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Labor 1/28-1/30/09
My contractions started on January 28th on Wednesday night. This being my first time in labor I had no idea. Also the mind-set of being in complete denial, never thinking that my time with my Angel could be ending...So, the thought of actually being in labor was no where present at all. I thought for sure I just had a pinched nerve in my back or something. After a day straight of these pains I began to wonder why they werent going away and why they began to come reguraly. By Thursday I convinced Levi we should go get checked to see if I was dialated at all becuase they were starting to get more regular. We went to our local hospital which was about 15 minutes away. I got checked in and hooked up to the monitors which showed slight contractions. One thing I wont forget is the nurses laughing at my belly wiggling becuase Shaunna had the hiccups. Becuase I didnt have any fluid, she made my tummy bounce! I got checked and was only a finger-tip dilated and 50% effaced, so they sent me home with assurance that it was most likely false labor. By about 9pm on the 29th, they hadn’t gone away, and they were running about 8 minutes apart, so we decided to drive to Spokane where I would be delivering just to be safe. While Levi was at work, my Mom and me began the drive to Spokane. When we got there, there was no rush, I was slowly checked into a room, and monitored for a while. The nurse had decided that they would probably have me walk around for an hour and see if I progressed any, and if not they would send me home. She decided to check me so they would have a starting point. The look on her face was priceless when she said that I was 6-7cm dilated. They assumed that I hadn’t progressed much because my contractions weren’t registering very strong on the monitor. After my dialation was confirmed, I was admitted into L&D.
This is when my world started crashing...
My whole journey...The last 8 months...Was finally coming to an end.
The Panic.
I was so unpreparred. I didnt have everything I wanted to have for Shaunna. Okay well, I didnt have anything ready for Shaunna! I thought for sure that I was going to make it to at least February, so I didn't have anything prepared. Preperation was actually on my agenda for the following week after my next ultrasound.
We had another ultrasound at about 12AM to confirm the diagnosis one more time, since ironically my next ultrasound was scheduled for that morning since I was only 34 weeks. After the ultrasound I got the epidural so I would be able to relax and possibly sleep while we waited for Daddy to show up. I called Levi as soon as I was admitted and he made the 1 ½ hour drive, hoping he would make it in time. We put off pushing until he and Jennifer arrived. About 1 1/2 hours later they both showed up and I began pushing. And then about 20 minutes later at 5:49AM Shaunna Arella Merritt was born. She was directly put on my chest and the doctor pronouned "Its A Girl!" Daddy cut the umblical cord, and they began to clean her off.
At 8:30Am Shaunna lived her last bit here with us and was off to Heaven. It was peaceful. Not one cry of pain. That was one of my biggest fears was her ever being in any pain.
The dotors and nurses were amazing. They dont deal with these situations very often, and I was amazed by them all. Shaunna never left my chest until I finally decided I was in much need of a potty break and handed her off to my mom. The nurses were great about not letting us forget one item that Shaunna ever touched, or was ever used. I was very pleased with our hospital stay. I was released that day at about 4PM, and we headed home without our baby girl.
Now, looking back at this day, I have so many regrets. Not being preparred was my worst enemy. I didn't have a video camera, my own camera, or the family and friends that I wanted to be there. It all happened so quickly. My thanks go out to Jennifer Brown for being a true Angel as she was prepared to capture the most precious moments we had with Shaunna. Without her, I wouldn't have anything.