Here's Isabella Grace-updated with Birth Story

I actually have a few minutes here, so I wanted to share my birth story. As some of you read, I was having contractions for a solid 2 weeks before her arrival. I really had no idea on Friday that it would really be the day! On Thursday night I had my OB visit and had progressed to 2.5 cm, 80% effaced and -1. I went home that night thinking it would still be a while. But all night long the contractions were coming and I was more uncomfortable than usual. I paged the doctor by the morning (3rd time that week)...thinking they would say "You'll know when it is time". Instead the doctor asked me to come in around 10 am. Dh had gone to work and I made him leave work and meet me at the doctor "just incase". Well when I got there my contractions had slowed down, barely showing up on the monitor-which made me mad! I knew what I was feeling all night. But my doctor did another internal exam too. I wasn't expecting a change but overnight I had gone to 3.5 cm and things were about to change. Doctor told Dh and I we had two choices:
1. Go to the hospital now, and he would break my water
2. Go home for a bit and walk around outside and try to move things along on our own. (We opted for this one, still thinking, it may be a false alarm). As we left the office the doctor said "We might have a birthday party tonight". That was crazy to hear!
Dh and I went to a park and just walked laps for about an hour. Contractions were coming along again..so we decided we should eat something incase it is the big day. After a bagel we went back to the park and walk for another hour. Now I could barely walk from one bench to the next, contractions were about 4 minutes apart. We called the doctor and they said come to the hospital. At this point I am still thinking they might send me home.
We get to St. Catherines at 4:00. They examine me and say "You are 5 cm, almost 100% effaced, would you like an epidural now?" I replied " so I am staying here?" They said " Yes, you may have this baby tonight"! OMG
So I declined to drugs and started walking the hallways with Dh for over and hour to keep things moving. I wanted to avoid any drugs to keep my contractions coming. Next exam was around 6:30 and I was over 6 cm dilated. I still held off on the drugs. Within and hour I was almost 7 cm and said "Let's get the epidural now". The pain wasn't horrible at that point, but I thought I should rest for the pushing later. My doctor came in and broke my water then it was time for the epidural. It took two tries to get my epidural in, this was horrible for me. I couldn't stay in position because contractions were so strong. It took almost an hour to get it in. By 8:30 I was feeling no pain though,and it was worth it. I still knew when I was contracting, I felt the contractions just not the pain. I now had a waiting room full of familiy and friends and still couldn't believe it was happening. The nurses said the epidural might slow the contractions down and that it could take a while. Well, they NEVER SLOWED DOWN...they came faster. Every 2 minutes or less...by 10:15 I said that I felt like I had to go to the bathroom. The nurse checked me and I was 10 cm and ready to go! My nurses were so wonderful, and so was Dr. McKenna. Dh was an amazing coach too. They said first babies can take a while, so she may not be born until the middle of the night. Well I started pushing at 10:30 and she was out at 11:54. I kept my eyes closed during the pushing and just focused. In between contractions I would just breath in deep and relax. I barely made a sound or talked. I just told them when the contractions were coming and got right to pushing. I didn't let one contraction pass me by. Dh was so supportive and helpful. I was dying to know if I was about to have a daughter or son, so it really got me through! I used so much upper body strenght to hold my legs and my neck to my chin that at the end I was trembling and couldn't lift my head. When her head came out I had trouble seeing her, then my doctor pulled out her arms and made her wave to me and said "Hi Mama" I was laughing then next thing I knew she was on my stomach and I heard "It's a girl". Totally amazing moment!!!!!! She weighed 6 lbs. 7 oz. and was 19 3/4 inches long. I couldn't get over her hair! The only rough part for me was the fact that I tore a bit and needed an episiotomy. I am sore, but she was worth every stictch. Sorry to go on forever and gush, but it really was an amazing experience. So thrilled to be a mommy now!

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Message edited 9/25/2007 1:15:19 PM.

Isabella is gorgeous!!!

What a doll!

Congrats!

she is a cutie pie. Enjoy

Awwwwwwww so adorable! Congrats!!

She is adorable!! Congrats!!

She's adorable!!!!

She's soooooooo cute!!!!!! Congrats!

Congratulations! She's gorgeous!

She is adorable! And you look great Momma!

She is very cute and you look great, congrats

Aw, just like DADDY! How gorgeous. I'm so happy for you, Christy. You're going to be a great mom. You look FAB, btw!

She's adorable!!

congrats - she's beautiful

She is adorable!! Congratulations!!

what a cutie Congrats!

she's beautiful

adorable...congratulations!!

Isabella is such a cutie!!! love all her hair

Awwww - adorable, congrats!