kaleb's birth story

As I have done this year each time one of my childrens' birthdays rolled around, I am writing out Kaleb's birth story.

I had an appointment on the 11th with my wonderful midwife, and she told me she's "help him along", but not to tell the OB :) I was 39 weeks, 1 day. Sure enough, that night, I began having contractions that I could time, and they got fairly close together. I called Mom, and she came and picked me up and we went to the hospital. They confirmed early labor, but suggested I would be more comfortable at home. I went back to Mom's house (much closer to the hospital) and spent a fitful night on the couch.

By the morning, I was having to breathe to get through the contractions, and we headed in to my OB's office. He checked me out, and then we met him in his office. He said "Looks like we're having a baby today!" I started crying, and he told me not to be scared, and Mom told him I wasn't scared, I was excited, which was the truth!

We walked over to the hospital, and it was game time! After being hydrated, my contractions slowed down some and we had to do pitocin. We also tried the epidural, but it was so painful to have the keep trying and never hit the right spot due to the hardware in my back, I declared enough, and that was the beginning of me having an epidural free birth! I did get Demerol, threw up on my mom (more then once, I think, mom?) and was able to get a little sleep. Things progressed well, although I'm hazy on some details, between the Demerol and it having been 8 years...

Kaleb was born quickly when the time came. He was born at 8:05pm, 21 inches long, 8lb 3oz. He was a long little guy! I can honestly say I was in awe. He was mine? How had something so beautiful come from me? When we were settled, Mom went home, and it was just my boy and I. I made lots of promises to him in whispers through tears when we were alone in the hospital room.

And that was the beginning of my life as a mommy! We love you, Kaleb!