Ivy Jean’s Birth Story

November 30, 2016

As I type, I’m sitting in the NICU right next to Ivy Jean while she sleeps and stays warm in her isolette bed. Our precious girl is two weeks old today, and not a day has passed that we are not grateful for her life and humbled to be her parents. I wanted to thank you all for your support and share a little bit about her birth story.

The day started out like any other. Russ and I woke up and both headed to work. It was a Wednesday, the day my weeks turn over. I had hit the 34 mark and was feeling great. We were anticipating her birth in late December and wondering what the season would hold for our new family.

I had my weekly BPP monitoring test, something I did because I was high risk due to IVF and gestational diabetes. We had a great ultrasound first. More pictures of our precious baby! Then they hooked me up to the monitor. At the end of twenty minutes, the nurse came over to check my reading, and I saw the concern on her face. She went to show the doctor and came back to tell me they could not establish a baseline for the baby’s heart rate. It was bouncing in and out of normal range. I needed to stay another 20 minutes. I texted Russ, who had just left after the ultrasound and told him I thought everything was okay but that I needed to stay. It was about 4:30. After another 20 minutes, nothing had changed. The doctor told me he was sending me to the hospital for triage and more monitoring.

While concerned, I still thought everything was alright. I arrived at the hospital around 5:30 and Russ followed closely behind me around 5:45 with dinner and some reading material. After all, we thought we would just be there a couple hours for monitoring. They got me hooked up and two nurses came in to check on me. They quickly disappeared and 5 or 6 doctors and nurses reappeared. Things started to get real very quickly. The baby’s heart rate had dropped and wasn’t coming back up. Within minutes we were on the elevator up to labor and delivery, I had an IV in my arm and an oxygen mask on my face. They told us I was headed for an emergency c-section. Russ couldn’t come with me, there was no time, and I would be put completely under. He frantically tried to call family.

He says he’ll never forget everyone leaving with me and finding himself alone in the room not knowing if we were okay. Then he heard a cry. They took him to the NICU where he found out our baby was a precious 4 pound, 9 ounce girl. When I woke up, he got to tell me it was Ivy Jean. So many sweet and scared tears. So much grace in that moment. She was okay, just little and in need of care.

In the days to follow, Russ and I have found ourselves adjusting to our new normal in the NICU. Ivy has made so much progress. She no longer needs a feeding or breathing tube or an IV. I have been able to do a combination of nursing and pumping. She gains a little weight each day and is currently learning to regulate her own temperature. When she is able to stay warm enough on her own, she’ll move to an open air crib and then home! Our prayer is for her health and wellness.

I cannot begin to express our gratitude to everyone who has loved and supported us through meals, prayers, texts, and more. We are especially thankful for the doctors and nurses who have cared for both me and Ivy Jean. We are blown away by their dedication. Recovering from an emergency c-section while having a baby in the NICU is no joke, but they make it manageable and encourage us when we feel down. Our days are long and dictated by numbers. The nights away from her are hard and interrupted by pumping. Yet God has been so good and so evident to us in this time just as he has been during infertility and the ups and downs of pregnancy. The progress she has made in these two weeks is by Him alone. We are so in love with our Ivy Jean.

 

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70 Comments

  • Reply Nina December 16, 2016 at 5:47 am

    I can’t believe I missed this post, Congratulation , what a touching story. Don’t worry, your little princess will be healthy and at home, with you soon. I’ve been there , sitting in NICU near my premature daughter’s bed wondering if she would be OK just like other kids, one day, and 5 years later nobody remembers she was that tiny in NICU. Congrats again,dear. xx
    Nina
    http://www.ninasstyleblog.com

  • Reply Heidi D. December 5, 2016 at 10:43 am

    I can’t begin to imagine how scary this must have been Amy Ann! Your little girl is absolutely precious and I hope you’re adjusting and enjoying every moment with her! Wishing you and your new family the happiest of holidays girl.

    Heidi || Wishes & Reality

  • Reply ADA December 5, 2016 at 9:52 am

    Thank you for sharing this with us. Her story is touching and a little scary but your little soldier came out and survived and made her parents so happy. I told you before but I love her name. Hope you adjust to life with a newborn now that she is home.

  • Reply Priscilla Eliodoro December 5, 2016 at 8:42 am

    Wow! Congrats! She´s lovely and thanks for sharing the story with us! I know God has amazing things for you and your family! 🙂
    http://hairandvibes.blogspot.com

  • Reply Larissa December 4, 2016 at 2:07 pm

    Wow! Thanks so much for sharing your story. I soooo know what is like when you plan everything different than it comes in the end. I never wanted a c section and had one in the end – and I all I felt was gratefulness. I must be overwhelming when your baby arrives so much earlier than expected. I wish all three of you SOOOO much joy and I hope Ivy will be able to leave hospital before christmas 🙂
    Sending much love!
    Xx

    Rosa Larissa Klara

    conscious lifestyle of mine

  • Reply Ruth December 1, 2016 at 11:20 pm

    Just had the time to read this. I am so thankful that everything turned out okay and that you were at the Dr’s that day! I hope you keep recovering and taking good care of yourself and your new little!

    http://www.mylittlenest.org

  • Reply Kasie Chelanne December 1, 2016 at 10:28 pm

    Thank you so much for sharing your story, Amy. I am so, so thankful you and Ivy Jean (I love that beautiful name!) are both okay. The day of her birth and the subsequent weeks sound absolutely terrifying to have gone through. All three of you clearly are filled with love, determination and grace. It’s going to be so wonderful to finally be able to take your healthy girl home!

  • Reply Emily December 1, 2016 at 8:35 pm

    Oh Amy, this story is filled with so much love and emotion. It must have been quite a scary experience but so glad that your beautiful bubba is doing well, she sounds like a strong little girl already! Hope you guys are taking care of yourselves too!
    x Emily
    http://shedoes.com.au

  • Reply Carrie @ Curly Crafty Mom December 1, 2016 at 11:28 am

    So glad this story had a happy ending and that you and Ivy Jean were taken care of so quickly! She is just beautiful!! Nathan’s heart rate dropped when I was being induced and I had a flood of doctors and nurses come in my room, too, but it came back up… it was something to where he dropped rather quickly that caused it and I gave birth soon after. They are just really on top of everything it seems at the hospital, which is good!! I am glad she is doing so well and you and Russ must be beaming with pride and joy! Congrats!

    Carrie
    curlycraftymom.com

  • Reply Lisa @ Daily Style Finds December 1, 2016 at 11:13 am

    Oh, wow, Amy Ann! I don’t think words could describe how relieved Russ must have been to see you and the baby – and everything okay! You can see God’s provision on the whole process.

    Lisa
    Daily Style Finds

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