Chloe's Birth Story

   Let me preface this story by saying that my doctor told me for several weeks that she was sure that my baby would come sometime in the week prior my due date  You can see where this is going right?  Kyle and I went to the mall every night for a week and a half to walk in an attempt to bring on labor and nothing seemed to be happening.  On the afternoon of my due date, Mon., Feb. 10th, I saw my doctor and she scheduled an induction for late Thurs. night.  With that, I gave up all hope of spontaneous labor and began making plans around my scheduled induction.

   The morning of Wed., Feb 12th, Kyle jokingly asked me if I thought I would go into labor to which I emphatically said no.  You can see where this is going too, right?  I went to work all excited that I was being induced the next evening and that the complete and utter misery that are the final weeks of pregnancy would soon be over.  I spent the morning finishing up all things work related.  I talked to my sister in law on the phone and made lunch plans with my mother in law for the next day.  And I texted back and forth with my husband like we normally due.  At 10:45 am I felt something that might be... could it be?... Then I stood up at my desk and GUSH.  My water had unmistakably broken.  My whole pregnancy I had heard the vast majority of pregnant women, like 70-80%, do not experience their water breaking on it's own.  And the sudden large gush is something perpetuated by movies and happens even less frequently.  The scene at my office did seem like something straight out of a movie.

  I met Kyle at the hospital.  I didn't have any contractions for the first 2 hours of my 8 hour labor.  When I began to feel them, they were uncomfortable and I debated about when I should ask for the epidural, knowing it could be awhile before they might be able to get it to me and then have it take effect.  Turns out that I am so glad I asked for it when I did because by the time they brought it to me, which was only 30 minutes later, I was in severe pain and also had to be given oxygen to help me slow my breathing down for the baby. Kyle asked me if the epidural hurt and I said yes but it was nothing compared to the contractions.  I also made a point not to look at the needle.  I knew the sight of it would freak me out even more.  About 10 minutes later the glorious relief took effect and all was right again in my world.  Several hours later I began to feel a lot of pressure (the epidural only took the edge off my pain, I could still feel when I had contractions). About 6:20 pm I told the nurse and she had all the family, except Kyle, leave the room and then checked me.  She said it's time to start pushing.  By this point the pressure was incredibly intense and I became really nervous about what I was about to do.  I kept reciting Philippians 4:13 under my breath.  I knew when Chloe's head was coming out because Kyle and all the nurses got really vocal and cheered me on telling me that I was doing great and that I could do this and to just keep pushing.  With my last 2 contractions, I pushed with all my heart, soul and the strength I could muster.  Our sweet daughter was born at 6:52 pm weighing  6lbs 14 oz and 19 and 3/4 inches long.  I'll never forget the moment they placed her on my belly and I saw her for the first time.  I was struck by how beautiful she is and by how much I already loved her. In that moment, everything leading up to this became so worth it.  I would do it all again in a heartbeat.  I'm so humbled by the opportunity to be this little one's mommy.  Here are some pics from that day...