Dash of Darling | Arizona Fashion Blog Birth Story IVF
Dash of Darling | Arizona Fashion Blog IVF Birth Story
Dash of Darling | Arizona Fashion Blog IVF Birth Story
Dash of Darling | Arizona Fashion Blog IVF Birth Story
Dash of Darling | Arizona Fashion Blog IVF Birth Story

Luna Elara Lindquist

October 26, 2017
12:10 PM
7 Pounds, 3 Ounces
20.5 Inches

These images are some of my absolute favorite we've ever taken. Not because I look particularly beautiful, but because they tell the story of our daughter. Our most precious gift.

The day started as any other had as of late, wondering when we would get to meet our baby girl.

A week prior, on October 19th, we thought for sure she was ready to make her debut. On that day, after two and a half hours of minute-long (painful) contractions every 3-4 minutes consistently, we hurriedly packed our bags in the car and headed to the hospital thinking it was go-time. But after arriving at the hospital, suddenly the contractions slowed and I remained dilated at a three. The nurses suggested I walk the maternity ward for an hour to see if that helped reignite things, but sadly things remained slow. A few hours later, we were sent home with nothing but a little disappointment. We had been ready for this moment for a very. long. time.

Since then, I had tried to coax my body into labor naturally - from dancing around the house to eating spicy foods to going for several hikes. To say we were eager to meet our precious little girl would be an understatement.

Dash of Darling | Arizona Fashion Blog IVF Birth Story
Dash of Darling | Arizona Fashion Blog IVF Birth Story
Dash of Darling | Arizona Fashion Blog IVF Birth Story
Dash of Darling | Arizona Fashion Blog IVF Birth Story

Then, on Wednesday, October 25th, Ben and I were out to dinner when I got a call from the hospital, asking if I could come in within the hour. I was a little confused, but they said my doctor was there and he had requested they call me. We had talked about inducing me if I went past 39 weeks because he recommended it for IVF patients, and since I had had several previous miscarriages, he didn't want to take any chances. But I honestly hadn't expected it to happen because I was told patients who elect to get induced prior to 40 weeks will "get bumped" on the waitlist.

Nevertheless, we quickly paid our bill, rushed home to shower off, grab our bags and the car seat and head back down towards the hospital. Luckily, we made it within the hour (arriving at 8:30 pm), and my doctor was there waiting for me. After getting checked in, I was placed on a low dose of Pitocin. Over the next several hours they gradually increased my Pitocin dosage by two every thirty minutes while we watched a few movies to keep us entertained.

At around 4 am I was at a level twelve of Pitocin, and I requested my epidural because the contractions were getting more intense. I'd heard so many horror stories about epidurals not working entirely or causing long-term issues so I was a little nervous, but after the pain I'd gone through with the natural delivery of my first miscarried twins, I knew I couldn't endure that again. And thankfully, the epidural worked great and we had no issues. I could still move my legs but thankfully the pain was gone. They just felt numb with pins and needles for the most part. The worst part was just the numbing shot they administered prior to the epidural catheter.

Dash of Darling | Arizona Fashion Blog IVF Birth Story
Dash of Darling | Arizona Fashion Blog IVF Birth Story
Dash of Darling | Arizona Fashion Blog IVF Birth Story
Dash of Darling | Arizona Fashion Blog IVF Birth Story
Dash of Darling | Arizona Fashion Blog IVF Birth Story
Dash of Darling | Arizona Fashion Blog IVF Birth Story
Dash of Darling | Arizona Fashion Blog IVF Birth Story
Dash of Darling | Arizona Fashion Blog IVF Birth Story

Over the next few hours, the nurses continued to increase my Pitocin levels to a 28 but I was still only dilated to a three, so they brought out the peanut ball to place between my legs. I switched sides about every hour and sure enough, at my next dilation check around 8 am, I was at a seven! 

Our nurse called my doctor but he was at another hospital performing a c-section on another patient and wouldn't be able to get to our hospital until around 12 pm, and there was another patient of his at our hospital that he needed to attend to before coming to our room. Eek! But an hour later, I was dilated to a nine. Things were progressing quickly. And by 10 am I was dilated to a ten.

I could feel intense pressure (down there) with each contraction and things were getting uncomfortable, but Ben kept me entertained. We did a practice push with the nurse and her head was already crowning! I was trying to hold her off but I was thinking she might come out on her own before our doctor even arrived.

Thankfully, our doctor finally made it. And when he arrived at our hospital, I was "winning the race" against his other patient, so he came to our room first. Phew.

It was go-time.

I pushed for about 15 minutes, maybe nine pushes total, and she was out. (I guess there is a benefit to waiting to push for as long as you can haha).

Our doctor is so awesome and he let me pull her out the rest of the way and straight onto my chest after I'd gotten her shoulders out. It was honestly a really magical moment and I couldn't help but break down into the happiest tears I have ever sobbed. Both Ben and I were just crying with joy and happiness. She was finally here. We're finally parents. And to the most precious little girl we have ever laid eyes on. Our prayers have been answered.

We laid there together as a happy family, skin to skin, for the next hour and it was pure heavenly bliss. What a magical experience.

I had honestly always been petrified of the idea of giving birth, but it was so much easier than I had anticipated. And she was absolutely worth every ounce of pain I felt and every stitch I needed.

Dash of Darling | Arizona Fashion Blog IVF Birth Story
Dash of Darling | Arizona Fashion Blog IVF Birth Story
Dash of Darling | Arizona Fashion Blog IVF Birth Story
Dash of Darling | Arizona Fashion Blog IVF Birth Story

Since our daughter's arrival, we have been on cloud nine. We couldn't be more in love and we just stare at her in utter awe. She is completely perfect and we have been loving every single second we get to spend with her. She is the answer to our prayers and the sparkle in our eyes. We love you, Miss Moon.

Dash of Darling | Arizona Fashion Blog IVF Birth Story

Images thanks to Taylor Cole Photography

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