Eight years ago on May 4, I gave birth to a free-spirited strawberry blond girl. I considered briefly not finding her gender at the scheduled ultrasound, but I couldn't wait. I was thrilled to find out that I would be having a second daughter. Emma would have a sister! Estelle was an easy baby and easily transitioned into our family, but once she could walk things have never been the same! She can be demanding, yet sensitive; curious, yet afraid; confident, yet shy and I am grateful for the eight great years I have spend with her so far!
My pregnancy with her was the most difficult I had had. I was nauseous for the whole nine months. I was tired and so ready for her to arrive. On the night of May 2, I had regular contractions until around 3:00 a.m. In fact, I was seriously considering calling my mom to come to our home to stay with Spencer, Taylor and Emma, but they stopped. I knew I had a doctor's appointment the next day, so I wasn't too worried about anything and I went to bed for a few hours. I had had about 12 hours of contractions with Taylor then they stopped for a day and I went into labor and gave birth to him after another 24 hours. I thought this time might follow the same pattern.
I was pleasantly surprised to be dilated nearly to 5 cm. when the doctor checked me. We discussed options of her breaking my water, or waiting until she decided to come. This was a Wednesday and Dr. Lawrence would be leaving town on Friday for the weekend to visit her mother for Mother's Day. I was nervous about going into labor and having her at home, and I preferred that Dr. Lawrence deliver her. It seems to take the longest to dilate to a five and Emma was born in just 5 1/2 hours of labor. So, we decided to go for that day! I stopped at Destry's shop in Lehi and told him to be home in an hour so we could head over to the hospital. I packed my bag, called family members and for the first time walked into the hospital without being in labor. It was, quite frankly, a little weird. The nurses were ready for me, but the doctor wasn't. She had other deliveries to attend to, so she didn't break my water until after 5:00 p.m. We arrived around 3:00. Even though I wasn't having an epidural I still was given an IV with antibiotics because I tested positive for strep B. My mom, Destry and I just talked and watched a landing from a Life Flight helicopter.
The contractions started soon after having my water broken. I had both Taylor and Emma without any pain medication and I planned on doing the same this time. My water broke on its own shortly before they were born and I had no idea the amount of pain I would be in for having to have my water broken and go through two hours of contractions. I felt like I barely had time to catch my breath between them and I would have this wave of terror wash over me as each one began. It lasted for less than two hours, but I was traumatized enough to get an epidural when I was induced with Sarah.
When I was dilated to 8 cm. I told the nurse to call the doctor because I knew things would go quickly from there. When I felt ready to push and the doctor was not yet there, a nurse started blowing in my face telling me to breathe and not push. It was annoying to say the least. After a few pushes she arrived safely and soundly, but I could not enjoy her immediately because I was still in a lot of pain. Delivering the placenta had been a non issue before; in fact, the doctors just eased it out, without any ado. This time the doctor had to push on my tummy and pull on the cord and I had to push a couple of times. After the placenta was delivered, the contractions finally stopped. Dr. Lawrence had to stitch me up and I felt every stitch even though she had numbed me.
When I got to enjoy my baby we had both been cleaned up. It was a joy to hold her, look into her eyes and wonder what she would say if she could speak. I am sure she would have told me that my fathers, both earthly and Heavenly saw her off and sent the love I could feel radiating from her. They would have shared love with her as I was feeling love for her. Her blessing day was sweet, but I missed the presence of my father who had passed away just nine months prior to her birth. We had been trying to conceive for six months before we actually did. This was new. I had always gotten pregnant very easily. I do not know if the spirits in the preexistence and the spirit world are allowed to visit each other, but I like to think that they do. Maybe, since she was not to know him in this life the delay allowed the two of them to spend time together before she began her time on earth.
My pregnancy with her was the most difficult I had had. I was nauseous for the whole nine months. I was tired and so ready for her to arrive. On the night of May 2, I had regular contractions until around 3:00 a.m. In fact, I was seriously considering calling my mom to come to our home to stay with Spencer, Taylor and Emma, but they stopped. I knew I had a doctor's appointment the next day, so I wasn't too worried about anything and I went to bed for a few hours. I had had about 12 hours of contractions with Taylor then they stopped for a day and I went into labor and gave birth to him after another 24 hours. I thought this time might follow the same pattern.
I was pleasantly surprised to be dilated nearly to 5 cm. when the doctor checked me. We discussed options of her breaking my water, or waiting until she decided to come. This was a Wednesday and Dr. Lawrence would be leaving town on Friday for the weekend to visit her mother for Mother's Day. I was nervous about going into labor and having her at home, and I preferred that Dr. Lawrence deliver her. It seems to take the longest to dilate to a five and Emma was born in just 5 1/2 hours of labor. So, we decided to go for that day! I stopped at Destry's shop in Lehi and told him to be home in an hour so we could head over to the hospital. I packed my bag, called family members and for the first time walked into the hospital without being in labor. It was, quite frankly, a little weird. The nurses were ready for me, but the doctor wasn't. She had other deliveries to attend to, so she didn't break my water until after 5:00 p.m. We arrived around 3:00. Even though I wasn't having an epidural I still was given an IV with antibiotics because I tested positive for strep B. My mom, Destry and I just talked and watched a landing from a Life Flight helicopter.
The contractions started soon after having my water broken. I had both Taylor and Emma without any pain medication and I planned on doing the same this time. My water broke on its own shortly before they were born and I had no idea the amount of pain I would be in for having to have my water broken and go through two hours of contractions. I felt like I barely had time to catch my breath between them and I would have this wave of terror wash over me as each one began. It lasted for less than two hours, but I was traumatized enough to get an epidural when I was induced with Sarah.
When I was dilated to 8 cm. I told the nurse to call the doctor because I knew things would go quickly from there. When I felt ready to push and the doctor was not yet there, a nurse started blowing in my face telling me to breathe and not push. It was annoying to say the least. After a few pushes she arrived safely and soundly, but I could not enjoy her immediately because I was still in a lot of pain. Delivering the placenta had been a non issue before; in fact, the doctors just eased it out, without any ado. This time the doctor had to push on my tummy and pull on the cord and I had to push a couple of times. After the placenta was delivered, the contractions finally stopped. Dr. Lawrence had to stitch me up and I felt every stitch even though she had numbed me.
When I got to enjoy my baby we had both been cleaned up. It was a joy to hold her, look into her eyes and wonder what she would say if she could speak. I am sure she would have told me that my fathers, both earthly and Heavenly saw her off and sent the love I could feel radiating from her. They would have shared love with her as I was feeling love for her. Her blessing day was sweet, but I missed the presence of my father who had passed away just nine months prior to her birth. We had been trying to conceive for six months before we actually did. This was new. I had always gotten pregnant very easily. I do not know if the spirits in the preexistence and the spirit world are allowed to visit each other, but I like to think that they do. Maybe, since she was not to know him in this life the delay allowed the two of them to spend time together before she began her time on earth.
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