[JeanLynn81]

Well its been over 3 weeks, so I guess I should just make some time to post my birth story for everyone. Hope you enjoy it!

Sunday, Aug. 13th I went to the hospital to be induced at 4pm. My doctor induces all her patients when they go one week over. They put the cervadol (sp?) in me at 4:30pm to soften my cervix some more. It wasn't supposed to cause contractions, but they started an hour later. They were real small and relatively painless. Just felt like I had a backache. 3 hours later, my cervix was soft enough to start the pitocin. I remember I was so terrified when they put that in my i.v.. I don't know why, but maybe it was because that was definately the no turning back point to me. The contractions got a little bit worse after that. I asked for some pain medicine when I was at 2cm ( I know I'm a wuss ) I fell right to sleep and slept for about 2 hours, only to wake up to them telling me no more of that wonderful stuff because it stopped my contractions! So I labored on for about 24 hours without any pain meds. Thank God for little back vibrators because my back was on fire! My mom and the baby's father were such wonderful support at that time. It was very difficult to get comfortable. Add to that the fact that contractions pushed on my bladder everytime-taking the i.v. pole to the bathroom, and unhooking from the monitors is hard with no help. I waited until I was at 6 cm to get the epidural, but I was so ready for it. It didn't hurt at all, or rather anymore when they stuck the needle in my back. Its nothing compared to contractions! I feel instantly asleep and woke up to them telling me it was time to push! I have never been so happy in my entire life because my little girl was almost here!!! I pushed for about 15-20 min (by the way, everyone is right-pushing does come natural most of the time) To anyone who remembers a previous post of mine about the mirror-I did use it, and it was so great to watch her little head coming out between pushes, and yes, very encouraging! I would recommend it to everyone! At 6:50am on Tues., Aug. 15th my beautiful healthy baby girl arrived to this world and cried for the first time. It was the most beautiful sound I ever heard. When they handed her to me I don't think I ever fell so instantly in love with anyone in my whole life. She was 6lbs, 20 3/4 in, and as healthy and pink as she could be. Picture:

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h3...8-20043-29.jpg

Overall, labor and birth were not nearly as bad as I prepared for. Really the worst part overall health and pain-wise is the first week post partum, because I swelled up like a balloon, my stitches bothered me, the muscles I used to push with killed me, and to top it all off I was walking the floors with my baby when I should have had my feet up. But, its all very worth it. I could go on forever, but I won't, so thanks for sticking with me so far!