Adelaide's birth story

This is extremely personal and there will be a few graphic pictures and details. I would ask that you please give respect that this was a very special and personal event in my life and treat this post accordingly. This is also pretty long. Feel free to just skim or just look at the pictures :)

     It has been a day over two weeks since the birth of my sweet baby girl and I have been putting off writing this blog post over and over again. I think it could be becuase I am sleep deprived or because I have been so busy but mostly I think its becuase the whole process was such an intense and spiritual experience I have been afraid/unsure how/not able to put it into words. But I figure tonight... I will try my best. I need to write this out for myself for therapeutic purposes.

     As I have mentioned a little on here before I had really bad blood pressure during my pregnancy. As  it got closer to my due date my pressures seemed to get worse. I was taking a medicine to help regulate it but it still was going out of control. I was bloating like crazy, I was dizzy and having a hard time doing anything with out feeling like I was going to pass out. Even sitting an hour at sacrament meeting was difficult for me. At my 36 week check up my doctor was very concerned. He decided to send me to a high risk pregnancy doctor as soon as I hit 37 weeks. So the monday after I hit 37 weeks, Eric and I went to see this doctor. We were told that I needed to get an amniocentesis (big needle stuck into my belly and then into the amniotic sack to take out some of the amniotic fluid) to check to see if babies lungs were developed and see if I could be induced. I went in thinking it was no big deal and that this doctor would probably wonder why the heck I was even there seeing him. The doctor came in, I got an ultrasound and he listened to my symptoms. Then he stood up and said I need to call your doctor. Then he promptly walked out. He came back sometime later and informed me that my blood pressure is too high and unpredictable. He said that I don't have preeclampsia becuase I don't have the protein in my urine, but that my high blood pressure was just as serious. He told me that the baby looked fine on the ultra sound and that he didn't need to do the amniocentesis. He informed me I needed to be induced right away or I could end up having seizures, renal failure, stroke or even end up in a coma. So he sent me home. I didn't even realize that my high blood pressure was that serious. I knew I wasn't feeling good...but he really put into perspective why my doctor had been watching me so closely the past few months.

Me the first night in the hospital

Eric and I in the hospital waiting

My IV

     My doctor called me about a half hour later and told me that I could go in that night to a cervix softener and then get induced the next day but if I did that my doctor would not deliver my baby. Becuase it was July 24th and that is Pioneer day here and Utah and its a holiday. So they said I could wait and come in Tuesday night and my doctor could deliver my baby wednesday. Eric and I felt that God had sent us to this doctor for a reason so we might as well wait a day and go to him. We absolutely love him so it was an easy choice. We spent the next day and a half in anticipation. Making sure everything was set up, bags were pack and diapers were bought time still went by super slow. My brother and mom arrived Tuesday right before we went in. My brother laughed at how fat I was. haha. :) They were so excited and it was so nice and comforting to see them. I hadn't seen them since my wedding.

Eric sleeping on his nice bed 

     We got to the hospital and they took us to this amazingly nice room. They gave me the cervix softener and at first I felt fine. After a while I started feeling the contractions. But they were bearable. I was given something to help me sleep and Eric and I tried our best to sleep.
    Early Wednesday morning they came and started my Pitocin to help induce my labor. At about 10 the doctor came in to check my dilation. I had nothing. He decided to break my water in hopes to rush my labor along. I was feeling pretty intense contractions but I wasn't dying. They just felt tight and pushing. They were also super uncomfortable but I could handle it. The nurse came in and asked if I was planning on getting an epidural. I said yes. she asked if I wanted to get one now. I said no that I was fine as of now but she said I might as well get one early if I am going to do it. So I said ok. I am glad I did. The guy who came in was head of the anestesia department and I didn't feel the needle at all. I still felt pressure and I felt worn out but the major pain was gone. That was super nice. We had a lot of visitors stop by through the day and say hello and wish me luck. It was so nice. it helped time go by.
By 8 o clock I finally was dilated to a 9. The doctor came in and said we would start pushing soon.

Waiting...

At 9 they cam in and had me push a little and then had me wait an hour. At ten they decided that we could finally begin pushing. The baby seemed like she was finally far enough down the canal. So I pushed for an hour and a half. It was the most intense hour and a half of my life. I kept pushing with all my might even though I couldn't feel the majority of my lower half. I was still in pain. I was trying so hard to get her out. I pushed with everything in me. Every contraction... three huge pushes for an hour and a half. the doctor told me at the end of the hour and a half that she still was not moving at all. He said it seemed like she was facing up instead of down.
     It was at this time he gave me three options. He told me we could keep pushing but we could end up doing a c section anyways since she wasn't moving, we could do a vacuum but he didn't recommend that or we could do a c section. Tears welled up in my eyes. I asked him what he recommended and what he would say if it was his wife in this situation and he said to do the c section. I looked around at my husband and at my family. I said a silent prayer. I started crying harder and I looked at my doctor and said ok lets do the c section. I asked if we had enough time for me to have a blessing and he said yes.

Eric in his surgery out fit :)

Me ready for surgery...

     I have never had surgery before this. That is why I was so nervous. Eric and his brother gave me a blessing. I received peace. During the blessing I was told to have faith. If i could do that then I would be saved and so would my baby. This is the first time I even thought anything could be wrong with the baby. The doctor kept saying everything was fine. My first instinct was to get really scared and start stressing out. But I looked around the room at my family sitting there watching me. They all had faith that the Lord would help me. I looked at my phone and remembered all the texts I had received from friends saying I was in their prayers. I felt peace. I knew that God had this in his hands.

My abdomen ready for surgery

     They wheeled me off to the operating room. I kept praying over and over that everything would be ok. I don't know if I stopped praying at all really during the surgery. I waited anxiously for Eric to arrive in the room. when he did he grabbed my hand and smiled at me. I felt so safe despite my surroundings. There was a window to the operating room so that our family could stand and watch the operation. I kept getting more and more pain killers into my epidural. My doctor asked if I could feel something... I said no. All I felt was pressure. And he said good. and I suppose that is when the surgery began.

Addie coming out...

     Eric kept smiling and giving me thumbs up during the surgery, But I noticed there was a definite shift in the mood in the room. I kept feeling more and more pressure and urgency. The doctors were not laughing or talking to each other anymore. Everything seemed off and I was uncomfortable. I kept waiting to hear my baby cry. I kept looking to Eric to tell me when he saw her and I kept praying.

Addie... trying to get her to breathe

Trying to get her to breathe

Finally Eric said he saw her. I got so excited. He said she was beautiful. And then he said she was out, But I did not hear her cry. I kept using all my strength to look over where they were washing her off. I realized that the nurses looked worried. I noticed they were pounding on her chest and putting an oxygen mask on her face. I felt so afraid and then I prayed and waited for it to end. I kept waiting for her to cry. I just sat on the table and closed my eyes. I must have passed out because the next thing I knew I had an oxygen mask on. But I could hear my baby cry. It was just for a moment but it was beautiful. A nurse brought her over to me. I held her and told her I loved her. Then before I knew it she was taken again. This time Eric followed her. I sat on the table for what felt like forever waiting for the doctor to finish sewing me up.

Finally able to hold her for a second

Adelaide doing better

     It wasn't till I was wheeled into my room after I was all stitched up that I finally was told what happened. Addie came out unable to breathe. They miraculously were able to help her. Turns out that she had been stuck in my canal for the entire day. She couldn't get through and every time I pushed it was pushing her head into my pelvic bone. She was stuck and she was blocking some of the amniotic fluid from coming out. She had how bowel movements and had swallowed some of it. She was in complete distress when the dr pulled her out and her head swollen and had bruises all over. The dr told us if we hadn't done the C section she would have died. They informed me that the surgery had been extremely violent. Addie was stuck and the dr had to use what looked like a giant shoe horn (according to Eric) to get her out. The doctor had to put his arm all the way up to his elbow inside me! I am grateful I couldn't feel anything.

First bath

I had a fever so they put Addie and I on anti biotics. I held her for twenty minutes that night, just enough to breast feed her and then she had to go back the level two (NICU-type unit) for the night.

Addie under the Billy Rubin lights

The next morning I awoke at 7 am worried. Where was Adelaide? Why hadn't a nurse been in to see me? I sent Eric out to find out since I still couldn't walk. He came back an hour later with the baby and a nurse who informed me that Addie had been
given a bottle because I was not able to breastfeed at that time and during this she had stopped breathing and turned blue. She once again had almost died but they were able to bring her back.

Addie in her Level 2 care (NICU) Bed

She stayed in the NICU for a while. She was carefully monitored. About the third day they let her out. Then they said she had jaundice and we had to keep her under the billy rubin lights.  All the while I figured out how to walk again and how to move. I realized that the more I walked the dizzier I got. Finally on sunday i realized my blood count was still low. My dr told me I really needed to get a transfusion so I agreed. I hadn't realized but I guess I had lost half my blood during surgery. The transfusion helped a lot.

Family

We have been home for over  a week now. Its been an adventure. Looking at my sweet baby's face reminds me how truly blessed I am to have her here. Eric and I discussed over and over again how the blessing I received gave me and him great comfort. We realize that it was not just not our faith that saved baby's life but it was the accumulation of ours and all of our friends faith and prayers.

Addie Leaving the Hospital

     Words cannot express my gratitude that I feel for the prayers, the calls, the visits, and the meals that I have received from so many people. The support and love has been amazing. It has helped us to get through! We wouldn't have been able to do it on our own but the Lord sent us "Angels round about us to bear us up." And they were physical and spiritual angels. I am still in awe from the love I feel. I hope I can be worthy of it.

Recovery has been good. I probably should be resting a lot more then I am. I want to be 100% and I realize that can't come over night. But its hard to keep "resting" when I have been resting and sick for the past 9 months. I just want to be better and enjoy my baby.
Everything with Adelaide is great. We went to the doctor yesterday and he informed us that she is looking good. She is still figuring out a sleep and eating pattern. She is the sweetest little girl though.

My amazing mother in law helped us out for the first week being home. She helped us out so much, I honestly couldn't have done it without her. She just left thursday actually. So yesterday was my first day alone. It felt great. But I am sore today from over doing it. Luckily I had some friends come help me run errands yesterday. I am grateful that I still have people helping me out. I need it more then I let on. ha.


Everyday I am learning more about Adelaide and about myself. I am excited to get to know her better.
I am so grateful and in awe that Heavenly Father sent this sweet little spirit to us. I am in awe that he saved her life and that he showed us such wonderful tender mercies. I look at my c section scar daily and I realize that my baby's birth is not how imagined it would be or even had hoped it would be. But I see that scar and I reminded of the miracle that God gave to me. The miracle that occurred. My daughter is more then I could have ever hoped for. I have more love for her then I knew was possible.   I am so grateful for all that I have learned from this difficult and trying adventure. I am in awe that my God loves me so much and that he taught us such amazing lessons. I hope to some how be able to return the kindness and love that has been shown to me someday.

I look forward to every tomorrow with our new little family. I am so grateful we have forever together.

Adelaide Carolyn Wahlstrom
Born July 26th 2012 at 12:06 am
8lbs and 9 ounces
3 weeks early
Our beautiful little miracle