in the stomach if a C-section became necessary, but Mr. Handsome agreed that a few crackers wouldn’t hurt. And they really did help a lot!
Around 8pm, the midwife announced that it was time to break my water. At that point, Mr. Handsome was in the waiting room eating pizza that his dad and brother had made, but he rushed in to hold my hand.
To Be Continued…
Laura
I can’t wait to read the rest!
It sounds like a long labor and delivery!
Karen
Aaawwww. Cliff hanger! Can’t wait to hear the second part of the story/real life story! ❤️
Jesussaves
Thank you so much for this update. I was getting concerned to because we had not heard from you for a while. I know that you are very tired and you are enjoying your precious baby boy.
Candi
You sure are good at keeping us hanging, Ellie! I was just going good with the story and right when the going was getting to the interesting part…kerplunk. Died. End of “part 1”. 🧐really?😩 aggghhh. Oh well, I think you’d be a good book writer! Guess you are working on one 🙂 That was nice you had some family here to help with everything! Is your mom and dad going to come soon to see the baby?
Anonymous
I’m sorry they made you wait to eat🙁 I didn’t realize some hospitals did that with inductions. Honestly I think it’s dumb, if your body isn’t nourished you’re going to lose energy and it’ll be more likely that you’ll have to have a csection
Anonymous
I agree being pregnant is a special time. My last pregnancy was 35 1/2 yrs. ago and I still miss it. Take Care!!! Jane
Marilyn
So glad everything turned out okay. God Bless.
Joan,Marion and Marilyn
Betty
I can’t wait to hear the rest!! So exciting! Congratulations:)
Jamie
You poor thing! I had no idea they would let a woman in labor go that long without food….. I really thought they would want you to be strong going into the final part of labor. My sister was induced and it was a really rough couple of days for her that ended in a c-section, her baby weighed 10.2 lbs!
Diana
Thank you for sharing part 1 of your birth story! Since every hospital/doctor/midwife/mother has a different experience, I think it is really fun to read about how it happened for someone. Having baby in your arms is by far better than pregnancy! Enjoy all those snuggles and newborn moments.
Anonymous
What a beautiful, wonderful thing to bring a new life into the wor
Anon
Such a nice, happy story! Thank you and may you quickly recover!
Beth
It sounds like a long labor and delivery . Can’t wait to read the rest. Take care Ellie.
Anonymous
Wow Ellie you really have me in suspense!!!!
I didn’t want it to end😅
Christine Sanford
My goodness it sounds so much like my story so far. High BP for a few weeks then induced a week ahead of my due date. I to was getting light headed (I had 4 am pancakes bacon my husband made). They gave me some juice which sorted me out.
Can’t wait to hear the rest
Ellie
What a coincidence, Christine! How long was your labor?
Ellie
Jessica
You are a brave person, posting a picture online of you during labor. 🙂 I think you look nice. I look rough before, during, and after labor, and wouldn’t show anyone pictures. I think it’s good to be real.
Can’t wait to read the rest of the story.
Ellie
Thank you, Jessica! After the birth, I looked a lot more rough. 😉
Ellie
Lynn W
I’m so glad everything turned out fine in the end. A quick calculation tells me that you didn’t have the baby until 12 hours after they broke your water. If so, wow! 27 years ago I was pregnant with my first son and at my due date the doctor thought I looked too big from the side and sent me for an ultrasound to measure the baby. They estimated him to be 9-13, give or take a pound up or down. Dr scheduled a c-section for me, didn’t want to take a chance the baby would get stuck. My son came out on the lower side – 8 lbs 13 oz. I’m looking forward to hearing the rest of your birth story.
Ellie
Yep that’s about right. 12-13 hours. How big were your other children?
Ellie
Lynn W
My other son born 4 years later was 8 lbs 5oz and was a scheduled c-section 9 days before his due date. Dr gave me a choice for delivery and I went with what I knew and felt comfortable with. In the end it doesn’t matter how one gives birth, just that the baby and mother are healthy and happy! Give that sweet baby a kiss and hug for me. I can’t wait for grandkids although that’s years away!
Ellie
I completely agree, Lynn. Will do. 🙂
Ellie
Christine
Thank you for including us in your baby’s birth story ,
Take care of yourselves
Lisa
In suspense.
Anonymous
Hi Ellie glad everything was ok with your delivery. I had my son.12-1/2 years ago.I planned on being induced on my due date. I woke up same day my water broke. So God had it all planned out.
Ellie
I’m so sorry to hear that! How very difficult that must have been to carry a child to nearly full term only to have him or her pass away.
Ellie
B. York
My first was induced due to high blood pressure one day shy of 36 weeks. I endured 72 hours of labor with limited calories and opted for a C-section as I was completely out of energy to continue. He was 8lb2oz. We spent a week in the hospital in total while I recovered and he was treated for jaundice. My second baby was a planned C-section and I left the hospital after 28 hours.
Anonymous
I was also induced a week early, due to gestational diabetes though, I also had to fast and was begging for just a cracker towards hour 8, my doctor said I could try and as soon as I ate one I became extremely nauseous and became ill, I guess the induction medicine can have that effect 🙁 I am glad you had a healthy delivery!
Anon
I was induced for high blood pressure with my first one. Seventeen hours later, she was born 8 pounds 3 ounces. I didn’t have any blood pressure issues with my other two children. I pray you don’t either. I am looking forward to hearing the rest of your story!!! Congratulations!!!!
Ellie
Thank you! Yours sounds very similar to my story.
Ellie
Karen
Aawww! Can’t wait to hear the rest of the story/ real life story!! Glad pregnancy and delivery are behind you – for now! 😊❤️
Ellie
LOL, I know…Until next time…
Ellie
Justine Elizabeth Kessner
Dear Ellie!!!
I understand more, about the food issue, but did they not give U a glucose drip??? I love Ginger Ale, and I am glad U had your cracker. Your Mother-In-Law, seems great, and I am glad U had her there with U!!!!!!!!! Well I am glad U are doing well, and am healed!!!!!!
Love Me
Ellie
Hi Justine,
The didn’t give me a glucose drip, but they did give fluids through an IV. Yes, my mother-in-law is great!
Ellie
N.
Congratulations! I hope you will get lots of rest and recovery, you certainly deserve it. Take good care of yourself!!
Hugs from the Netherlands.
Ellie
Thank you! 🙂
Ellie
Anonymous
I guess nothing is considered private these days. Oh well, to each their own. 🤔
Jessica
Sharing birthing stories is encouraging. It’s amazing how God brings life into the world. Also, she did not post any inappropriate pictures or say anything in too much detail. I too like sharing how God helped me through labor and delivery to bring a child into the world. If you don’t want to share your birthing story then you don’t have to, but we still have freedom of speech and this is her blog.
Barb
I’m so sorry you had to go through that. I can’t even begin to imagine what a difficult time that was for you. I had a childhood friend whose baby died during childbirth. There really aren’t enough comforting words to use. I’m glad you had lots of love and support.
Barb
Ellie, In your picture you look absolutely beautiful. Between you and your husband, your son will be so handsome. You are in for a world of joy . I’m glad, at least with what you’ve shared so far, that it wasn’t too terrible. I love that your mother-in-law brought in “contraband crackers”. I was in labor 23 hours with my first baby. I kept hearing women come into labor and leave for delivery, while I just laid there still laboring. After about 20 hours I said, “I’m done. I’m not going to do this anymore.” My daughter had other ideas, and she finally came on Leap Year Day!
Ellie
Thank you, Barb. You are very kind. That sounds rough! Glad I wasn’t able to hear people coming and going, or else I’m sure I would have been discouraged, too.
Ellie
Syll
Congratulations again
Cannot wait till next instalment of your birthing story ..
I hope things are easier for you now and baby is settling well .
Take care
Ellie
Thank you, Syll! The baby is doing very well, and we are settling into life as parents. It’s still a big adjustment, but it’s a lot of fun.
Ellie
Sarah
Okay, sorry to join the complainers here but it’s been long enough that I am now officially dying to know what happens next! You have a baby. I know. But I love hearing the details of your story! Hope things are going well for you Ellie!!!