On Saturday March 9th my husband and I went on a hospital tour. I was 37 weeks and wrapping up the final steps to prep for delivery. Movement for baby had slowed the day or 2 before and by the tour I wasn't feeling any movement. I was getting nervous and when we got to my mothers to get our older 2 girls everyone tired whatever they could to get baby to move, with quite literal zero results.

I decided to call L&D and go in to get checked. They put me in a monitor right way and I registered 2 contractions (which I'd been having since Wednesday). I heard her heartbeat and felt so much relief knowing she was still alive. They left me for about 15 mins and came to check the monitor. During the contraction baby's heart rate dropped and when they tried to get her to move by jostling her, there always no change in heart rate. The nurse said it was absolutely necessary that we have baby "right now." And they meant "right now," within 5 mins (30 after arriving) they had me in a delivery room and were inserting a balloon to dilate my cervix. When they inflated it baby's heart rate dropped significantly and they immediately removed it and said we had to go with a c section. Within an hour of arriving at the hospital to be checked I was numbed and lying on an operating table. (To think I felt silly going in)

When they made their incisions they realized that, not only had a portion of my umbilical cord become trapped between her head and my cervix, she also had a true knot in the umbilical cord slowing her supply of oxygen and nutrients. She was born in respiratory distress and rushed to the NICU. I saw her for 15 mins in the first 24 hours after her birth. I didn't even get to see her when she was born. Her breathing quickly recovered, but she was struggling to regulate her glucose. I waited 24 hours before I had a chance to hold her. She is still in the NICU, we are on day 11. I was given the all clear to hold her Wednesday the 12th and haven't put her down for longer than the time it takes to pump while I've been here. I have not been able to nurse, but am pumping 3-6 oz 8 times a day so my little has plenty of mommy's milk to heal her. She is getting better slowly but surely and the doctor said it's a miracle that the only issue she is having is her glucose. He said most cases like our's do not end so well and that we are truly fortunate that I listened to my instincts, even when everyone said "its fine." I have avoided the thought path of what could have happened if I had chosen to listen to everyone else, because I have my baby and she is safe and healthy.

We are taking it one day at a time, focusing on the improvements we are making, snuggling every second we are with her in the NICU, and pushing through the heartbreak when we have to leave her for the night.

Eliza will come home with us one day in the very near future, but for now she has a battle she must fight here so she can be strong and live her best life.

Eliza Florence

March 9, 2019.

5lbs 6oz, 18 inches long