Katelyn's Birth Story

After many nights of labor teases (I feel that false is NOT the right word for it) I was very ready to go into labor. This labor was very different from my first two. Ben and I went to bed at around 10:30 Monday night, but I didn't feel very good. I wasn't having any contractions, but I thought my body was in pain from having contractions for so long. I was never able to fall asleep. Very unusual for me.

I started to feel contractions about midnight. I didn't have any hope that it was labor, so I watched Hunger Games to pass the time. At 1 a.m. the contractions started to radiate to my back and legs. I decided to get Ben up and call Devin to come over. We got to the hospital and I was at a 5. I snail progressed for the next few hours, so the nurse swiped my membranes to see if she could get it going. I wondered if my body had forgotten how to go into labor! It's a different experience wishing every contraction to be more intense. I wanted to feel that pain so that I knew it was really going to happen! At 6:30 a.m. I was at a 7-8. My contractions were a couple of minutes a part the entire time. I was getting SO antsy for transition. The doctor started me on a very low dose of pitocin. I said no at first, because I havn't heard the best stories about pitocin, but they assured me that it was a very low dose. The nurse said that I might not even notice, but they wanted to try anyway. I wanted him to break my water and he did at 7 a.m. Once he broke my water, it was SO intense. I have done this twice, and it was definitely different this time. My body FLIPPED out.

My extremities went numb and I couldn't feel them. I felt that tingly feeling when your foot falls asleep all over my body. I didn't have a lot of time to focus on that because I started to push. I should say I needed to push and they didn't want me to, but it's not really something you can "not do." The nurse checked me and I was only at a 9. I was like, well I can't really help it! The doctor came in and said, "I know you are at a 9, but you'll be there in a second. Go ahead and push in the next contraction." Hallelujah. After two contractions and sets of pushes, she was here! Tiny and perfect!

I have never felt so much relief in my life! They put her directly onto my chest and I was in heaven. I was overwhelmed with joy that she was here, the labor was over, she was healthy, and she was in fact a girl! I was stitched up, I fed her for the first time and every hospital member left. I was anticipating "after labor" this time, and so it didn't seem as horrific as it was last time. I loved the alone time with Ben and Katelyn. I also enjoyed staying in the hospital the full time period. It was SO nice to be able to just rest and recover. It was a much better recovery this time around. I was so grateful for all of the babysitting help from family. And, that's the story!