A few weeks into things, I started having some sharp pains in my left pelvic area so I decided to call my doctor to check on things. We went in and had some blood work done and an ultrasound. The blood work came back with another confirming positive, but there wasn't anything visible on the ultrasound which didn't surprise me at the time because a lot of times my dates seem about two weeks off. My doctor was a bit concerned, though. Even though it was 4th of July weekend, she sent us to the hospital for follow up ultrasounds and blood work. Blood work did exactly as it should have--the numbers increased indicating a healthy pregnancy, but again nothing was visible on the ultrasound. So, my doctor came to the hospital to discuss the situation.
Because of the pain and the high hormone levels and lack of visibility of the pregnancy, she was worried that the pregnancy was ectopic. Ectopic pregnancies not only don't have a chance of developing, they also pose a strong risk for the mothers because a ruptured ectopic pregnancy causes internal bleeding and the mother can bleed to death. When the pregnancy isn't visible yet, it can be terminated with taking a pill to cause a miscarriage or abortion. But, when the pregnancy does become visible in the wrong place, it can only be removed by surgery. So, that day our pro-life values were challenged in a way we could never have imagined. Did we really believe this was a baby? Was my life more important than this life?
We decided to wait a couple of days before doing anything. I couldn't make a decision based solely on numbers. I'd have to know that my baby had no chance and was a risk to my life before I could make any kind of decision at all and even then, I didn't think I could make the call. I just couldn't give the go-ahead to abort a baby even if it did pose a risk to me. Geoffrey was willing to make the call in order to preserve my life, but I was still not ready to make a decision.
A couple of days went by and we went back for more blood work and another ultrasound. Hours went by and I felt the weight and turmoil of the decision pressing on me. My doctor called us and let me know that the hormone levels had gone up and the pregnancy was visible and right where it should be! For the rest of my pregnancy, every single time I saw my doctor she remembered that moment and talked about how thankful she was that things turned out well for us.
My other two babies needed to be induced to get here, so I'd always wanted to just go into labor on my own if for no other reason than to know what it was like. I got my wish this time. March 7th, my due date, I awoke to steady and decently strong contractions about every five minutes. This actually irritated me because for weeks I'd been having some strong, regular contractions. I was not about to let myself get excited. It was early and I was annoyed to be awoken by nothing to get excited about. It started around 5:15, so I waited awhile and then remembered something key--real labor contractions will get stronger when you get up and walk around. So, I tested this out by making the long trek to the bathroom.
Thinking I'd have time to go to the bathroom before another would hit, I was very surprised when I had a hard contraction in the middle of my trip. I woke Geoffrey up when I came out and told him I thought I was in labor. His eyes popped open and he asked if I was sure. Right then another contraction hit hard. They were getting much closer together! I almost panicked. Our bags were packed, but the kids were still asleep and at this rate, I was a little intimidated that we may not make it in time. Geoffrey got the kids up and we all got dressed and ready to go. I was working through each contraction to breathe through them, but while they were getting stronger and stronger, I was getting louder and louder.
During the drive to the hospital, the contractions went from being about every 4 minutes to every minute. Geoffrey kept telling me to relax and finally I snapped at him that I couldn't relax right now. So, he stopped trying to tell me to relax, but changed his coaching to encouragement. In the back seat, Samuel started telling me, "Just relax, Mommy." And Marianne started moaning like me. We finally got to the hospital where my mother-in-law was waiting to take the kids. She opened the door for me while I moaned and huffed and puffed and got out. She laughed and said, "I guess she decided to come on time." I couldn't even respond other than a nod.
The security guards got me a wheelchair and one wheeled me up to labor and delivery. We got up there while I was breathing through the pain and the nurses who had been drinking their morning coffee hopped up to help me to a bed. When they heard that this was our third baby, they took everything that much more seriously. They called for the epidural twice while I screamed through each contraction and I don't know if I was more anxious for it or if they were more anxious for it. All my training to relax through the pain went out the window. I screamed through each pain and gripped the side of the bed each and every time. I could not make myself relax. I just couldn't do it.
I was thankful to see the anesthesiologist. And I remembered her from my labor with Marianne. I was so very glad to see her! Once I got my epidural, the nurses wrapped me up so I could labor down. About that time, my sister-in-law Brittney (who was also a nurse as well as pregnant herself) arrived and settled in. She had asked me before if she could watch. During her training as a nurse she hadn't gotten a chance to see a delivery and about to have a baby herself, she was curious. I was really glad she got there after the epidural took. I didn't want to scar her with all the screaming.
I remembered from my labor with Marianne that the urge to push can feel a lot like the need to poop, so the minute I had that feeling, I let the nurses know. There is something nice about having a third baby. Nurses take you very, very seriously. They called my doctor right away who came and asked if I was ready to push. She checked me and I told her that she would know better than I did. She "suited up" and said that we were ready and four pushes later Roselyn Joy arrived.
When she was handed in to be weighed, my doctor guessed her to weigh 8 lbs 6 oz. No one could believe it when the scales read 9 lbs 12 oz. She was our biggest baby by a whole pound! And oh, goodness, she was a beautiful newborn. Such cubby cheeks!
During my pregnancy I had had gallbladder pain and had scheduled it to be removed after Roselyn arrived. In the days that followed her birth, the pain only got worse and I began to stress about having surgery so soon after having a baby, but as the pain got worse (no matter when I ate) I began to look forward to the surgery. One thing God provided early, early on with this little baby girl is the ability to sleep really well. Even through her big sister's screaming in the same room, Roselyn would sleep and only stir a little. And overnight she would generally only wake once. She is the perfect newborn to have while recovering from surgery.
Our little chunky baby has gained back her birth weight and more and has started being awake more during the day which has bonded her more with her brother and sister. They're both anxious to help get the pacifier back in her mouth and look over her to make sure she hasn't spit up. There's no jealousy between siblings and so far the only adjustment is to Mommy's hormones and sleepiness-induced moodiness. There is so so much I'm thankful for--a new baby who we're getting to keep for awhile, siblings who love her, a husband who takes care of us all, and a baby who sleeps much better than most. God has provided so well for us that even though we do have some tough days and some days of adjustment that seem forever long, He is taking care of us still and has blessed us greatly.
