How Indigo Came to Be

So for your reading pleasure, Indigo’s birth story!

After 8 years of marriage we finally decided we wanted to have a child. Actually, it was David who said that God smacked him upside the head and said we were stupid for not having children.

Hard to argue with God.

We started trying in January 2010. Around my birthday (early June), I realized I was late. I mentioned it to David but we didn’t think much of it. When I was another day late, I bought a test kit (generic – David still gives me crap for not spending money for EPT). Well, it worked just fine. I am also in trouble with my husband for doing it before he woke up and denying him the chance to pace outside the bathroom door. I just thought I was being dumb, thinking I might be pregnant. But then the two lines appeared and off we went.

Photo Shoot - 37 weeks pregnant

My pregnancy ROCKED! I worried that I would have morning sickness, fatigue, etc, and that is totally NOT what I experienced. I never once felt sick and I pretty much lived normally. I coached and walked and went to work every day. I had a great OB who thought we were kind of weird. At least, she thought David was weird, but who doesn’t?

I didn’t want to be induced at all. I was very against it, mostly on the chance that it could cause me to need a C-section. My due date was February 9^th, but I was only dilated to 1cm and nothing was happening to indicate labor was imminent. On February 10^th we had an ultrasound to make sure the baby wasn’t crazy big (apparently David had a HUGE head and my M-I-L was worried I could have a difficult labor). We went to the hospital because they also did a non stress test. I dressed for work, had my lunch packed and my coaching clothes in the car. I never expected to stay!

They took a look and said that she was close to 8 pounds and that my fluid levels were a bit low and said that might buy me a ticket to stay. We asked them to call our OB to find out what she recommended. She said that normal fluid levels are like 9 (I think) and I was at a 6. It basically means that if I didn’t go into labor soon, baby might not have good nutrient levels later on. She recommended we induce! Since my bag was at home, and we thought we could do some errands and come back. And she said David could leave but that I had to stay.

Not my best side!

David left and they showed me to the L&D room. I was nervous about being induced but excited to be having a baby soon. They did a cervix ripener and said that if I dilated I wouldn’t need Pitocin. I hung out in the room and watched a movie on David’s iPad. They brought me an awesome breakfast since I hadn’t eaten. I was worried I wouldn’t get to eat but I could until active labor (at which time I didn’t want to anyway). I started to dilate and then my doctor came in and broke my water, David came back and we did a little walk around the hospital. While I was pregnant, I thought it would be cute to get a “labor outfit” like pj’s or something. What no one tells you is how yucky you feel and all the “stuff” that happens while you are in labor. I was just as happy to get the hospital gown gross as something I purchased!

Handprint of pain

Contractions started coming faster after they broke my water. We walked a little more and I tried the birthing ball and different positions while they waited to see how far along I was. Our very dear friend Erica came over about 7:00 pm. I wanted her there to help support me and David since he was doing everything he could to help. He was so great the whole time. When Erica came the contractions were REALLY strong and I wasn’t sure if I could go the whole way unmedicated. I started thinking about an epidural. Normal labor progresses about a centimeter an hour and at that point I was at 5 cm. I just didn’t think I had 5 more hours in me and I thought that everyone might benefit if I wasn’t in such pain.

I asked for an epidural and they pretty much came right in. It was SO the right decision. I was worried about “giving in” to an epidural, but it didn’t diminish labor at all. The stress in the room just disappeared. We relaxed for a bit and even slept a little.

Our friend Kate came by after work about Midnight. Epidurals are AWESOME! I was chatting with Kate, and was like, I’m having a contraction now, and smiling… VERY COOL…. After she left my doctor came back and said it wouldn’t be long. I did a “test push” about 2:30 am and did very well. They called my doctor back in and they got set up and told me to push. I pushed 3 more times and heard a big pop! And Indigo was born at 2:53 am on February 11^th.

She was so perfect and everything went so well. A few close friends visited and our church small group came and said prayers. It was odd to be in a strange place with nurses in and out at all hours, trying to get to know this strange little creature that came into our lives. But the nurses were really great. They helped with breastfeeding and watching them handle Indigo gave me the confidence to take good care of her when we got home. They released us and we took our little Bug home on Saturday night (February 12^th) and our new life began.

February 11th, 2011

January 20th, 2012

Hard to believe that was 

almost a year ago!