Posted on by jinj88

Babes part I – Indie bindi pants

This is part I of the stories of my three babies. I was super lucky enough to have not lost one pregnancy and for that, I cannot be thankful enough. When Tony and I started dating when I was 16 and he was 17, I did not want kids at all. They were loud, annoying, and honestly, I always felt judged by them (they just stare at you like they’re so cool). But as I aged, I started getting a hankering for, maybe, a family. Then, once, when I went off to an externship to Rood and Riddle, Tony gave me a cute little teddy bear as a going away present. One night, while I was laying in one of the bunk beds provided to externs, waiting for an emergency colic or dystocia call, I was cuddling that bear and half asleep, felt the incredible softness of the top of the bear’s head on my lips and imagined it was that heavenly downy hair of an infant and immediately knew that I wanted children in my future. It was good timing too, because I also was sure that I wanted to be one of the amazing vets at Rood and Riddle but then saw how busy they all were that only one of the many female doctors there at the time had a child. When I asked one of them about it they just told me that their lives were way to busy and chaotic to even consider children.

Once I finally graduated vet school and got done with my internship, I was already 27 and knew that the longer I waited, the more risky pregnancies became. I had just started my first real job and the last thing I wanted to do was to get fired for being pregnant (yes, I could have been fired as the company was less than 50 employees – actually less than 5). I also did not want to sacrifice the health and safety of me and my potential babies by continuing to wait until “the right time” as many have told me there is never a right time. So, 2 months into my first job, we finally decided to stop preventing pregnancy as we’d heard that it can take awhile. Well, the next month, I was pregnant. I knew I was before I even took the test – I was at a dairy and had just pulled a calf as a huge thunderstorm was just clearing up and I just felt a little tinge of excitement that radiated from my abdomen and just knew what that meant.

I took a pregnancy test before I even missed my period and it was faint, but it was positive. It was right around Christmas time and so I quite sloppily rolled the stick that I peed on in some wrapping paper and asked Tony to open an early present. He opened it, looked at it for a second, then looked at me funny and said “why did you give me a negative pregnancy test?” – which kind of took the wind out of my sails, but only for a second as I led him over to the closest window to show him that in the right light, you could see the faint blue line. He still was not sure about it, but I was and he was excited for me – I had to take another one later, after I missed my period to really prove it to him.

Things were going well for us for about a week and a half when I was riding one of my horses and he decided that he was done being ridden and started bucking a little. I immediately got off of him to be proactive since I was now pregnant and had to be more careful. Later that day, I was in the shower when it happened – I started bleeding. I had a river of blood running down my legs. It was scary, but it stopped and I thought maybe I had just irritated something with the bucking. I was a little worried, but went to my first doctor’s appointment for the pregnancy and mentioned it to the nurse checking me in. She said that I would have to go and talk to the triage nurse. Tony and I walked into the office, knowing something was not right. She talked to us like something bad had happened and that I would need an immediate ultrasound to see if I was still pregnant. I can’t tell you why, but I had never thought about that bleeding being a finality in my pregnancy. We were not scheduled to have an ultrasound that day, so we had to wait in line behind all the women who had a scheduled appointment.

We sat there, outside the ultrasound room for over an hour and watched couple after couple go in, heard the Doppler find the heartbeat, and then saw them leave, smiling with their adorable black and white print out of their healthy, live, little one. Tony and I just sat in silence. This was the first that we thought that we may have lost our baby. We didn’t know what to say to each other and were both barely holding it together without having to make our voices behave. I sat there, holding some stupid brochure the triage nurse had given me, wringing my sweaty hands, my whole body shaking. Finally, an eternity and a half later, they called us in. She asked me to lay down and explained that since I was so early, she would have to ultrasound me trans-vaginally. Honestly, I didn’t care where she had to put that probe, I just needed to know right now if our little life was still alive.

I lay back and stared at the black ultrasound screen. I’m not sure if I was breathing at all at that point. She inserted the probe and started the scan. We saw black fluid in the uterus, she scanned and scanned and scanned for what seemed like an eternity when out popped this beautiful little round creature with an even more beautiful strong heart just fluttering away. She looked just like a baby sea turtle to me in that moment. We were so happy – everything was okay. We also got an adorable little black and white photo of our little sea turtle and left that room with smiles as big as our faces. That was India – and I later gave her a “spirit animal” assignment of a sea turtle.

India’s painting – I did one for each child

She was born the day after I was out performing a DA surgery on a cow. I was actually scheduled for an induction due to her large size, but she had other plans. I showed up the morning before my scheduled induction at the Columbia, SC hospital and told them I was in labor. I think they thought I was just a day early to check in for my induction. They kind of nonchalantly got my file as I had disappeared behind the check-in counter doubled over in pain and then led me to an exam room. They made my mother and Tony go to the waiting room. I quickly got undressed and into my gown feeling like my undercarriage was about to fall out and tried to lay/sit on the bed but was way too uncomfortable. The bed that was in the room was some weird triage bed or something and different sections of padding was coming undone and falling to the floor. So it was like I was laying in a foam pit you would see at a gym.

She pretty much slept the first 3 weeks of her life – I even had to wake her to feed her

Finally, about 45 minutes to an hour later, a nurse came in (again, nonchalantly) and saw that I was in labor by my face. She put the contraction monitor on my belly and told me that my contractions were not that bad – which immediately made me feel like a wimp because I was currently dying. Then, at some point, someone finally checked my cervix and I was at 7 cm. THEN they rushed me to a delivery room where I asked for an epidural. Now, I’ll tell you – I was GOING to go all natural, I had read all the opinions on this and was certain up until the point that I was sure my nether regions had already split in twain and there was not yet a baby on the floor. When the anesthesiologist showed up maybe 10 minutes later, the nurse was checking me and delightfully informed me that it was too late for an epidural, that I was ready to push.

Halloween at 1 year
My little lab rat

I pushed for 30 minutes, kicking a student nurse holding my leg in the face (on accident) and promptly apologizing, before the doctor came in and informed me that I was not pushing right. She showed me how to push and I got India out in another 30 minutes, feeling every tear and popping of flesh as she made her way out. She was a healthy 8lb 2oz. They put her on my chest as they sewed me up and she just cried and cried. I asked when she would stop crying and the doctor informed me “Not until she’s 18”.

63 Replies to “Babes part I – Indie bindi pants”

  5. 27, wow. My daughter in law just had her 3rd at 31. She was really having a tough time, meaning just really tired and miserable. The doctor just simply said…. you’re not getting any younger. She said she’s done. 3 girls.

  6. You are such a fantastic storyteller. Not only that, but what a sweet story and wonderful pictures! I love it all.

  7. India is beautiful! But unfortunately your doctor lied🙁 sometimes they don’t stop crying at 18 either! I have 4…and every minute of labor was worth all the joys and tears! Good luck! 😂😂😂

  8. Thank you for sharing your life experiences with us. So happy life and family is blessed for you and Tony.

  9. Just a wonderful story! Our first was the scariest. Then they tell you that you can take it home with you!! That was the scary part for me cause there’s no turning back after that!! Your a Parent.

  12. Love your vivid story telling! Thanks for sharing your life and family with us! Ga Peach 🤗

  14. My youngest was born in Germany. On a scheduled visit day I went in and told the jaws in labor, but nobody believed me, told me the baby was too high up yet. I told them this was my third pregnancy and I did know what labor was, but they sent me home and told me they’d see me next week (I was 3 was early for delivery). My husband and I walked all over Heilbronn Germany that day, then at 12:30 am I went back and this time they kept me. At 7:45 am the Dr who had sent me home the day before walked into my curtained off area and said oh you do need to have baby. I felt like saying no sh** Sherlock but I didn’t, I behaved. At 8:20 I had a tiny little 6lb pound baby boy. Moral of the story..,mothers ALWAYS know! Keep writing them cuz I love reading them!

  15. What a wonderful tale, often scary for you, but you made it! Love the sea turtle and the story behind it. I know all your babies are beautiful. One of the first episodes of Dr Pol I saw was when you had Oscar and when you were holding him in the backyard, all swaddled and comfy, I said out loud (to no one at all), “What a beautiful baby!” Thanks so much for sharing, you’re a natural. Can’t wait for the other two! 💕

  16. She’s such a lovely child and she looks so much like you too!
    Keep your stories coming!
    hugs
    Rose M

  17. Your last couple of paragraphs is why I was never keen on having children. I like being an auntie to the kids of folks like you who wanted kids. 🙂

  19. Such a sweet story! I did the “natural thing” and your description brought back all the memories of that 18 hours…thank you for sharing.

  20. How beautiful. You brought back all my feelings and trepidations of my one and only delivery of my baby girl❤️💖

  21. I love your stories! Congratulations on being not only a wonderful vet, but a great writer, too. I really look forward to seeing your and Tony’s stories.

  22. I love you and your little family more and more everyday. I was clenching my teeth so tight as I was reading about you waiting for your ultrasound. 🥰🥰🥰

  24. When in labor with my third daughter the nurse was going to send me home as the monitor said I was only having “ant hills” so through gritted teeth I asked her to feel my belly for the non ending contraction I was experiencing. She looked shocked and brought in another machine and woah and behold Mt Vesuvius showed on the screen. Within the hour my ten pound beautiful girl was born without an epidural because it was too late!!

    1. That’s exactly what happened to me with my last baby who was born in a German hospital!

  25. You made me laugh, again! I, too, intended to deliver my one and only baby “naturally” with no anesthesia. When my screaming got too loud they knocked me out. Thank you, Jesus.

  26. You made me laugh saying you thought the children were judging you, and loud and annoying. A little scary while riding the horse . I’m
    glad things worked out she’s a beautiful little girl. You are a strong lady having her with no epidural.

  27. Emily and Tony,

    I just love reading your blog. Though we will miss you on Dr. Pol, I think you made a good move. Keep your blog entries coming!

  29. would gladly love to hear more. love the not till she’s 18, I had twins and they gave me an epidermal, only they waited until right before I went into the delivery room and I so wished I hadn’t had one.

  30. beautiful, never had kids, but I’m glad you did. You seem like a good mom, wife and provider.

  34. Lovely story. Very relatable. Can’t wait to read about the new things two.

    My first was born 4 hours after I went into labor. I was almost 10 cm when I got to the hospital. Pushed and pushed and the next day I felt I had been hit by a semi. He was 8 lbs and 3oz. With the second I was in active labor when I went to the doctor. She sent me to the hospital. My husband was being served lunch when the enema they had given me started to work. 😇 Second baby was 8 lbs 14 oz.

  35. Not only are your stories enjoyable reading, but they bring back memories.. we have five girls and one son, all grown now. The smallest was 8.8. And the last was 11.2………which is a good reason why she was the last..😁🤠

  37. I was 26 for my first one I was 4 days late. So they told me to come in to be induce. It turns out I was in labor when we got there. Already at 4cm. I also forgot about drugs but was able to have a shot of Demerol. 3 hours and 17 minutes later my son was born.

    Now for my 2nd time around I ended up having preeclampsia. I was going every week for sonograms. Total bed rest. Not allowed to do anything. My oldest was 5 1/2. Oh and chicken pox was going around. He didn’t get it bad at all.
    I was going in to be induce again. Guess what I was in Labor again. 30 minutes later my son was born. No time for drugs. He came four days early. He was born on my husbands 40 th birthday. My boys are now 30 and 25.

  38. That was a beautiful story as well as entertaining at some parts anyway, but I had both my children c section, first was a 911 type of deal and the second planned. I had a girl first then a boy and I was done!!! Now I have 5 Grandkids out of the deal, it comes with the package you sign up for at your first birth, eventually down the line of course. But you have lovely children and wish you all well in the years to come. Oh by the way, my oldest is 37 and youngest is 39 yes, I had them back to back but BOTH are still crying to this day.

  41. Looking back at the pain of childbirth and at those beautiful faces now you can say it was all worth it. Right??

  43. I love birth stories. Yours is similar to mine., but when I got to the hospital with my first, my doctor wasn’t there and wasn’t coming for a while since “it was my first.” They had to call the hospital’s on call doctor. My babe was born 2 hours later: Too late for epidural and using a vacuum extractor!

  44. True, they dont stop till 18, sometimes longer. I wouldnt of change anything. She is now 29.

  47. Loved! Thanks for sharing! Crying doesn’t stop at 18… Next comes YOUR tears – dances, graduations, wedding (dance with her father brought the most tears), and hopefully someday grand babies !🤞🤞

  51. Dr. Emily,

    I love your posts, please keep them coming.
    I was wondering what you and Tony are doing now with animals? When you were on tv it showed the care you gave to all types of animals, from pets (family members) to farm animals.
    Is your professional life fill with all the emergency, life threatening, life changing events as it was?
    I am happy for your entire family that you have found a place to balance your career and personal life. I lived in Wyoming Michigan back in the early 90’s and I hated it in the winter but the summer was beautiful. I am from southern Indiana and when I lived in Michigan and it was snowing to first week of June and it was 75 and sunny in Indiana I moved back home. Michigan was not for me so I understand why you made the decision to move on.
    If at all possible post pictures and stories of what you are your family are doing now.
    God bless you all.

  52. Thanks for sharing your birth story about India. Have you mentioned somewhere else how you happened to name your daughter? What an exotic and unusual name. She’s such a cutie!

  53. Oh, Dr Emily, your birth story brought back memories! I am a former Labor and Delivery RN so your story sounded familiar. I must say that I never sent a mom to be home when she was in labor. Occasionally we would have a mother who labored fast or came in almost ready to deliver and so it was too late for an epidural, but most of our patients got one. Don’t feel too bad about kicking the student nurse in the face….stuff like that happens when you are pushing a baby out! Can’t wait to hear the details of your next two births. BTW, you and Tony make beautiful babies! Will you be having baby number four? 😉 God bless you and your family.

  54. That turtle is such a beautiful painting!
    What a lovely way to commemorate your daughter. 🧚‍♀️
    You are a talented artist! 🐢

  55. I love reading your stories . I’m so glad your scare with India was just a scare. My husband and I had two miscarriages in a row after our son and that was a difficult thing to let go of. Just as we had decided that we couldn’t take anymore losses and that we’d just have our one child, I found out that I was pregnant. Of course I was paranoid through the whole pregnancy and delivery until we saw our beautiful, healthy baby girl. ❤️

  56. I’ve watched you’re every episode on Pols. Welcome to Front Royal. So nice to read about your life and experiences. Looking forward to more stories. Blessings to you and your family Emily ❤️

  57. I will miss seeing you on the show but I’m very happy for you. You have a wonderful family and they need you to have a more flexible schedule. Enjoy your life Emily and if you feel comfortable letting us know how things are going for you we’d love to hear it. Much love from Georgia!!

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