We wanted to share with you the (long, but short) story of Ellie's birth-day, from the both of us, so you could share in the experience of the day our girl graced us with her presence! (And we have wonderful pictures from those couple days all thanks to Heart & Soul Images!)
From Kait:
It was Thursday, February 5th (the day before my due date) and I woke up at 5:28 am with some dull cramping. I had been experiencing cramping off and on already during the previous weeks and some contractions as well. There were some days however I wasn't feeling any symptoms or showing any signs of labor, like the two days prior to this morning. Even though these cramps felt a little different, I didn't want to think anything of them. I did decide to get up and go to the bathroom, because hey, I was awake and would probably have to go in a minute anyways. As soon as I stood up I leaked some liquid...I wasn't sure if I just peed myself a little (because let's be honest, it happens sometimes during pregnancy...lovely I know), or I wondered for a second if my water broke. Hmmm, I thought, no it couldn't have been. It didn't feel like how people described it to me and I kind of shrugged it off. I could have called my doctors office just to be sure, but I already had my usual weekly appointment set up for that morning at 10 am and I knew they could tell me then if it was my water or not. I went to the bathroom and back to bed I went.
Well, at 5:30 am, just two minutes after the questionable water breaking, contractions started happening and laying in bed was not a comfortable position. Contractions were varying from 3 minutes to about 9 minutes apart. I didn't want to wake my husband Steven up just yet because it was early and the contractions could stop at any moment, plus I wanted him to sleep as much as he could. I didn't call the doctors office because they said to do so when contractions were 3-4 minutes apart for two hours - and that hadn't happened yet. So I started walking around, swaying, leaning against the wall and sitting on the edge of the bed for the majority of the time. Then I grabbed our birthing ball from the other room. As I did that Steven woke up and asked what I was doing. I told him I had been dealing with contractions, but they weren't a huge deal and I would wake him if it got crazy. He was okay with going back to sleep and off he went. I tried catching some more zzz's on the edge of the bed while sitting on the birthing ball. That didn't work, but I just dealt with the contractions as they came and went, concentrating on relaxing and breathing through all of it (and dealing with my intestines freaking out with this onset-lovely, too, I know).
As the morning went on and we were about to leave, I told Steven we should bring our hospital bags just in case this was the real deal. The drive to the doctors was a little difficult. I was sensitive to any bump and asked Steven to go a little slower, ha. I wanted to get to the office sooner than later, but sitting in the car was not a great position. This was also when I finally told him my water may have broken earlier. He was so surprised I hadn't told him and I was kind of surprised myself, because I am usually VERY verbal to him with any body aches/pains/issues I have. I guess I just didn't want to make it a big deal and knew I could be wrong? Still don't really know why...
Anyways, finally, we were in the patient room and doctor came in. I told her my water may have broken and had been having contractions all morning. She did a test to see if it was my water and sure enough it was! She also checked to see my other progress. I was 4 centimeters and 90% effaced and she wanted us to go straight over to the hospital to labor and delivery. Steven and I looked at each other and we laughed with shock and joy and said, "Okay!" It was happening, we would be going to the hospital to start the process of welcoming our little girl!!!!! Wow!!!!
By 10:45 am we were checked in at labor and delivery. Contractions were still going this whole time varying in time and intensity. But as soon as I was settled in my gown, getting monitored and answering the nurses questions, contractions were getting more consistent and increasing in intensity. Plus, pretty much all the contractions were back labor and I hadn't experienced anything like that yet and they were very uncomfortable.
Steven was amazing, helping with massage, counter pressure, supporting me in labor positions, getting cold washcloths, suggesting other positions to try and keeping notes for me. Each thing would work for a few contractions and then wouldn't anymore. I could hardly think or get into another position in time before another contraction would hit. Boy that was fun-NOT (contractions had been consistently 2-3 minutes apart). I tried the jacuzzi for a few minutes and right when the nurse told me to tell her when I felt the need to push I had the sensation. She had me get out of the tub and onto the bed so she could check my progress. It was 12:30 pm and I was 8-9 centimeters. Steven and I looked at each other, and were like, 'What?!?! Seriously?!?' We could not believe how fast I was progressing and I was proud of myself for getting that far without any medication. I didn't know how the contractions would increase in pain so I would keep telling myself, 'They are probably only going to get worse and I can deal with this one' and I just took each contraction at a time and relaxed as much as I could in between each. The nurse even complemented me saying she could tell I was in control and breathing through each contraction great. My doctor was notified of my progress and would be on her way shortly. I hadn't left the bed after I was checked at 12:30pm and just tried some other positions in there.
By 12:45 pm I was 9.5 centimeters and by 12:55 pm the nurse had me try pushing a few times. Pushing did not feel good and it wasn't really time for the real deal so she had me stop. And by this time contractions were crazy painful and I finally asked (kind of demanded through a whiny voice) for the nitrous oxide (laughing gas), if it was available, it was 1:10 pm. There was only one machine for the whole floor and thank goodness it was available. However, it seemed like FOREVER for them to set it all up even though it was only about 5 minutes. Through those last handful of contractions without the gas, I was gripping the side of the bed for dear life and Steven thought it would break under my grip. When I finally got handed the mask at 1:15 pm, boy did I breathe that stuff in like no other! I breathed it in so hard I actually got really light headed, but I didn't want to put the mask down, ha. Though, I did give myself a break off and on because I was getting pretty hazy through the doctor arriving and our photographer arriving and the pushes. By 1:30 pm the doctor had me start the real pushing process. Whew, pushing takes a lot out of you and I felt like my head would burst - it was super red, too and I thought for sure I had busted some blood vessels (I didn't surprisingly). I couldn't see a clock at all and after awhile I asked how long I had been pushing for; it had been about 45 minutes. In a way it felt like I had been pushing for that long and in another way, not that long. I knew I could still have hours to go and was gearing myself up for that. The break in between pushes seemed like minutes and I was grateful for the gap, but wanted to get our girl out, especially when they said they could see her head and a ton of hair! I did ask if it was normal to have such "long" breaks in between each contraction and set of pushes and they said yes. (And really the breaks weren't any longer than before they had me start pushing.)
At one point the nurse asked if I wanted a mirror so I could see/watch the progress, but I said no. Even though it's supposed to be an encouraging thing to do, I felt like I could get discouraged and get more impatient with the progress and just wanted to continue how I was. The nitrous oxide helped me through some contractions, but the pain was so intense for me I was still saying 'Ow' a ton of times while still trying to breath in the gas. And it wasn't too much longer that I finally heard the doctor say she's coming. After having my eyes closed for the majority of the delivery I opened my eyes when I felt the pressure and warmth of Ellie coming and saw the doctor holding our little girl. Hearing her cry and the nurse putting her on my chest was the most magical moment. It was 2:53 pm. I looked at Steven through some tears and saw him with tears in his eyes as well, oh my goodness, that was such a special moment. Time stood still while I was holding our daughter. I could not believe after all these months she was finally here. I was thinking 'Thank you God!' This moment was tampered a little when the doctor started stitching me up and during the delivery of the placenta. Since I didn't have any pain medication I could feel everything and that was very uncomfortable/painful. I tried to not let it ruin the moment with Ellie and Steven, but oh buddy those things were just as bad as the actual labor.
I had about an hour of Ellie on my chest, skin to skin, and I was so infatuated with her and Steven tearing, I don't remember much else and time meant nothing.
By 5:20pm we were moved to the postpartum floor and looking outside our room Steven saw at a distance Table Rock (it is a place high on a hill where there is a huge lit up cross overlooking the city). He said to me, 'That is the place where this all began!" It is the place Steven and I fell in love and it's the place Steven proposed; the place our life together began. Here came the water works some more. That recovery room was special for the rest of our stay.
Even though I wanted as much of a natural labor as I could, I didn't know how well I could hold out and deal with it all. This birth story is one I am very proud of and very grateful for.
We are parents, I am a mom, a title I have longed to have. I stare at her and ask how we got so lucky. I've cried over her several times because we are blessed to call her ours. She's been here a month and I couldn't imagine life without her.
From Steven:
February 5th started slightly different for me than the way Kaitlin described hers. In general I am a light sleeper but had gotten used to ignoring all the commotion Kait makes when she gets up for the bathroom. This is a skill I've developed over the course of our entire marriage because whether she is getting up for the bathroom, or just rolling over in bed, let's just say grace isn't the word I'd use to describe how she does it. Anyhow, the first real memory I have the morning of February 5th is Kait carrying the big exercise ball into the bedroom and sitting on it beside the bed, breathing heavily and controlled. I asked what was going on and she convinced my tired mind that she was just having a few contractions and I could go back to sleep. Well... deal!
I eventually woke up at my previously selected alarm time in order to get to the Dr. appointment in time. We decided to bring the hospital bags just in case, but I figured we would be headed back home before the big event. Keep in mind that the majority of my knowledge about laboring came from 1) the movie Father of the Bride II and 2) my sister-in-law and sister's births, which I experienced mostly from the waiting rooms accompanied by long hours of lame cable television. This being the case, I believed false labor to basically be a prerequisite and long hours of 'at home' labor to definitely be a requirement. Needless to say, there we were cruising down the road headed to another Dr. appointment when she tells me that her water potentially broke nearly 5 hours ago. I compared what she was saying and the signs our Dr. had told us to watch for, and it seemed pretty clear to me that her water had broken. So she breaks this news to me, which makes me want to go into NASCAR mode and get to the Dr. ASAP. At the same time she asked me to drive slower and more gentle. Ha, ok no problemo.
Upon arriving at the parking garage, Kait couldn't seem to catch a break from the contractions much longer than it takes to walk into the office. I remember her stopping in the hallway leading to the Dr. office, leaning against a handrail and starting her Jedi breathing again. A lady walked past us and seeing the odd sight, asked if we were ok. I assured her we would be in a min or two.
In the office, the Dr. quickly confirmed my suspicions of the broken water and said she would see us later on in the delivery room at the hospital. I didn't freak out, I was just really excited! So off we went to the hospital, which thankfully was only a block away because I don't think there was a slow enough speed in the world for Kaitlin to have enjoyed that short drive.
Checking in was smooth and the staff was very polite. They got Kait all hooked up to the different monitors and checked Ellie's heart rate. Everything was looking good. The nurses then kind of left us be to do some laboring. Like Kait said up above, one position or helpful aide I could provide during one contraction, didn't help her out much longer than that. Maybe 3 contractions at most, then the brilliant laboring idea I once had, was now about as good an idea as farting in the bedsheets at night. After going through several rounds of this victory and defeat I had the ultimate brilliant idea. "The tub!" I thought. I was sure it was going to be the magical pain relieving method we needed. The tub was filled and she crawled in. Then it felt about 2 minutes later that Kaitlin decided she needed to push. So out of the tub she comes, and out the window my brilliant idea goes with it. The whole thing just seemed like a whirlwind and the pain Kait seemed to be in during contractions was obviously about 10x worse than anything I had ever experienced myself. And I've been "kicked" pretty hard. Kait eventually decided to try the laughing gas, which seemed to help a little, but not nearly as much as I would liked to have seen. But she pressed on, staying in control of her breathing and impressing me very much. Pretty quick the doctor showed up and was donning a suit that looked like it'd make a pretty decent haz-mat suit. Labor continued to escalate and the nurses called for backup.
I had always planned to experience the labor from the PG side of the room, but the true miracle of birth just completely overcame me and I had to watch. Kaitlin was so impressive and God's design for birth is just incredible. Intense, but incredible. I kept thinking to myself that I had witnessed some pretty incredible athletic feats. I've seen some of the top athletes in the world push through crazy hill climbs and lift massive weights and all that super intense stuff that impresses most guys, but this birth took intense to a whole new level in my book. And I'd never been so impressed.
Then Ellie entered the world. And in the same way my definition for intense had reached a new high, my definitions for love, joy, and happiness all did the same thing. I couldn't stop crying from the second I saw her. At that moment, the blessing of seeing our new girl, healthy as can be, undoubtedly made me the happiest person alive.
I could keep writing about each minute of my life since Ellie has come, but I'll just say the rest is history. A lovely and joyous history that I could have never imagined I'd get to be a part of. Thank you God! And thank you all for the love, support, and prayers. This whole episode of our lives, from the moment we saw the little + sign on the pregnancy stick, to moving to Boise, to the timing and birth of Ellie, has so obviously been orchestrated by God in countless ways. I'm confident all the prayers sent up on our behalf have helped immensely. Thank you all!
