Birth Story - Michaela Grace

On Friday I went to my 39 week OB appointment and my membranes were stripped. I was told by the OB that this did not mean that I would go into labor soon, but it would prevent me from going over due.

On Saturday morning I got up with plans to pick up a few last minute things and get a few items of clothing for Robbie at the outlets. I was trying to get him breakfast and dressed when I noticed that I was having some contractions. They seemed to be pretty strong and when I timed them they were coming every 4-5 minutes apart.

I called my husband downstairs to take over care of the kiddo while I tried to find out if I should head over to Labor & Delivery. I called them and once they looked over my chart they decided that I should come in (my labor with Robbie was 4 hours start to finish).

I had taken the seats out of the van to bring home insulation recently, so we had to get everything back in since my husband just had wrist surgery and most likely wouldn't be able to do it alone. Then we headed out.

I got to the hospital and the nurses seemed really concerned. I guess my OB had been having them try to call me since he was getting worried - I was taking too long to get there for his comfort level.

They put us right into a labor/delivery room where I was checked by my OB. I was 3cm and 80% effaced. He talked a bit about breaking my water, but said he would wait a bit longer before doing this.

He left and I worked on trying to find a comfortable position. The contractions started coming a bit faster (2-3 minutes apart) and were sometimes unusually long and painful.

I had planned a completely natural birth, but as I got further into the labor I started to feel like I need just a bit of relief and opted for a drug that passed quickly and didn't leave me feeling numb. I don't remember the name of it, but the nurse told me that at the most it would last one hour and then they could give it again, but second doses weren't very effective and that was fine with me as I didn't want more than that.

At around 1:30 I started shaking pretty bad and they got me up into the bed where I was checked and the OB broke my water. I went from 8cm to a 10cm in about one hour. At 2:40 Dr. Bare told me to push if I felt the urge. I started to push and at 2:45 Michaela was born - only 5 minutes of pushing!

I did get a level 2 tear and two level 1 tears, although they hurt less than when I tore with my sons birth (a level 2 as well). I am getting much more painful cramps this time and I was told that is normal for moms who already have a child.

Michaela Grace is a sweet little baby - doesn't cry much and is just so beautiful.

She is - 6lbs 12oz and is 18.5" long. I was surprised by how small she was because Robbie was 6lbs 15oz and 21" long and he was 2 weeks earlier than her.

She had a little trouble with nursing at first, but she is starting to do really good now! She looks like she is going to have blond hair and blue eyes :)