I’m still on cloud 9 now that our precious little babe is here! Olivia Rutledge Greenwell was born on Friday, July 28th at 10:11 pm and was 7 lbs 4 oz, 19 inches long. Brian and I loved the name Olivia from the beginning and while we tried to brainstorm backup names that we also loved, nothing seemed to compare. Rutledge is the name of the street in Charleston where Brian and I met and when Brian suggested using it as her middle name, it was the perfect fit.
Looking back on 10 days ago I had absolutely no idea just how the day was going to unfold in the best (and partially scariest) way. I had a doctor’s appointment that Friday morning since I was one day past my due date and was meeting with the only physician in the practice that I hadn’t seen previously. They like you to see them all so that when you go into labor you’ll already have the met the doctor on call. As fate would have it, the first time I met that physician was also the day she told me we were having a baby and she’d be delivering her. In total first time mom behavior, at that doctor’s appointment I was unaware of contractions that I was having and the fact that my water had broken. I guess I had been waiting for intense contraction pains and a big gush of water breaking just like in the movies? Disclaimer: it’s often nothing like that
As soon as she told me we were having the baby that day I called Brian at work, headed home (while my heart was racing) to meet him, grab our bags and head back to the hospital to check-in. We even managed a Chik-fil-a stop on our way back since we knew it would be a while before we’d be eating again. Not that I had near enough a calm stomach to even think about eating… I was far too anxious/excited/nervous. After getting set up in our Labor and Delivery room we attempted to pass the time watching tv and trying to focus on anything but the oncoming contractions (at this point I 100% was feeling them). At around 4 cm dilated I requested the epidural and after that it was pure bliss. For anyone that goes through labor naturally without one, I admire and respect you so much!
Our parents came to the hospital around 8 pm since the doctor told us it would likely be 2-3 am Saturday morning before I delivered Olivia. Fast forward an hour and a half later and after checking my progress, was told I was 10 cm dilated and we’d start pushing in the next few minutes! Honestly I had prepared myself for a long labor since I’d frequently heard that was often the case for first time moms. A quick 15-20 minutes later and Olivia was born! Everything up until this point had been a breeze; the pain I expected to feel was masked by the epidural, our little girl was healthy and it was a quick labor.
This is where things got complicated.
Time passed and I hadn’t delivered the placenta like I should have. The room went from 4 of us, to 10 and I could tell that something was wrong. I was hemorrhaging and they quickly called in an extra unit of blood since they couldn’t stop the bleeding. We were walked through the options of how we could stop the bleeding and thankfully the first option of using a balloon filled with saline to expand and stop the bleeding worked. There were nurses that came into our room and checked on me every hour throughout the night and if the bleeding hadn’t stopped the next plan of attack was to head to the operating room. I slept all of 30 minutes that night and felt like I spent the entire night afraid to move and that something would go wrong. So many prayers were answered that night and I’m forever grateful.
Despite that scary setback, everything about that Friday and the days after were some of my absolute favorite. We couldn’t have asked for better nurses to be with us during our two days in the hospital and for our physician to be who she was; God knew what He was doing and had a plan for our little family. I would go through it all again in a heartbeat if it would bring me to where we are today.
Thank you all so much for the love that you’ve shown since she’s arrived! I’m excited to share this next chapter with y’all.
xx
Love her birthday – it’s my sister’s as well:) I’m so happy to hear that the actual birth was pretty smooth sailing for you but the hemorrhaging part is so scary and I’m so thankful you’re safe and well girl! Olivia is an absolute doll 🙂 xo, Biana-BlovedBoston
I loved reading this!! Can I just say I’m super jealous of your fast labor! So glad to hear the doctors were able to work fast when it got scary. Hope you’re getting some rest, as I’m sure you’re finding new babies are exhausting! And just remember everything is a phase , just when you think you’ve got this mom thing down , Olivia will switch something up on you. Each day gets easier than the last. So happy for you friend! Being a mommy is the best gift ever!
What a dream labor — but so terrifying to hear about the hemorrhaging! Beyond thankful that everything turned out okay and that your precious babe is here safe & sound!
oh goodness! what an adorable sweet baby girl you have. what a wild story too. i am so so happy you are all doing well and healthy and happy. <3
xoxo cheshire kat
Well first, congrats again! How lucky you are that you had a pretty easy labor and delivery. I’ll keep that in mind about the epidural. 😉 Second, so thankful that you’re safe! What a scary situation, but thank goodness for hospitals and modern medicine. Hope you’re doing okay!
I’m so glad to hear everything went so well with the initial part of the delivery and that the second part was handled swiftly and the power of prayer right? I was on baby watch your Instagram and was so excited to see your sweet baby. Absolutely adore her name! Sending you and your family so much love <3 <3
Love the story of her name, we felt the same way about Serena and all other back up names didn’t compare. And LOVE that you guys made time for a Chic Fil A stop on the way to the hospital. Yessssss to an epidural, I also can’t imagine how women press on without one. Sorry you had a scare at the end, but so glad everyone is happy and healthy. She’s perfect <3
Green Fashionista
Yes, that was one roller coaster delivery day/evening! We all prayed that night for Ashley and God answered our prayers. SO blessed that Ashley’s hemorrhaging stopped and she was on the road to recovery. Great to have a talented team of doctors! Now we get to enjoy this beautiful baby Olivia!!! Can’t wait to spoil her…..just like we did her mother!
Love the name, the story, EVERYTHING! Congrats Ashley! Enjoy little Olivia. 🌸 She is beautiful!
Congrats, sweet friend :)!
Congratulations!! Olivia is beautiful!! Hope you are feeling good. That is quite a story but I’m glad everything worked out well. God is very powerful.
I love birth stories SO much! They are all so unique and perfect in their own way. Ours was nothing like this but the end result obviously makes it ALL worth it! I am so thankful you are ok, I can’t imagine how scary that was! She is absolutely beautiful and I just love her name <3
Missy, you had us on the edge till we got updates from your mom – my BFF twin sis! We are so grateful to have everything work out and have Ms. Olivia in the family. She is so special and we look forward to seeing her grow – not too fast. Love ya.:)
Hi Ashley or should I say “Mama Ashley”! How cool is it to be called a momma and better yet to be one! So excited for you and Brian. Olivia has no idea now how blessed she is to have you guys as her parents! And she’s so beautiful and precious!! Look forward to meeting and holding her!
God is good!
Congrats!! She is precious! Her name is perfect and you are going to be such a great mommy! Enjoy all these special moments.
Brittany 🙂
http://www.kingdomofsequins.com
Olivia is just darling and I love her middle name. What a great way to incorporate you and Brian! SO glad you are ok and that the delivery was so smooth!
xoxo,
Kim
I love love love the story behind her middle name and it is so unique! I am glad to hear that your labor went along easily. I am with you, those who don’t get an epidural…I don’t know how they do it?!?!?! I had to labor a few hours without one and then when I got it, it was a total game changer.
I am sorry to hear about your scary after birth situation. I feel like often times, the things that happen after the baby come are more unpleasant than the delivery it self. Hopefully you have recovered well. Enjoy those first few weeks. Even though mine is only 8 months, things have changed so much since then!!! Those tiny newborn cuddles are the best.
Holy cow, that is crazy! So glad you are ok now! I can’t imagine how scary that must have been. I’m so happy you had an easy labor and deliver and sending you all of the happy thoughts and hugs mama!
Loved reading your sweet Olivia’s birth story! She is a doll and you are a trooper. So glad everything ended up going well and that the labor portion of things went incredibly smoothly for you! I agree, the epidural is pure magic.
Glad to hear minus the hemorrhaging, that you had such an easy delivery! Definitely glad to hear you’re ok and you didn’t have to go through surgery. And loved hearing the story of her middle name, so sweet! She’s an absolute doll!
SO happy for you!! There’s nothing like it, is there?? My heart exploded when my daughter was born. So sorry you had to go through that scare at the end! I’m so happy you all are safe and healthy! <3
I’m SO happy everything turned out ok and you and the baby are ok! So scary! But I’m glad that you guys are enjoying your little one now at home! a huge congratulations!! xo jillian