An early Easter baby: The birth of London

When I found out I was pregnant it was a pretty big surprise. Once the reality of it finally hit me I became extremely excited—I couldn’t wait to find out whether this baby was a boy or girl!

At first I was longing for a handsome little boy, but I slowly changed my mind to wanting a girl. At my 26 week appointment we found out that our little bundle of joy was a girl, after that I couldn’t stop picking up cute little pink outfits. I had a very easy pregnancy, absent of morning sickness and with a large weight gain, which led me to anticipate a normal but obviously painful labor and delivery. However, after starting a new job as a nurse at a nursing home, I realized that I was starting to feel kind of funny at work. I would check my pulse and blood pressure, and for a while my blood pressure was great but my pulse was getting pretty high. I notified the OBGYN, who then ran some tests, but before I could get to my next appointment my condition worsened. I was feeling really bad one Thursday at work so I checked my blood pressure and found out that it was 160/110. I immediately called my doctor and he had me go to the hospital.

I was not expecting to stay overnight, but I ended up being admitted and diagnosed with preeclampsia. I was told that I would be at the hospital until my delivery (I was 33 weeks at the time). A week after being admitted to the hospital, I was told that due to my worsening condition I was going to be induced. I was really scared, not only due to the unknown of going into labor, but also because I would be having my baby early. Thursday morning at 11 a.m. they gave me Cytotec, which they administered every four hours. This did not work, so Saturday at midnight I was given Cervadil. After 12 hours of Cervadil I was 3 centimeters dilated, and that’s when they started me on IV Pitocin. By 6 p.m. Saturday my water broke and the contractions were coming about every 2 minutes.

By 7 p.m. I received my (lovely) epidural. I was feeling very well after that, but by 12 a.m. the contractions were getting bad again and I felt a lot of pressure. I was checked again and was at 9 centimeters. My nurse was telling me not to push—the doctor needed to get there and I was not yet completely dilated but I was having trouble complying. The pressure was horrible, but finally everyone arrived and I was able to push. I only had to push once and the head was out! At 12:44 a.m. I gave birth to my 34-week old baby. I was so scared that she wouldn’t be able to breathe, but right after I pushed her out she let out a small but strong cry and I was overwhelmed with emotion. I was so happy. When they let me hold her I myself cried like a baby. My little baby London was 3 pounds, 10 ounces, and measured 17 inches long. I was not prepared to have her so early but I am happy to see her doing well and hopefully I’ll be bringing her home soon and spoiling her to death.