Our Little Family: Ella Patricia Travis

Ella is here!! If you want to know her birth story... keep reading if not, scroll down and see pictures below. So May 15th, 2012 I had a doctor appointment and I told the doctor that I was done being pregnant and that Ella was going to come tomorrow. We both laughed, knowing its all on the babies timing. I got checked and I was at 2cm and 50% effaced, no change from the week earlier. I had my membranes swept (this helps move labor along if your baby is ready). I left the doctor and went for a walk with a friend. At home I didn't feel different so I went on with my day. When Tommy got off of work we went for a walk in our neighborhood. I wasn't feeling any contractions. We went to bed around 9pm. Around 10pm I woke up with regular contractions at 5 minutes apart. I called the doctor and they said to relax and try and get some sleep. I took a bath and went back to bed. I was up and down timing contractions all night. I didn't get any rest. At 4am I woke Tommy up and said I just needed to go in to the doctor. My contractions were still 5 minutes apart but very painful. We went to the doctor and they checked me. Ella looked good and so did I. I was at 3cm and 80% effaced. The doctor did another membrane sweep and we went home. I decided to get some rest... well try to. Something did not feel right not long after we got home. I tried to get some rest but I was freezing!! I ate a few crackers and went back to sleep. At 10:30am we knew something was horribly wrong. I felt like throwing up and my body was shaking. Contractions were 3 minutes apart and Tommy and I headed back to the hospital. I was so weak that we had to get a wheel chair to get up to labor and delivery. As soon as the doctors saw me they were concerned. I threw up as soon as we got into the triage room. I was hooked up to a monitor and Ella's heart rate was very very high. Its normally 150 or so and she was at 180 to 190. My temperature was 102.4 and it was apparent that I had some sort of infection. After 3 tries, the nurses finally got an IV in me. I was dehydrated and needed fluids and antibiotics. Everything happened so fast and most of the following was a blur. I was admitted and moved to Labor and Delivery. Since Ella was in fetal distress, I was talked to about the possibility of having a c-section. I was checked and at 5cm and contractions were 3 minutes apart so we were told we can try and have a vaginal birth. I was given an epidural for the pain and after an hour of still feeling the intense contractions we realized that it wasn't working. We had the medicine increased and still I felt everything. The fluids broke my fever and Ella's heart rate returned to normal range. At 5 pm I was at 10 cm and ready to push. After a few pushes, I was told that with every push Ella's heart rate was dropping. SCARY!! So the doctor told me I had no choice but to push her out as fast as possible!! So 34 minutes of pushing and some assistance from the doctor and an episiotomy, she was out. The cord was around her neck and she was limp and pale. She was place on my stomach and i could feel her breathe but she made no noise. The NICU doctors quickly grabbed her and took her away. After the longest minutes of my life I finally heard her cry. The relief and love I felt instantly was indescribable. She was born on May 16th, 2012 at 5:32pm. She weighed 5lbs 15oz and 18 inches long. Tommy brought Ella to me and I was able to hold her for a minute before she was admitted to the NICU. I got an hour of stitches and I was able to go and see Ella.

In the NICU Ella was treated to guard against any infection she may have gotten from me during birth. Ella got an IV and lots of blood tests. We were able to hold her and things felt good. I decided to breastfeed so every 3 hours I got to walk to the NICU and nurse. On her first night in the NICU Ella had an incident where her oxygen level dropped very low and she required some oxygen. Then on her second night her blood tests showed she had jaundice and needed photo therapy. Finally on Saturday she was well enough to room in with me and spent the night off of all the monitors and in the room with me. On Sunday we got to go home.

Ella Patricia Travis may have has a rough entrance into the world but she is nothing short of a miracle. She looks just like her daddy and already has quite the attitude. Nothing can describe how happy I am to be her mother. I thank God every day for sending her to us. Tommy is an amazing husband and father. Enjoy the pictures below. We will be updating as much as possible with a newborn!!

May 16th, 2012 5:32pm