Monday, May 26, 2014

Baby Number 3 Makes Her Grand Entrance: A Birth Story

The day finally arrived - baby sister made her entrance into the world!  Given my track record, it took us by surprise.  If you'll recall, Merryn was born at 40 weeks and 5 days.  WIth Merryn, I went into labor and experienced contraction after contraction for 26 loooooong hours.  I never dilated past 8 so at 2:34am, they wheeled us into the operating room and she was surgically evicted from my cozy uterus thanks to what the medical community calls "failure to progress." 
 
This time around, I was receptive to the idea of a VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean) but we went ahead and scheduled a C-section anyway because there was a high likelihood the same thing that happened with Merryn would happen again. 
 
Because Merryn was overdue, I assumed this baby would try to hang out in the womb as long as possible just like her sister did.  But my doctor was not going to let me overcook this baby, so a C-section was scheduled for Thursday, May 29th.  However, this morning, baby #3 decided she'd baked long enough and to my surprise, my water broke around 7am.  Her timing could not have been better because Mama Hop and Aunt Leanne just rolled into town last night!  So they came and picked up the girls and Travis and I headed for the hospital. 
 
We took a couple final pregnancy photos for posterity, including one by the Starbucks kiosk in the hospital lobby!  Leanne is going to flip when she sees this!
The medical experts convinced me that a repeat C-section was preferable to a VBAC in this scenario so we settled in to our hospital room and we waited to be taken back to the OR.
 At 11:19am, baby Lydia made her grand entrance into this world weighing 6lbs and 9oz and measuring at 19inches long!  It turns out the C-section would have been the only option regardless, because little Miss Lydia was breech. 
 
We were so delighted to finally meet our bundle of joy and it was as wonderful as we had anticipated.  She even impressed us with her natural flair for drama by busting out a killer pout face.  Nice, Little Lady!  Tell us how you really feel!  Ha!
 I'll tell you how I really feel - I feel absolutely head over heels in love with this precious face;  I feel blessed to be able to participate in the miracle of life;  And I feel humbled that God bestowed upon me the great privilege of being her mother.
 It's amazing how much better you feel after a C-section when you hadn't spent the previous 26 hours in a grueling labor.  I immediately wanted to share the love with my mom, sister, and daughters.
Josie caught us by surprise when she demonstrated an unusually enthusiastic interest in the baby.  We really thought she'd take the same approach with her little sister as she takes with our dog "You ignore me, I'll ignore you, and we'll get along just fine!"  But no, Josie wanted to see and touch Lydia all the while enthusiastically proclaiming "Baby!  Baby!  Baby! Baby! Baaaaaaabbbbbbbyyyy!!!!"

Being the seasoned aunt that she is, Leanne scooped little Lydia up and cradled her, cooed at her, and kissed her.  She told me that this baby was the best birthday present she could have asked for (even though her birthday isn't until next week).  
And what a gift she is!  This whole day has been incredible and we are so very grateful to welcome this little miracle into our family!



26 comments:

  1. Congatulations Elizabeth and Travis! Big Congatulations also to Big Sisters Josie and Merryn and to Auntie Leanne and your whole family. Welcome to your beautiful little baby Lydia. I love the name you have given her. It fits in so well with her sisters' names and your name. Elizabeth and Lydia both in Pride and Prejudice! I've been reading your blog since Josie was a baby. So happy for you all. xo

    ReplyDelete
  2. congrats shes anouther beauty watch out travis going to have too beat the boys off with sticks with these 3.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Very impressive to post her sweet birth story on the actual day of her birth... though I imagine this may be the most peaceful 48 hours (hospitalized) that you'll have, so that was a wise move! Thank you for allowing all of us to be part of your wonderful family's day! Welcome to the world, Lydia! Blessings to you ALL!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Congratulations ! She is gorgeous

    ReplyDelete
  5. Congratulations on another beautiful baby girl!!

    ReplyDelete
  6. What a beautiful baby! So glad that Mama Hop and Leanne arrived before Lydia chose to make her entrance. :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. Congrats!!!! She's precious! I think she favors Merryn. And you looked way too good to be 9 months pregnant! Ha! Enjoy the new addition!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Woo hoo! So excited. Congratulations!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Congratulations! What a doll and what a beautiful name......enjoy!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Congratulations to all of you! Great timing Lydia!!! Wishing you a quick and easy recovery Elizabeth. You and Lydia look beautiful... although that pout kind of steals the show. Prayers for your sweet family coming from Oregon.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Congratulations! Lydia is beautiful! Praying you have an easy recovery and a smooth transition to a family of 5! ♥

    ReplyDelete
  12. Congratulations, Elizabeth and Travis!! Elizabeth, you look so beautiful in all of your delivery day photos! Lydia is a precious little new life, and I thank God that everything went so well for all of you! You have been in my prayers, and I was so thrilled to read this update today. God bless you and your beautiful family. :-) Michele F.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Congrats! Is she named after anyone? I know Josie's middle name was leanne and I think merryns was Elizabeth for you?

    ReplyDelete
  14. Yay! She's as beautiful as your two other babies! Love the name, you'll have to tell us how you picked Lydia name. Congrats to you all, and Aunt Leanne!

    ReplyDelete
  15. CONGRATS! She is a little doll baby…. I can't wait to see what life is like at home with two big sisters!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Congratulations!!! What a beautiful little girl :).
    Lisa

    ReplyDelete
  17. Congratulations and welcome to Lydia! So happy for your family.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Congratulations! God bless you and your beautiful family!

    ReplyDelete
  19. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Congratulations! I have to ask, when I had my daughter, my water broke at home. I had to sit on a towel on the way to the hospital and in the wheelchair there. Every little bit there would be another gush. How are you standing there in a dress taking pictures? You are super woman! :)

    ReplyDelete
  21. congratulations!! she is super cute!! love the name too. :)

    ReplyDelete
  22. Congratulations!! what a beautiful family!!!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Sooooo happy for you!!! She's beautiful - and so are you !! Xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  24. Hi baby Lydia! You are so lucky Aunt Leanne. I want to be an aunt too.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Congratulations! She is so beautiful and I LOVE her pout.

    ReplyDelete