The Brown's Scrapbook: Stella's Birth Story

Dear Stella,

This is your birth story from you Aunt Megan's perspective.

Your birth story started long before your actual birthday date of January 3, 2019. 32 weeks earlier, you mom and dad found out they were pregnant with you and the excitement was high from the very beginning. Your mom and dad read nearly every single book about being pregnant and having a new baby. They wanted to know everything because they knew that they both wanted to be the best parents to you, Stella. I remember your mom calling me about little questions and I remember watching your daddy talking to your Uncle Blake at the beach, that Summer. You are so blessed to have have 2 engaged and loving parents that were so committed from so early on.

On the Friday 12/29/18, before you were born, your mom and dad went into the doctor for a normal checkup and the doctor was a little concerned about your mom's blood pressure and sent her to the hospital for a couple of hours to be monitored and do some tests. On Monday, 12/31/2018, there were some proteins in her urine so they wanted to induce your mom to get you to come out. However Labor and Delivery at the hospital was full, so they scheduled an induction and asked your mom and dad to plan on coming in Wednesday evening. Since it was New Year's Eve when they left the hospital, still with no baby, they decided to have one last date night at Pappeaudeaux where your mom enjoyed a delicious crab dinner.

On Wednesday 1/2/2019, your mom and dad patiently waited for the call from the hospital all day. At 5:30PM, with no call, your mom called to start asking when they could come in. She was so excited to meet you so she called again at 8:30PM and they finally told her to come check into the hospital at 9:30. YaYa was already on her way to Houston from San Antonio and your Aunt Megan was planning on leaving San Antonio bright and early to be there with your mom and dad and to meet you.

After your mom and dad got checked into the hospital late that evening, the nurses used a special medicine called Cervidil to soften your mom's cervix overnight so that you would be able to come out. Your mom remembers barely sleeping that night because she constantly had people coming in and out of her room checking on her.

Thursday, January 3, 2019

6:15AM - The nurse checked on your mom and she was 1.5 cm and she showered to get ready for your big arrival!

7:15AM - The nurses started the medicine that would help you come out. It is called Pitocin. Your mom was up and about walking around a lot.

10:00 AM - They nurses turned up the pitocin. Yaya and your Aunt Megan were there in the room with your mom and dad.

11:10AM - The nurses had your mom go lay down and move to her side because she was having contraction every 2 minutes now, reaching about 60 TOCO, which is what measures how strong the contractions were.

11:53AM - The contractions were getting slightly stronger at 72 TOCO for the strength of the contradictions.

12:29PM - Your Aunt Megan was interviewing your daddy and his primary concern was that your mommy was okay. I loved watching your mommy smile when she heard your daddy's sweet comments.

1:10PM - The nurses turned up the pitocin again and your mommy took a short little nap.

2:30 PM - The nurses checked your mommy again and she was barely 3 cm. She needed to be a 10CM in order to start pushing. Your mom had no pain medicines of any kind, at this point! The contractions were increasing to a 120 TOCO and they moved your mom to a rocking chair in the room for a while.

4:02 PM - Your mom was in a lot of pain so she decided to get an epidural. Afterwards, she felt much better.

4:21 PM - They broke your mommy's water, which means you would be coming out into the world within the next few hours. They checked your mom and she was 4 cm. This was my favorite part of the day. Your mom was out of pain so I was pretending to be the doctor. Your mommy took one last 50 minute nap. This was the very last nap she would ever take without having you here, Stella. Your dad, Yaya and I went down to the hospital cafeteria to grab an early dinner.

6:48PM - Everyone was really relaxed and I just remember your mom and dad just taking with their nurse, Seyda.

7:15PM - Your mom was feeling a "knot" and pain in her stomach area so she asked for another bolus of medicine in her epidural to help with the pain.

7:29PM - Dr. Samora came in to check on Erin and was somewhat shocked when your mom was a fully dilated at 10 cm, but you, Stella, were still a little too high and they needed your to drop down some more.

8:35PM - Your mom's nurse, Kristen, checked your mom again and your were still about a "0 Station." They told your mom it was time to start pushing. Your mommy was super tired, since she really hadn't gotten too much sleep in about 35 hours since she had woken up at home the previous day. Your mom felt super tired, nauseous and dizzy. Although she was worried she didn't have enough energy to push, she was so excited to meet you that she found the energy she needed.

9:21PM - Your mommy had been pushing for about 25 minutes at every contraction. And she kept pushing for an additional 2 straight hours until you came out. Carter, Addison and Delaney even recorded a video at 9:35PM and sent it to your mommy telling her what a great job she was doing and how they couldn't wait to meet you! My most favorite job of my life was holding your mommy's left foot, when she pushed and your Yaya had her right foot.

10:50PM - I could see your head and your had so much dark hair! It was one of the most incredible sights and I was so exited to meet you. Your dad was right by your mom's side every single minute. He was so attentive, making sure she was breathing when she pushed and getting her cold packs to put around her neck to keep her cool.

11:17PM - Your mom was so, so exhausted from actively pushing every single minute for nearly 2 hours and 30 minutes. Just when she felt like she couldn't keep going, she could feel your head and it caused her to suddenly have this new found energy. At 11:24, I remember you let me have fun pretending to catch baby Stella.

Soon after this is where it got a little intense. Dr. Samora came in for the actual delivery and Yaya and I backed away from your mommy's bedside to allow all the amazing nurses to come in and help you enterthe world. I remember several nurses kept coming in and and they even had some special nurses waiting especially for you right by the door. They knew you were going to be a big and healthy baby and that your mommy had been pushing hard a long time to meet you. Your mom kept pushing and your daddy was right there by her side. Your mom was such a hero that night on your birthday, especially at this exact moment. She was so exhausted and for a moment didn't think she had enough strength to push any longer. 2 more nurses came in and got on top of your mom's hospital bed and were helping physically push your mommy's stomach to help you come out. You finally came out and were in Dr. Samora's arms and this was the scariest several moments for me and the room. The doctor was cleaning out your mouth and nose trying to get you to cry. You didn't cry for over 30 seconds and it was the longest 30 seconds of my life. Your Ya-Ya and I were just 4 feet from you, with tears welled up in our eyes, watching the doctor try to help you. At that point, the doctor handed you off to the specialized newborn nurses and just as they whisked you out of the door, we heard a tiny weak sound. I feel to my knees with relief and start crying hysterically. Stella, it was the most incredible sound any of us had ever heard. We knew then that you were a strong young girl!

You were born at 11:34PM, officially.

Quickly, I realized that your daddy needed to go be with you, so Ya-Ya stayed with your mommy and I had the nurses take your daddy to meet you. I will never forget standing out of the large glass walls watching your daddy get to touch you for the first time...