Katie's Birth Story

I actually started labor pains the evening of Saturday April 18th. We had just decided that we would name her Katherine Emily. We were driving to a

furniture store about an hour from our house & while we were purchasing our new coffee table I got my first really strong contraction - none of this Braxton

Hicks false labor. Finally, I thought we were getting somewhere. My due date was the 19th (18th per the ultra-sound, 20th according to the conception

date). I was pretty anxious for the past week.

The rest of the evening I had a strong but short contraction every hour or so. I didn't sleep much & got up to watch TV at 4:30am. I had contractions every

15 mins or so. Finally at 8:30 Sunday morning, they were getting much stronger, but still 15 mins apart. I got Marc up (wasn't I kind to let him sleep that

long?). We called the dr's office at about 11am. She said to call back when they were closer & stronger. I spent time cleaning the house, making lunch for

Marc, re-packing my hospital bag, and stopping every 10 mins to grab on to something - the contractions were getting pretty tough, but I was fine once they

passed. At 2:00, the dr said to come in. They verified that I was just about 1 cm. They had me walk, do the jacuzzi, etc. I was absolutely starving. I begged

Marc for $$ for a candy bar, but the poor guy was so nervous, he left his wallet in the car. They checked me again at 5pm. Still 1 cm. All those BIG

contractions & no progress. They decided to send me home.

Marc felt so bad that he said he would get me whatever I wanted to eat (he would regret this later if you know what I mean). I hadn't eaten much in 24 hrs

so we got Wendy's & between contractions I ate. At home, the contractions got much more intense, by 9pm they were 7-10 min apart & vicious. Marc was

wonderful. He walked with me, he laid down with me, anything I wanted. Finally, my MIL came over & we called the dr. She sd to come back to the

hospital. They checked me out and sd only 1 cm. I just sobbed - 10 hours of huge contractions & no progress. I was exhausted and my whole body was

shaking. I started to get a little scared & sd to Marc what if I can't do this (like I had a choice!!).

At 1:30am (only 1.5 cm dilated) the dr sd I had 2 choices. They could use Pitocin to help me dilate or give me morphine to relax me & get some sleep. I

opted for the morphine because I was so exhausted. It took 2 doses of morphine (and I could still feel the contractions pretty good) and I was finally able to

rest. I sent MIL & Marc out to get something to eat. By 5am, the morphine was completely worn off, but I was 8 cm!!! Progress, finally. The contractions

were again quite intense, lasting over a min every 3 min. By 7am, they gave me an epidural (I love that man -the anethesiologist) and they also started me on

Pitocin because they had broken my water and wanted to speed thing up (there was some Meconium in the amniotic fluid). Things were much better after

that. I was fully dialated by 11am Monday (over 35 hours of labor).

The dr told me that it would take 3 to 4 hours to push because the baby was facing down. Marc and MIL stayed with me the whole time. At this point, I

was soooo hungry. I told Marc and MIL that I wasn;t going to push that long. I was right. At 12:38 pm, after 1 ½ hrs pushing , Katherine Emily Todd was

born. I was frightened at first because she didn't even cry. Once I knew she was alright & kept asking Is it a girl? Everyone forgot to tell me, though we were

pretty sure. She was perfect. She weighed 8lbs and measured 21 ¼ ins. She just kept looking around at everyone. I felt fine (only 5 stitches) and was up in

the Maternity ward in time for lunch - LOL! It was the most incredible experience of my life. I still can't believe how much that 8lb bundle changed my life …

If you have read all of this, thanks so much! It's been wonderful sharing the last year with you all. I am so glad you are all my friends - can you tell I'm a touch

emotional today :0)