Baby Girl's Birth Story - Part 1

On Monday morning, I called the doctor's office to inquire of the order of events for Friday morning's induction. I have always been told when to call L&D and not to eat or drink after midnight the night before, but I was literally told nothing this time. When I spoke with nurse Donna, she had already been planning to call because she realized what had happened. She told me to call the hospital at 5.00 Friday morning and to plan to be there at 5.30 if a bed was available. I thought it was early, but it would be alright.

On Thursday, Ronnie got home and we took the boys out for pizza before we dropped them off with overnight bags and sleeping bags at Grandma Jackie's house. I felt terrible leaving my babies, but it would be so much hassle to get them out so early the next morning. Ronnie and I went home alone and did things around the house the rest of the night until I finally fell asleep sometime between midnight and 1.00.

The alarm went off at 3.30 a.m. and I waddled to the bathroom to take my last pregnant bath. I soaked for a bit and watched Baby Girl wiggle around in my tummy. We got everything packed into the van and I made the call to the hospital at 5.00. It was then that I heard what I've never been told before. There were no open beds. I was told to call back at 7.30. At this point it was nearly impossible to go back to sleep, but Ronnie forced me back to bed and eventually I did get a little more rest.

At 7.30 Ronnie called back to L&D while I stayed in bed. He was told that there were several patients scheduled for discharge, but they were still full so I would need to call back at 10.00. At this point I felt like we wouldn't be meeting our baby that day. I was tired and emotional, but Ronnie was so sweet and tried his best to keep me calm. I was also starving because they still said I couldn't have anything to eat. We decided to go see the boys so we left and stayed at my grandma's until it was time to call back.

At 10.00 I called once again. This time I didn't receive information to call again or to come in. I was asked for the phone number where I could be reached and simply told that I would get a call back later.

I was beyond upset. I felt so down. I had prepared myself for this day for two weeks and now nothing was going like I had pictured. I should have been in labor by then, but I wasn't even in the same town as the hospital. I wanted to cry, but I was too tired. I wanted to do something, go somewhere, but I was stuck at my grandma's house until I got a call back. I was just ready to have my baby.