A Baby Story

I started watching a baby story when I was in junior high...and now I have one of my own. Crazy.

It all started Tuesday night. I was having contractions for hours, so I finally decided to start timing them. They were coming every 2-3 minutes for an hour and a half and then they stopped. I was bummed because I thought it could be it. I went home and bounced on the yoga ball and watched Biggest Loser. I felt EXTREMELY tired so I hit the hay. Clark decided it was his last day of freedom, so he played WOW til 3:30 in the morning.

I was having nightmares all night (I think I was probably having contractions and that is why). All of a sudden it felt like someone had punched me in the stomach and I jolted awake. My stomach was sore, and I thought maybe my water had broken, but nothing was coming out. I decided to get up to use the restroom. When I stood up water came gushing out. I told Clark that my water had broken and at first he didn't really respond and then he was up running around saying that we needed to get the hospital.

We bundled up and headed to the hospital. I was having contractions about every 2 minutes apart and oh did they hurt. To me they felt like the same pain as period cramps, just a million times stronger and all over instead of just real low.

At the hospital, Clark dropped me off and I waited while he parked the car. He wasn't so happy about leaving me alone, but I was strong and did it. We headed up to labor and delivery and told them my water had broken. They put me in a triage room and hooked me up to the monitors. I could hear little Macy's heartbeat and it was soo precious. The monitor wasn't really picking up my contractions even though they were there. They checked to see my dilation and I was 3+ and my water had definitely broken. I'm so glad my water broke because then I was immediately admitted, if not I would have had to wait an hour. They told me I could get my epidural whenever I wanted. I decided I might as well go ahead so I could enjoy my labor experience. Before he came in to give it to me, the nurses said I was group B strep positive, so I needed penicillin. This was the worst part of the whole ordeal. The penicillin felt like someone was breaking my arm. I got hives all up my arm and I was in so much pain. The anesthesiologist came in and gave me my epidural. I didn't even know that he was doing it because my arm was in so much pain. He said he was done, and I couldn't believe it. What a blessing; I was so afraid of the epidural.

My epidural was perfect because I could still move my legs and toes, but I couldn't feel any pain. My doctor came in and said that the baby had pooped in my uterus so they were going to flush out my amniotic fluid to try and dilute the meconium. While he was putting in the tube, he said I was 5 cm dilated. This was only 1 hour after they checked and I was a 3+. The heart monitor and contraction monitors weren't working very well, so they decided to give me internal montitors for both. When the nurse was putting in the internal monitors, she said that I was 8 cm dilated. This was only 20 minutes after I was last checked. It was going so fast. They had given me the smallest dose of pitocin when I got there because the machine wasn't picking up my contractions, but they decided to stop the drip because I was progressing so quickly and I needed to get 2 doses of penicillin. I actually barely got my second dose right before I delivered.

Clark's mom came and brought Clark breakfast and then my parents came. We just had fun talking. I was so excited and nervous and anxious that I couldn't stop shaking. Clark's mom thought it was so funny that I was so happy in labor. The epidural really is a heaven send. About an hour later, my doctor came in and checked and I was fully dilated. They had me rest and descend for about an hour and 15 minutes. The nurses came in and had me start pushing. I had my mom on my left side, Clark on my right, Melissa with a video camera and Clark's mom just watching.

At first, I couldn't tell where I was supposed to be pushing and if I was doing it right, so the nurses brought in a mirror so I could tell what was going on down there. This was soooo sooo sooo helpful. I know some people might think it gross or weird, but it really helped tremendously. I could see exactly where I was pushing and if I was pushing hard enough. The nurses kept going in and out of the room, so Clark was my pushing coach. He did so well. I was so motivated. Melissa also was very motivating. She kept telling me when I was pushing good. It was the best when we started to be able to see her head. Clark was so happy to see that the hair was dark. This is when I got really motivated and pushed my guts out. The baby's head started coming really quickly and the nurses told me to stop pushing. The doctor arrived quickly and I popped the baby out. I had to get a small episiotomy which bites, but I'll deal. The pushing took about 30-40 minutes which surprised the nurses. They told me I would probably push for 2-3 hours. Well then again, they also told me I would probably deliver around 6 that evening, and I delivered at 11:51 am.

When Macy came out, I could not believe the overwhelming feelings of love I felt. All of us were crying. She cried well, but not too much. The meconium didn't get into her lungs which is a miracle and blessing beyond belief and she was perfectly healthy. They laid her on my belly and Clark cut the umbilical cord. I got to hold her and nurse her for about an hour before they took her to bathe her. She is a really good eater and that's all she wanted to do for the first two days. I had the lactation specialist help me with getting her to latch correctly, and that was really helpful. We still aren't perfect, but we are learning.

I now know why it is called the miracle of birth...because it really is. I'm crying right now just thinking about it. I can't believe that with the help of Heavenly Father and Clark, I created such a beautiful being. I love her with all my heart and I couldn't be a prouder momma.