Isabella Noelle

Okay, well here is the shorter version...I was typing out a long detailed story of Isabella's birth, but then decided not to get too detailed. Let's just start with Saturday morning, October 31 2009. Kevin and I had had a late night hanging out with some siblings of mine. We didn't get to bed until about 2:00 a.m. At about 5:15 a.m. we both happened to wake up. After saying a few things to each other I suddenly felt my water break! I ran to the bathroom and sat there for awhile. I finally went into our room and told Kevin that I thought my water might have broken but I wasn't sure. We sat there for a half hour deciding what to do. He finally called the hospital. They told us to have me walk around and see if more came out. So, we did and more came this time with a little blood. So, we called them again and they said to come to the hospital in an hour. I was feeling pretty good and noticed that every once in awhile I would get a slight backache. We packed, I called my parents, and off we went.

We got there about 8:00 I think. They signed us in (during the process we were reading and signing things and suddenly tons more came out of me! It was like I peed my pants though I couldn't control it and I didn't feel any urge. REally weird!) They had me go to my room and change while Kevin finished up.

When they checked me I was dilated to a 6 and the cervix was 90% effaced. I was having strong backaches but nothing I couldn't handle easily. So, I decided to do it naturally. I had thought about doing it naturally before with the plan to get an epidural if I couldn't handle it. Well, with only having mild contractions and being at a 6 I figured I could handle it completely.

For awhile we just hung out in the room dealing with the mild contractions. Then, I got up and used the bathroom and walked around. That is when the REAL contractions started! CRAZY! Yeah, they were killers. Eventually I dilated to an 8. By then the contractions were quite painful. At some point I told KEvin that I might need an epidural. He told me I could get one if I wanted (though he actually knew I was too far along to get one. He was so sweet to lie to me! Seriously! He couldn't tell me no because of how much pain I was in.) Finally it was time to push. Wow. Talk about pain! I never could have imagined! After about 40 minutes of pushing Isabella was born at 11:15 a.m. so, my whole labor and delivery lasted only 6 hours, most of which was not all that painful! She was three weeks early, 6 lbs 1 oz, 17 1/2 inches long. She is a cutie!

So, everything went great from there. She is really chill. Sleeps m ost of the time and hardly ever cries, though I am sure that is in our future. I did tear a little bit but not too bad. And it was really cool to see the placenta! They are so interesting!

Anyway, crazy how life changes with a baby!