Birth Story

This little journal here just wouldn't be complete without Miss Taylor's birth story.  I kept a journal for Storknet during my pregnancy with Kam, and it is such fun to go back and read it and remember.  Besides, the more time that passes, the fuzzier this poor memory gets ;)

{Disclaimer:  This is a birth story.  It may be too detailed for your liking.  Thank you.} 

Let's start with Friday, June 17th. 

I had my weekly appointment, and when my midwife checked me she said I was 4-5 cm dilated.  Holy moly, I was shocked, and not sure what to make of it.  I had never been dilated to 4cm and not been in active, active labor.  I left the office and stopped by Fred Meyer to pick up a few things for a birthday party/Father's day BBQ we were planning for Sunday {and also a cute little outfit for Miss Baby Girl to come home in}.  And headed home as quickly as I could just in case ;)

My sister called that afternoon and when I told her about my appointment she got a little irritated that they hadn't just admitted me to the hospital.  Then, of course, I started worrying about it, fearful that if I did finally go into labor that I wouldn't make it to the hospital in time.  Anyway, I decided that prayer was probably more useful than worry, and we went about the rest of our day.

On Saturday morning, Jeremy got up to go to work.  I told him to go on ahead, I wasn't really feeling much, and I figured it could be days.  I went back to sleep for a little while, and got up around 7 to start getting ready for the day.  By 8am I was having regular, strong contractions, and I decided to call rather than wait.  The midwife on call {one of my two favorites!} told me that she'd heard it could be any day, and that I needed to come right in.  So I called Jeremy and told him the plan.  Jeremy's Dad drove me in to the hospital while his mom stayed with Sierra, Makenna, and Kam.  I wasn't sure how long it would be until we had a baby, so I didn't want them to have to hang around the waiting room {a very small waiting room} all day long.  {And by the way, we weren't purposely ignoring my parents, they just happened to have left to go camping earlier in the week and weren't around}.

We met Jeremy at the birth center about 9am, got checked in, and we were then told that if I hadn't progressed past 5cm and my water hadn't broken, I'd be sent home.  Because there was a discrepancy between the date that I thought I was due, and the date they thought I was due, the hospital policy was to not break my water or do anything to help labor along until after 39 weeks {according to my due date, I was 39 weeks 6 days, but according to theirs I was only 38 weeks}.  I sent up a quick prayer, because the thought of going home didn't really appeal to me ;)  The midwife checked and I was at 5-6cm and 100% effaced, so YAY, they let me stay.  She had to attend to a C-section, but told me that as soon as she was out, she'd come break my water if I wanted. 

Jeremy and I sort of just hung out for a bit.  I was pretty comfortable, so we filled out paperwork, and waited to see the midwife.  She came back in around 11ish, and asked if we'd like to break the waters and get labor going a bit.  Uh, yes please!  Right after it broke I could tell a difference.  My next contraction was much stronger, and I remember saying something like "Yeahhhh, I don't think this is going to take very long."  After that I just shut my eyes and concentrated on getting through the labor.  And then, maybe minutes later I felt like it was quite possibly time to push.  Sure enough, it was.

And at 12:19pm on June 18th, Miss Taylor Grace was born. {Uh, 8 pounds, 3 ozs. 20.5 inches long, I'm pretty sure my due date was correct.  Just sayin'.} Of course, at that moment we still hadn't decided on a name for her ;)  Jeremy had really wanted a Taylor from the beginning, and I had wanted a Hadley.  In the end, Jeremy won ;)  And you know what, about 5 minutes after we decided she was a Taylor, it just fit.  I think children sort of just become their name anyway.



And now we're here.  Our perfect little family of 6.  Four sweet little girls, ahhhhh, I could not be more blessed.  Life is definitely different.  There's going to be a bit of an adjustment period, I'd say.  But I'm reminded about every 2.3 seconds just how blessed we are. 



It's strange, though, with each new baby we add to our family, the longing for more babies grows stronger {for me, just to clarify}.  That's been the hardest part these last few days.  The overwhelming emotions, and sadness thinking that this is our last.  I just cannot imagine not being pregnant again, feeling that life inside you.  And the miracle of birth.  The moment you get to meet your precious child face to face.  Ohhhhhkay, deep breath.

Thank you SO much for all of the comments and emails of well wishes.  You cannot imagine how much they are appreciated.  I hope to be back in the blog loop soon.  I'm just a little preoccupied right now.  You understand ;)