Ellie’s Birth Story

After nearly 10 months the day finally came for our little girl to arrive. I was scheduled for a repeat C-Section and had made it to the day without any complications or going into labor! I know my doctor was very happy with the idea as well.

The night before I actually slept well for the first time in weeks. I actually felt at peace and ready for the big day. Something I did not anticipate at all. On the morning of July 1st, I woke up around 7:00am and couldn’t fall back to sleep, so I got up and began getting ready to leave for the hospital. The extra time allowed me to double check my bag for the hospital, shower, put some make up on (one of the perks of having a scheduled C-Section), gave myself a pedicure and made sure everything was in order. By 9:30am I was ready to go and start the journey into another chapter of our lives. With Jillian’s help, Abby was up and ready to see us off. Shaun and I gave Abby lots of hugs and kisses and said goodbye, knowing that the next time we would see her we would be parents of two daughters and she would be a big sister.

The Wharton Family of Three before we became The Wharton Family of Four

Shaun and I arrived at West Hills Hospital around 10:15am. The drive over felt normal and we talked about simple and basic things. We checked in quickly and headed up to labor and delivery where Sharon our L&D nurse was waiting for us. My C-Section was scheduled for 12:30pm and there was plenty to do before that time. Once I was changed and resting comfortably in the hospital bed, I was hooked up to monitors and we could hear our little girls heart beat and all of her last movements before she arrived. Then, after all the paperwork was filled out, Sharon and Dr. Yun, my anesthesiologist, put in my IV and got me started. After that it was a waiting game and I laid there and tried to relax while Shaun kept me company. He did plenty to make me laugh and keep me from watching the clock that was one the wall in front of me.

One last picture of pregnant me before heading into surgery and meeting our little girl for the first time.

12:30 came around faster then I thought it would. Shaun was already dressed in his OR clothes and I was more then ready to get the show on the road. At 12:45, after getting the heads up that my doctor had arrived and was getting ready for surgery, we got up and walked over to the OR. Once on the table, I was given my spinal. I have to say, the spinal was worse then the epidural I had with Abby, just in case anyone was wondering. As soon as all of the medication was injected, my toes, feet and then legs quickly became numb. Within minutes I was laying down on the table, sheets were hung up and pretty soon all Shaun could see from where he was sitting was my head. Once that was done, Shaun was allowed to move his chair next to me and before I knew it… surgery began.

Even though I dont know it, surgery is underway. The big fluffy white thing is a surgical heater that kept me warm during surgery. That thing worked wonders!!


Surgery was everything that I remembered from Abby’s birth. I knew that from start to birth, it only took about 15 minutes and so I waited anxiously trying to count down the time in my head. Shaun sat there next to me, holding my hand, keeping me calm. I was definitely emotional, nervous, anxious and honestly a little scared. It is surgery after all. Time moved quickly and within moments (at least what seemed like moments) I felt pressure and pulling and then the voice of my doctor, telling me our little girl was almost here.

Just as she began to pull Ellie out, I hear my doctor say “You’re not getting away from me. ” Ellie had decided that she wasn’t quite ready to leave her cozy little home and quite literally tried to climb back into me as she pulled her out. But of course that wasn’t going to happen and within moments, I could hear our little girls cries. It was at that moment that I knew everything was ok and the tears of joy began. Shaun left my side momentarily to check out Ellie and to cut her cord. He was able to come back to me again after to tell me that she was looking great. Then, the nurse finally brought her to my side and I had the chance to meet our little girl for the very first time. I was shocked to see such a familiar face looking at me. Wrapped up in her hospital blanket and cap, Ellie looked exactly like Abby. I felt almost as though I was looking at her twin!

Dr. Olender, my OB (on the right) and Dr. Freedman, my OB when Abby was born (on the left) deliver Ellie.

Shaun “cutting” Ellie’s umbilical cord. Such a proud daddy!

Mommy and Ellie meet for the very first time. So thats who has been doing gymnastics in my stomach!
With our new little bundle of joy, Ellie. The family is almost complete but we are missing big sister Abby and of course their furry brother Jack.

Shaun then had to leave my side and follow Ellie to the nursery so that my doctors could put me back together again. This happened quickly and with very little discomfort and before I knew it I was being moved from the surgical table to my bed and being rolled to recovery. Shaun met me in recovery and stayed with me until my room was ready. At that point he was able to show me the pictures he took of Ellie in the OR and the nursery. I couldn’t have been more excited to see her at that point! After about 45 minutes, I was taken from recovery to my room to settle in. Not long after I arrived, Ellie was brought to me and from there I was in heaven.

Our beautiful Ellie only hours after being born.

Once we were in our room, Shaun and I had time to talk and enjoy Ellie all on our own. After I had the chance to rest and bond with Ellie without an distractions, Shaun and I decided it was time to bring Abby over to meet her little sister, so Shaun ran back to the house to pick her up. When Abby arrived she was definitely overwhelmed but also concerned. She didnt like that mommy was in this funny looking bed with things connected to her. She was also curious about the new baby in my arms. She got the chance to see Ellie but once she was comfortable in her surroundings Abby was on to other things. It wasn’t too long before Abby needed to go and so she left for a sleepover at Grandma Zoe’s house.

Abby meets her new baby sister for the very first time.

The remaining time in the hospital was a wonderful experience. On Friday, the day after Ellie’s birth, all the tubes and what not were removed and it was time to get up and walk for the first time. My nurse, Hannah, was an angel in disguise and made the one thing I was dreading a better experience then expected. She even showed me a trick using the hospital bed which allowed me to get up with a little more ease. The biggest thing for me though was making me feel so comfortable during a time where you feel as though you haven’t a shred of dignity left and you are extremely vulnerable. I am so glad she was there for me and she is definitely a person I will never forget.


Through visitors and more wonderful nurses, I survived my stay. Abby came to visit againon Saturday, which made me feel better. I was missing her very much. Hannah, Jasmine, Lisa, Leizel, Mary and many more made my time very easy and in a way I felt like it went by too fast. I almost didn’t want to leave! But, Sunday night Dr. Olender came in and after a check gave me an all clear to head home in the morning. The next morning, after one last breakfast, Shaun and I packed up all of our things, dressed Ellie and checked out. It felt good to go home but I couldn’t help but feel sad that the whole pregnancy, delivery and hospital stay was over. Now it was on to a new chapter and two beautiful girls to raise. Now I had to look at how much I missed Abby and how much I wanted to see her again. And see her I did. She was waiting at the door with her Auntie Jillian when we came home.

Ellie all changed into her “going home” outfit, looking cute and snugly for the ride home on what was a somewhat gloomy July day.

All tucked and strapped into her car seat and ready to head home.

Packed up and in the car, ready to leave!

Leave a comment