Emma's birth story

Where does the time go? I just can't believe that my baby is three. It just doesn't even seem possible. I will never ever forget this day! I don't think I have ever blogged her birth, so here we go.



I was put on bedrest April 23, 2004 for pre-eclampsia. I went in for monitoring every three days and had weekly appointments with my doctor. I was monitored every Tuesday evening...it just so happened that my blood pressure would spike those days and I would have to go to L & D for monitoring. The weekend before Emma was born I insisted that we go to BRUS and get her car seat. I agreed to stay in the wheelchair if my husband would let me go. So we got her carseat. On Monday, I had an NST and an OB appointment. Everything was great!!! My blood pressure was normal and the NST looked great! The next day I went out to eat for lunch with my mom and went home to rest. I was trying to get my kick counts for the afternoon and couldn't get the baby to move. I called the doctor and they had me go to L & D for monitoring. After about 30 minutes, the baby's hb dropped dramatically and they put me on oxygen and they called the doctor. The baby's hb returned to normal and they called for a sonogram. The sonogram determined low amniotic fluid which was putting the baby at risk.

The I.V. nurse came in to give me fluids and said, "Congratulations, I hear we are having a baby today!" I looked at her like she was crazy and told her that I wasn't due until July. My L & D nurse came in and told me that yes we were having a baby, but probably not until tomorrow. They were starting me on pitocin. They started the I.V. and moved me into my new room. They sent my mom home and Craig to get dinner around 8:30. Well, around 9 PM the baby's heartrate dropped dramatically again with a set of contractions. The next thing I know everyone is in my room prepping me for a c-section. They let me call my Mom, but Craig's cell phone was in my room. Finally, he arrived and the told him what he needed to do.

At 10:32 that night baby Emma arrived at 34 weeks and a day. She was crying, but not very loudly. I was so lucky because we have a family friend who works in the PICU that checked up on Emma and called me in the recovery room to let me know how she was doing. Our little peanut weighed 4 lbs 2 oz. She was doing quite well.

The next morning Craig went to go see her and she was not intubated anymore, but on oxygen. We had quite a fighter! She let everyone know that she was going to make it and she did! Our little peanut is quite the sassy three year old now.

We are proud of all her accomplishments, but most of all I love her personality! She loves her family and after being an only child for almost three years has embraced her baby sister. Emma is truly a blessing from God as are all children, but she was exactly what our family needed!