Tenley Hope Arnett, a birth story

    I've gone back and forth on writing Tenley's birth story. But it's alot harder than I thought it would be. It's long, there are spots that I don't really remember, and I'm having a hard time articulating it. It comes down to this. I was induced at 6 a.m. November 11th. I tried to go without pain medication but at 11 a.m. I asked for the first pain shot thinking that would get me through. I got another at 12, and at 1 p.m. I was screaming for the epidural. It was so bad, I was hanging onto Mark for dear life screaming "NO! NO! NO! I can't do this" every time I felt one coming (about 1 minute apart). Pitoin induced contraction are no joke. Mark said they were off the charts on the monitor. Speaking of Mark, he was wonderful. He rubbed my back, held my hand, and didn't leave my side. He constantly whispered words of encouragement, told me I was strong and beautiful, and vowed his unwavering love. At 4 p.m. they checked me and I was at a measly 4 centimeters. They tried to get me dialate by turning me on my side and Tenley's heart rate plummeted. The nurses quickly flipped me to back, Mark thinks they knew then I would be having a C-Section.  My Doctor came in and said they would check me at 5 p.m., and if I haven't progressed then we would need to "discuss our other options." The second she walked out I started bawling. My entire birth plan (natural, no pain meds) had all gone down the drain and I just knew it was my fault. Thinking to myself, "I shouldn't have been induced, she wasn't ready, I should have waited." At 5 p.m. I had not made any progress and we decided to go with a C-Section. The room was freezing, and I was shaking so bad I thought there was no way they would make a straight cut. I'm sure some of the shaking was nerves. They almost forgot to get Mark and he came rushing in. The "slight tugging" was extremely painful considering I had a "hot spot" which is an area where the epidural didn't take. Finally I heard her sweet cry and I looked at Mark with tears in my eyes and told him it was the most beautiful I had ever heard. I couldn't see her and I told Mark repeatedly "GO GET OUR BABY!!" Of course he couldn't but he kept telling me she was beautiful and perfect. Five (or so) agonizing minutes the nurse brought her over to us and I have never felt so complete. She put her on my chest and I planted as many kiss on her tiny face as I could get. I could feel Marks hand on my head, Tenley wrapped her hand around my finger and I knew that in that moment all my dreams had come true, and I was the luckiest woman alive. Tenley Hope Arnett was born November 11th 2015 at 6:41 p.m. weighing 7 pounds and 10 ounces. She is the most beautiful baby I have ever laid my eyes on, she is the missing piece to our puzzle, and I thank God every single day for the most precious gift we have ever received. Tenley Hope, you're Daddy and I love you more than you'll ever know.