[hoping and waiting]

We are so in love with little Annabelle! I cannot describe the complete joy this little miracle brings to my life. She is just perfect in every way. Here's my story.

I went in to the doctor's office on Monday because I was worried I hadn't been feeling Annabelle enough that morning. They did an NST and she was just fine, but blood pressure was high. Nurse checked my cervix and I was 1 cm and 60% effaced. She sent me to L and D to monitor my blood pressure. My BP was fine after resting at the hospital, but they noticed that I was having contractions and during one long contraction, Annabelle's heart rate went down. So doc came in and recommended that I stay and be induced. Well... he checked me like an hour later before giving me Cervadil and said that I wouldn't need to be induced because I was already 4 cm and 80% effaced! What the heck! What a coincidence right!? I was so excited to be going into labor on my own. I labored to about 5-6 cm (11 pm) before asking for my epidural. The pain was starting to get kinda rough. Getting the epidural was probably the scariest part of the whole thing. Shortly after getting the epidural, I felt like I could talk or breathe well because the numbness was all the way up past my breasts. It was a heavy feeling in the chest, and try as I may I could not get in a very good breath for about an hour. I then fell in and out of sleep while I labored painlessly until about 5 a.m. Then, the contractions started to get painful again, so I got another shot of epidural. An hour and a half later I was complete and ready to push. I could totally feel the pressure of the contractions, but no pain. My husband and doc were actually making me laugh during pushing which helped to move her along. The doc thought it was so funny that my laughing was pushing her along. I had to get a small episiotomy and she was born a little later. She was finally born at 8:15 a.m. They put her right on me and I was crying and in heaven. She is just so perfect and a dream come true. I LOVED my labor experience and am treasuring every moment with my new baby Annabelle. I have posted a more recent pic below.

[2boys+alittlelady2luv]

She is adorable. Congrats!!

[charityvanessa]

So sweet!!! Congrats! I'm glad your labor went well and you have your baby girl now!!

[mimilareaux]

Congratulations!! She's a doll!

[RawrDiino]

Congratulations! What a beautiful birth experience! She is adorable!!

[survey77777]

I'm glad things went well for you. She's beautiful.