Hadassah's First Journey

Monday morning September 21 at 8 am I started to feel light contractions. I timed them at 10 min apart lasting around 30-45 sec. They stayed very consistent all day. I did a few things in the morning just to make sure they were the "real" thing. After I knew they were I finished watching a movie. At 2pm it was still the same, 10 min apart, 30-45 sec. I then realized this was going to be a long labor. So, I went upstairs, got into bed and napped until I couldn't sleep anymore.

5PM- Contractions are now 5 min apart and are getting stronger. I was happy because I was finally moving on from early labor.

6pm- Brandon got home from work. We both knew that this was probably going to last through the night, so he took a nap for a couple of hours, so he would be able to be my support.

10pm - I call the Midwife and let her know that we would like her to come. Brandon started picking up the room and getting it ready.

12pm- Midwife shows up as well as mother-in-law and sister-in-law

Contractions are a lot stronger now. The only position that didn't hurt too bad to be in was on my side. So I spent most of the labor in bed on my side. I hated having to go to the bathroom because it was 5 times more painful to have a contraction on the toilet than in bed. And it seemed any time I moved from one place to another I would get a contraction, whether I was due for one or not. I thought that was not fair.

An hour or two later my water broke. That was a very weird thing to experience.

I then went into transition. I know this because for no reason I started bawling. I don't know if the contractions were strong enough to make me cry or I was just crying because that's what happens then. Brandon and the midwife had to calm me down.

Around 3ish I was ready to start pushing. I got on my knees on the floor and leaned over the bed through this part. I think after the first hour is when I started to get tired of all this labor business. I never said it but in my head I was screaming "I don't want to do this anymore!!!" "I will stay pregnant!!" all the normal things you hear in this part.

An hour or more after that, she was getting closer and pushing got harder and harder. When her head started to crown things moved really fast from there. Normally the steps for the head to come out is that it comes forward a little then when you stop pushing they go back in a little bit. Like 2 steps forward 1 step back, but she never went back in. When she moved she stayed there. When her head was out a little farther I was able to reach down and touch her head. That was pretty cool. A few more contractions after that, her head was completely out. And one more push and she was here! 6:38AM

Brandon was able to catch her. And after she was out I was able to turn around and found out it was a girl. Sat down and was handed my baby. It was so amazing to look at what you have been waiting to see for the last 9 months. She was looking up at me when I started talking to her. Brandon came beside me and all 3 of us just stared at each other. Then she pooped on me. lol The midwife clamped the cord and Brandon got to cut it. The only people who touched her, in the first min of her life, were her parents. I think that is just awesome. I then nursed her for around 15 min or so (not too sure on time line) Then Brandon took her to get cleaned up.

It took an hour and a half for me to deliver the Placenta. After that I made a few calls letting grandparents know the news. Then Brandon, Hadassah and I got into bed and everyone went down stairs to make breakfast and we were alone just us three for a half hour or so. While I ate breakfast they weighed and measured her. 6lbs 14 oz 19 1/2 inches, and very healthy.

Everyone was happy excited and tired. The midwife took a nap on the couch and my mother-in-law and sister-in-law left. Brandon, Hadassah, and I took a nap together.

Later I found out that when her head came out her two hands were on her face. Figure that was why I had the long labor.

So there you have it. That is how Hadassah Grace entered the world.