To Kinlee, the Story of Your Birth

Friday, April fourth. 

Braxton Hicks. I knew we were getting close. I knew we had a few days, at best. 

Saturday, April fifth. 

My contractions had progressively increased all Friday and when I woke Saturday morning they were stronger. I knew it would be soon. I just knew it. I called your daddy around eleven am and told him we would be having a baby and to come home. He came home and we installed your car seat. We went on a walk, I drank some tea, I bounced on an exercise ball.  We waited. I pleaded with my body to make my contractions stronger. It would be soon. 

Sunday, April sixth 

My water broke at three am. It was a teeny tiny gush, nothing like the movies. I asked your daddy if we should go to the hospital. He wasn't convinced it was my water. We slept. I awoke later to no contractions. After being in very early labor for two days, my labor had stalled. I cried and I wailed. I told your daddy I would be pregnant forever. I was inconsolable. 

Monday, April seventh

My birthday. My contractions started again somewhere around 1:00 am. I stood up and rocked through them to keep them coming stronger. Eventually I tired and fell asleep. I woke up, moaning through contractions around 6:30 am. I went to the bathroom and my water gushed once more.

Dr. Brown, Nurse Betsy, and I.

Your daddy said we should wait until my appointment at ten. Mommy wasn't having it so I called your Mimi and off we went to the hospital.
I was nauseous but didn't eat. Mimi told me I should but I figured we would be sent back home. By the time we got to the hospital my contractions were five minutes apart. They did an amniotic fluid test and determined my water had broken. We would be staying. I called your daddy. As is typical with him, it took multiple calls to wake him up. We got situated in room 418 and started on IV antibiotics to ward off infection. Daddy grabbed the bags and headed up to the hospital. He drove me absolutely insane. He really did. He always does. I love him though.
I was started on Pitocin at 10:30 am. Soon afterwards my contractions were between 30 seconds to two minutes apart. Dr Brown swept my membranes and fully broke my water. It was the worst pain I have experienced, ever. Around 1:00 I received my epidural. Honestly, it was heaven. After hours and hours on the highest possible Pitocin drip, I was still failing to dilate. We were faced with possible csection. I cried. Of course I cried. My nurse Betsy, the only nurse of mine whose name I remember, consoled me. She was an angel. She said she would do everything she could to get you out and she did. She flipped me from my side, to my other side, to the middle every thirty minutes. We waited and waited and waited some more. I had your mimi do my hair and makeup. The nurses thought that was funny. I prayed you would arrive before midnight and I struggled to nap.

Tuesday, April eighth.
 About an hour before you were born my epidural wore off. I tried to push through without it. The pain was great though so they sent the anethesiologist in to give me one more. You daddy had been asleep for hours so he didn't know the pain I was in. Your mimi held my hand and stroked my hair. She really is the best mother a girl could ask for. With a lot of praying and crying, I was fully dilated. The nurse called the doctor and we waited. He arrived somewhere around 3:30 am and we got ready to meet you. Your papa came up to the hospital so that he could meet you whenever you were born. I pushed for three pushes and out you came into the world at 3:58 am. A seven pound, three ounce beautiful screaming girl. Dr. Brown laid you on my chest and at once, I became a mother.