Testimonials: Shelby Romero
It was safe to say that I was extremely anxious to have this baby. I was almost 42 weeks pregnant, and ready to see my baby girl.Happy that my husband was able to stay behind and not be deployed to Afghanistan, my mind and heart were put at ease.
It was a very nice spring day on that Thursday, So Jorge and I decided to take our 2 nieces and nephew to the park for a walk and to feed the ducks. Although I was in a good mood, I was very uncomfortable all day. After the park we returned home to eat lunch with the family. I still wasn't feeling like my self and decided to take a nap, about a few hours I woke up to lower back pains. As the night went on I realized that these pains must be my contractions. I had Jorge time them and call Donnellyn. After she arrived and confirmed that I was indeed in active labor. The mood in the house changed to a very exciting one. My mother hurried to the house straight from the shift at the hospital, while my mother in-law packed up our dinner. We headed out to the birthing center and arrived around 10pm. By this time I was really beginning to feel my contractions. We unloaded everything and got settled in at the birth center.I got into the tub and labored in the water for about a hour, with my husband helping me through my contractions. As my labor continued throughout the night and into the early morning, I thought to myself that this would never end. Jorge and I by this time were feeling very anxious and tired.
On April 1,2011 around 6 am and about eight hours in, I clearly understood why the process is called "Labor". Waiting for my water to break and praying that is would come soon, Donnellyn told me that if my water hadn't broke by 7am that she would break it for me. To my surprise my water broke while using the restroom. Not knowing what I was about to endure, I was somewhat happy and excited that Raelynn was on her way. During the last phase of labor, my memory got a little fuzzy. I was extremely tired and so ready for this to be over yet overjoyed that it was time to push and finally bring my labor to a end. With help from my mother-in-law and husband as they held me up, I began to push. I could see the sick and worried look on my youngest sisters face as she watched me push. My mother was flashing the camera in my face in between her wiping the tears from her eyes . I also could hear my Grandmother tearing up as she held the video camera. After a couple of pushes I could feel the crown of her little head. The next push I hear Donnellyn say "Baby has a full head of hair!"
Sue assured me that I was doing great and that she could see baby wiggle her head. My last and final push I remember feeling her shoot right out. Looking down and seeing this baby brought a feeling of joy over me. After my final push, all of my exhaustion had gone away and a calm feeling came over me. She was born on at 9:16 am. At that moment all of my attention was on Raelynn. I was in awe. I couldn't believe that after all this time the person I had been waiting to meet was finally here in my arms. After our herbal bath, Raelynn was greeted by her Father, both of her Grandmothers, one of her Grandfathers, her Great-Grandparents, Aunt and Uncle.As Donnellyn and Sue began the newborn exam, everyone was anxious to see how much she weighed. Donnellyn prepared Raelynn to be weighed and asked Jorge if he would like to do the honors. Everyone stood in the room blurting out their guesses and Donnellyn said aloud her official weight of 8 pounds 10 ounces. Everyone including myself was surprised, no one was expecting that she would be so big! The exam continued and the ladies assured me that she was perfectly healthy. We packed up to get ready to leave the birth center and my family and I couldn't thank Donnellyn and the staff at AABBC enough!
