Change of plans: The birth of Ariana

This story begins with our family of two adults, a dog and soon-to-be daughter making the move to California from Illinois. I was due August 27, 2013. Our house went under contract on the 4th of July with the closing date set for August 15. During the weeks leading up to the birth, I quit my job and concentrated on the packing for the move and the final inspections. My husband was kept late at work on July 30 and I moved as much of the the boxes and packing as I could since our appraisal was the following day. I was anxious and nervous because if the appraisal did not go well the house was not going to sell. My husband took me out to dinner where we discussed all the wonderful things that had happened so far during this move as well as the pregnancy. We went home, finished cleaning and readying the house for the appraisal, and went to bed around 11:00 p.m.

I woke up abruptly as my water broke. I was unsure if my water actually broke because I remember reading that instead of a rush of water, it could just be a slow leak. I went to shower and double check. My husband was confused that I was showering at 12:30 a.m. I told him my water broke. He wanted me to call the doctor and check that it was actually my water breaking. At 12:45 a.m., we went to the hospital because little Ariana had decided that she wanted to come in July. When I was in the labor and delivery room, the nurse asked if I was having contractions. I didn’t think I was, but the monitor I was hooked up to actually showed me contracting. Once I learned what contractions felt like, I realized I’d been having contractions for a couple months randomly. Because I had not had my strep B test yet, I had Penicillin and with the help of Pitocin and an epidural, I went into active labor around noon on July 31st.

While in labor, I was running through the list of things I had planned that day: a baby shower, an OB/GYN appointment, a nail appointment, the inspection. My small group had planned a baby shower and moving party because they didn’t want to wait too long, and get the party in before Ariana arrived. They were notified that I was in labor and had a great laugh at that. I decided not to cancel my OB/GYN appointment for that day since the delivery doctor was a doctor in that practice. But I cancelled my nail appointment for that day. My parents, who live in Ohio, drove in just in time to get the key to our realtor for the final inspection, which was happening at 3:30 p.m. that day.

Ariana was born at 3:33 p.m. She was perfect! She came out peeing and screaming as loud as she could. She was 5 pounds, 12 ounces and 20 inches long. Despite her being born early at 36 weeks and 1 day gestational development, she didn’t have any issues with anything. She latched right away and was ready for life outside the womb.

She only lost 6 ounces within two days and gained 4 back by her 5-day doctor visit. Our doctor and family had no concerns about her health and development being born early. We’ll see how she is at her one-month appointment. Through it all, life has been an adjustment but Ariana has been such a blessing from the beginning and always will be.

Send us your birth story! Whether you had a home birth, hospital birth, 37-hour labor or emergency C-section, we’d love to read the tale of your little one’s grand entrance. Write up your birth story (click here for tips on getting started) and email it, along with a few photos, to birthstory@pnmag.com. We’ll share it on our Birth Day blog and may even print it in an upcoming issue!