Welcome to the world, Nyla Marie

Suprise!!!!  We had a baby girl on Friday.  Exactly 10 days before her due date, I went into labor.  Here is the story of my 13 hour labor and the delivery of our sweet Nyla Marie.

First off, we decided early on in the pregnancy that we didn't want to know the sex of the baby.  Since we have a girl and a boy already (and I saved everything), we thought it would be neat to know what it feels like to be surprised.  We found out with both E and L so that we knew how to plan and prepare for their arrival.  This time around, the only planning needed was to stock up on diapers and wipes:)

The ultrasound technician suggested that she put the picture with the revealed sex, in an envelope, attached to my chart.  Apparently, it wasn't smart to even let my doctor know.  He might accidentally 'spill the beans.'  If she had given it to us, we might have been tempted to open it.

It was exciting not knowing.  I didn't mind people giving me their opinion because normally their reasons aren't factual.  I couldn't help but wonder if they were right, though.  Everyone was saying that it was going to be a boy based on how I was carrying the baby.  Then, I showed one of my brother's an ultrasound picture I had and he said he could tell what it was and that it was a boy.  I looked at the picture and noticed that he could be right.  I still wasn't sure, though.  I was a little disappointed that I was given a picture that probably revealed the sex.  To further the disappointment, I saw the nurse for one of my appointments and she blurted out, after listening to the heartbeat, "it sounds like a boy."  I replied, "we wanted to be surprised."  She didn't apologize and I left the appointment very frustrated.  Don't get me wrong, we would be happy whether it was a boy or girl, but we just wanted to be surprised.

So, we started to concentrate on boy names for the duration of the pregnancy.  We had a list of about 5 names, narrowed it down to two, then finally one.  This was only a few days before I went into labor.  Still no middle name, though.  We had a girl name on our list that we both liked but likewise, didn't look for any middle names.

The Wednesday before having Nyla, I was 2 cm dilated and maybe 25% effaced.  My doctor offered if I wanted to induce on Sunday, I could (a week and a day before the due date).  This was tempting only because I know my dr would be on vacation the following week and I was concerned with just any dr delivery the baby.  Anyway, I decided to just wait and let things progress naturally.  It's amazing how God has a sense of humor.  I was stressing out all along that maybe I should have scheduled the induction and God knew all along that I was going to start labor by the end of the week.

On Thursday, I felt slight contractions but just thought they were Braxton Hicks.  I went to sleep fine that night and then woke up suddenly at 3:30 AM with what I thought were just gas pains.  I couldn't go back to sleep especially after feeling the same pain consistently, every 10 minutes.  I got up, packed my suitcase and prepared myself for possibly going to the hospital that day (Fri).  Ben had a full day at work planned and so when I woke him up around 5:00 AM to tell him that I had started labor, poor guy had to figure out who he needed to call and make sure things were going to be taken care of.  Around 6:30 I decided to call Ben's cousin and his wife to see if they could take care of the kids that day and they immediately came over to pick them up.  Let me just say that with my other pregnancies, I was only in labor for 7 hours so that is why I had to plan my day with the thought that I could have the baby that same day.

Ben and I drove to the hospital around 7:30 and I was monitored for about an hour and a half to see if I was progressing enough for them to admit me.  Unfortunately, I hadn't during that time and they were going to schedule an induction the following night.  I broke down because the contractions were now 6 minutes about and already very painful.  I couldn't imagine going back home.  Ben requested that they check me one more time just to make sure.  What to you know within that short time I was now 4 cm dilated and 80% effaced.  YES!!!!!!!!  They had to admit me, then.  I was so excited.  I was put in an actual LDR and requested an epidural.  Well, of course they took a long time.  There were so many women in labor that day that everything took twice as long.  I finally was able to relax after the epidural and Ben and I rested and made sure we had the boy name down pact.  My water broke early that afternoon and I knew things  would progress quickly.

After 13 hours in labor,  I felt the urge to push.  The nurse immediately called the doctor and after checking me, they were both running around the room like chickens with their heads cut off getting everything together.  The other nurse came in to get the baby stuff ready, too.  I pushed twice and my sweet baby was out.  They had Ben check to see the sex so he would be the first to tell me.  He stared with a puzzled looked on his face and I thought to myself, this shouldn't be difficult, Ben.  I mean, really.   Why are you taking so long.  He finally spoke up and said, "It's...it's a, girl."  I broke down crying because I had longed for that element of surprise, and I got it.  We had a GIRL!!!!  The nurse asked her name and well, we weren't sure:)  We told her the first name but we'd have to get back to her for the middle.

I held my baby for a long time before they took her to the nursery to clean up.  Like I said, the delivery ward was swamped with patients.  I was grateful for that time we had with her.  I then mentioned to Ben that we could just use my middle name.  He quickly agreed.  Yes!  She had a name, Nyla Marie.

We are so grateful for our sweet baby.  She is such a blessing to our family and we praise God for allowing us the privilege of being her parents.