How do I even start this post?

I GAVE BIRTH TO A BEAUTIFUL BABY GIRL!

I guess that will do.

I had a feeling that she would come early. The way she moved in my belly had me thinking she was ready to make her appearance at any time. I was also showing other signs that labor wasn't far off. I had Braxton Hicks contractions, some cramping, loss of my mucus plug, little girl had dropped and was head down, and I could not stop nesting.

On Friday, August 14, I was 39 weeks pregnant. I had my usual weekly check up with my OBGYN, who was going out of town that day. She checked me and said I was almost 2 cm dilated, 75% effaced and at -2 station. I let her know that I had started losing my mucus plug the day before and had my bloody show that morning. She said I was making great progress, and I would probably have my baby in the next couple of days. She didn't think I would go that night but definitely would not make it to 40 weeks.

This was some of the most exciting news to me, since I was more than ready to meet my sweet girl. I, of course, let Robby know, and we started making weekend plans of last minute things we needed to do before Baby B made her arrival. That evening, I finally got the shrimp salad from Mojo's that I had been craving for the past couple of weeks. We went on a little walk around Avondale and took my 39 week bump pictures. I made the comment that they could be the last bump pictures I would take. Little did I know they would be.

By 9 PM that night, Robby and I were headed to bed. Robby had to work the next day, and I couldn't stay up late if I wanted to. At 11:30 PM, I woke up with the urge to pee like most nights. But this time I felt wet and as if I were peeing my pants. I quickly got up to use the restroom and checked my underwear. It was soaked but not with pee. My first thought was that my water broke. Since it wasn't in the huge-gush-kind-of-way that you hear about so often, I quickly googled a few things and learned a slow trickle of amniotic fluid is a lot more common and to go to the hospital as soon as possible.

I head back into our bedroom, still leaking, and turn on the light. Robby quickly covers his face. I tell him my water broke and he jumps up and says, "Really!? What do we do?"  "We need to go to the hospital," I said.

This was the first time I've ever had to go to labor and delivery. I had no other scares, complications or false labors. I thought for sure we would end up coming home because it just didn't feel real.

I had our hospital and diaper bags packed already, and we threw in a few last minute items. I tried straightening the house a little in case we would be coming home with a baby. Then, we headed to the hospital. On the 10 minute drive there, I started having small contractions. Of course, I was unsure if they were actual contractions or not because this was my first "rodeo."


Luckily, we took a birth class and knew exactly where to go and park once at the hospital. At midnight, we make it to the labor and delivery doors. As another, more intense, contraction starts, I quickly let the intercom person know I think my water broke and I'm in labor. He replied," OK, come on back." But the doors weren't opening. The doors finally unlocked after what felt like ages, and we head back.

After I fill out a little bit of paper work and answer some questions, they take me to a triage room to test the fluid, check if I was actually in labor and see how baby is doing. I put on the dreaded hospital gown that was 10 sizes too big, pee in a cup and wait for my next set of instructions.

The nurse comes back to hook me up to the machines that check the babies heart rate and my contractions. Little B HATED the monitors. She was constantly moving and kicking them. I even felt a huge movement that felt like she dropped further down. Soon after that is when we had our first and only scare. Baby's heart rate quickly dropped, and it took the nurse a good minute or two to find it again. It slowly started to come back up to normal. The nurse thought it could be the baby dropping further into position, since my water broke, and her head was possibly squeezing her umbilical cord. But I knew she was OK because she continued to kick the monitors they had strapped to my belly.

Not long after that another nurse came to give me my IV. She tried a vein in my arm first and missed. Ouch. (I now have the biggest bruise on my arm still after 6 days) Then as she was attempting to put it in my hand, the other nurse started giving me a cervical exam and a contraction was starting up. All of this at once made me a bit upset as I started to tear up. I never had any of this done before getting pregnant, no surgeries, hospital stays or even blood drawn, so it was all very overwhelming.


Two hours after arriving at the hospital we are moved into a labor and delivery room. From here I have no idea what time anything occurred. It all happened so quickly.

My contractions were very sporadic. They would come every 2-3 minutes, then 10 minutes and anywhere in between. They were quiet painful for only being 3-4 cm dilated, but I was able to breath through them. That is until I start feeling nauseous every time I would try to breath. I was given Zofran for the nausea, but it did nothing. I want to say I was in that state for another two hours.

Finally, I showed some progression and was asked if I wanted an epidural. I quickly said yes. BEST DECISION EVER. The anesthesiologist had 30 years of experience, so he knew what he was doing, which put my mind at ease. It was so quick with minimal pain. I was feeling better instantly. The bottom half of my body was so warm and tingly. I was worried I wouldn't be able to move my legs at all, but I could. I think the worst part of the epidural (other than not being allowed out of bed) was getting the catheter put in. I guess I wasn't fully numb when she did it because it was extremely uncomfortable. But not having to get up to pee was pretty convenient.

Robby and I were able to take a nap, since we were both exhausted at this point. I do remember the nurse coming in several times to move me to get a better read on the baby's heart rate. I felt like I couldn't move my body at all without a nurse coming through the door. I did ask if I could change into just a bra though because I was drowning in the hospital gown.

By 7 AM, my parents came around to keep us company. I remember being so chilled out and just having a regular conversation while my body was working on getting Baby B out. I didn't feel the contractions at all. Unfortunately, my body wasn't working well enough on its own because the nurses started me on Pitocin to get my contractions more consistent. When they first mentioned Pitocin, I said I would rather wait and see if things would progress on their own. But after an hour or two the contractions were still inconsistent, so I agreed to the Pitocin. After that, the contractions were moving things along and the nurses kind of stopped coming into the room. I felt like hours would go by and no one came to check on me. I know it was a busy day for them, and they could see all of our vitals from their desk, but I wanted to know if I was making progress.

My sister, Ashley, arrives around this time I think, and just before I start to push my youngest, and pregnant sister, Kendra, is there.

The next thing I know I am feeling the contractions again. Not completely like before, but I knew when I was having one and feeling lots of pressure. Not enough to want to push, but enough to make me uncomfortable. After feeling like this for a good 30-45 minutes a nurse gives me an extra dose of whatever medication is in the epidural. That is when my left leg went completely numb, and I couldn't move it anymore. Right after that my midwife came to check on me, and I was completely dilated. I could feel her pushing on the babies head. She said I could start pushing with the next contraction. I started to cry my eyes out. My labor went so quickly, there was no way it was time to push already. Could I even feel when to push, did I know how to push, is this going to hurt, am I really about to meet my baby? Everyone leaves the room except for my mom and Robby.

I wasn't feeling that huge urge to push like everyone mentions. Well, that was the case until they laid my bed completely flat, and I was on my back. I felt so much pressure, and yes, it does feel like you have to take a huge poo. The first couple of times I pushed I just felt like I was pooping not moving a baby down the birth canal. I honestly didn't feel like my pushing was doing anything. But the nurse told me otherwise. I remember having to hold the urge to push while the nurse got things ready. She said my body will move the baby down on its own, so I wouldn't have to push as much. Worst feeling ever. But once we started pushing again my nurse was called out of the room. Five minutes went by without anyone in the room while I needed to push. I didn't push with each contraction because I didn't know if I would deliver without anyone there to catch the baby.

Once another nurse and my midwife came back into the room I pushed a few more times with each contraction. I remember after every one I would say I couldn't do it. I wasn't able to push her out. I didn't think I was making any progress. Everyone told me I was wrong, and she was coming. I couldn't have asked for better supporters and cheerleaders than my mom and Robby. During the whole pushing process Robby was watching as our little girl was making her arrival. I thought I would make him look at me the whole time because I didn't want him seeing all of that happening. But he was so amazed and excited. I was so happy but also in so much pain.

During the pushing the midwife breaks out the scissors and starts to give me an episiotomy. I always thought I would be against one, but I was OK with anything that would help this baby come out faster. The worst part was the scissors were cutting! The nurse and midwife were sitting there laughing because she couldn't cut me! Aaahhh! But I only had to push a few more times after that and my sweet baby girl was out! That was the biggest relief I had ever felt. I only wish I had taken the mirror they offered or felt her head as it was coming out. I wish I was more in the moment instead of focusing on the pain. I had my eyes squeezed so tight, that I nearly missed the doctor hold her up as soon as she came out.



Little B was placed directly on my stomach as soon as she came out. I couldn't get her to my chest because her umbilical cord was so short. Robby and I bawled our eyes out. I couldn't stop saying how beautiful, precious and amazing she was. It was the most surreal moment of my life. Robby cut the cord, and we were able to cuddle with her for a minute before she was taken to be cleaned up and checked on. I wanted to be able to hold her for longer and do skin to skin. But instead I had nurses pushing on my stomach to get all of the blood clots out and having stitches put in places I never thought they would be put. I was miserable, and all I could think was if I was holding my baby then this wouldn't be so bad. But my mom was holding my hand the whole time, and Robby was watching over our little girl. Baby Baggett scored an 8 and 9 on the Apgar Score.




Our Little Isla Ann Baggett was born Saturday, August 15, at 12:04 PM. She weighed 6 pounds 13 ounces, and measured in at 19 3/4" long. She has a full head of dark hair, and the cutest pair of pouty lips. She also smells like heaven.


Robby and I could not be happier. We are completely obsessed with our perfect little girl. I can't wait to share more.