THE DELIVERY
With a scheduled c-section, there is not really an exciting birth story to post, but I have wanted to write about the day nonetheless.
I was EXTREMELY nervous to give birth again -whether it were going to be a VBAC or repeat c-section. My delivery with Isabelle was very long and very traumatic for us both, and resulted in a very long recovery period for both of us (you can read about it here if you do not know the story). I didn't realize how much that horrible delivery had affected me until this past December when I went to the hospital to be there for my sister Camille's delivery of her youngest. Being present at a delivery for the first time since my own triggered some major anxiety that I was not expecting. At that time, I did not yet know I was pregnant, but we had just completed our first round of IUI, so I was hoping to have a baby sometime soon. Two days after that delivery, I found out I was pregnant. And along with the joy of actually being pregnant came the anxiety of anticipating another delivery. My doctor (who was a new doctor from my previous delivery) reassured me that a scheduled c-section would be SOOO much better than what I had gone through before, and that I really didn't need to worry so much about it. .... Turns out, he was right.
We scheduled the surgery for the morning of Thursday, August 23rd. The night leading up to the 23rd and that morning as we went to the hospital, I was extremely nervous, as I did not really know what to expect. Fortunately, I had an AMAZING nurse, and of course, I really like my doctor, so they helped to calm my nerves a lot. I walked back to the operating room (which seemed kind of weird to me), and for the most part everything went smoothly. The only complication we had, was getting my spinal block in place. The nurse anesthetist ended up poking me three times (yes THREE needles into my spine) before he got it in a good space -- apparently, my spine didn't really want to cooperate. And those first two pokes HURT - like jump off the operating table hurt. Since the third poke made it into the right space, it wasn't that bad. From that point forward, everything went great. Once I was on the table and prepped for surgery, Dave came in to be with me. And things were started. I couldn't feel anything (as opposed to the first time around, when the surgery was very painful), I was fully alert since I hadn't just experience 18 hours of labor and pushing, and it was a MUCH more enjoyable experience. Sooner than I knew it, Dave told me with excitement that our baby girl was here. Very shortly after that, I heard her cry. And I was immediately overcome with joy and an incredible emotion that I sadly did not experience the first time around. It was such a sweet moment to hear my baby girl's cry, and it was a moment of relief to know that she was FINALLY here, safe and sound after a roller-coaster of a pregnancy. After they got her cleaned up a bit, they brought her over to me to see her and to put her on my chest a bit. That was yet another experience I did not get the first time as they had to take Belle straight to the NICU when she was born. It was a tender moment for Dave and me to meet our baby girl for the first time. I felt so grateful to my Heavenly Father for allowing this sweet baby to join our family and to do so safely.
CHARLOTTE EMILY SHUMWAY
From the time I found out I was pregnant with Charlotte, I immediately felt an incredible love for her. As many of you know, the pregnancy had its share of ups and downs, which I think she helped to strengthen the love and bond I share with this sweet girl. If there are two words I could use to describe baby Charlotte so far, they would be FAITH and ENDURANCE.
Everything about Charlotte has truly strengthened the faith of our family. Trying to get pregnant with Charlotte tested our faith, but also strengthened it as we felt so incredibly blessed when we found out we were pregnant after doing only one round of intrauterine insemination (IUI). And then starting at our 18th week of pregnancy forward, our faith continued to be tried, but was always followed by a miracle. The ups and downs started at our 20 week ultrasound, when quite a few organs of hers were dilated (read here). And then at 27 weeks, my water broke and we were definitely in for a scare (read here). A few weeks after that, I fell pretty bad down a flight of stairs. And then a few weeks after that during a routine appointment, the doctor noticed an irregular heart beat and sent us to a neonatalogist for a closer look at the heart, who then sent us to a pediatric cardiologist at Primary Children's because of her own concerns. We just seemed to have one scare after another with this little girl. And yet, with each and every scare, we ALWAYS experienced a miracle. She definitely taught us to have a lot of faith during the ups and downs and helped us to learn the true power of prayer -- as I know that there were many prayers said on our behalf on multiple occasions during the pregnancy. I was definitely humbled as I heard of the fasting and prayer that took place on our behalf. And I felt the immediate blessings of those prayers, the fasting, and the faith that went into it.
Despite the challenges the pregnancy brought, our baby girl endured, and for that, I am grateful. Not only did we have some trials to do with the pregnancy, but my life leading up to her birth was extremely stressful and busy. And I put my body through A LOT of stress. And still, our little Charlotte endured through it all with me. She truly is a special spirit sent directly from our Heavenly Father. And I am incredibly grateful to have her in our lives.
I am excited to watch this beautiful baby girl grow and develop and to see what plans the Lord has in store for her, because I truly believe that she will continue to exemplify the characteristics of faith and endurance. We love you Charlotte Emily and are excited you have come to join our crazy family!
