Baby Makenna's Birth Story

Yay!!!! We finally had our baby! And I finally have a longish moment to sit down and blog about it!

Makenna Janae was born on October 6th, 2009 at 5:15 am weighing 7lbs. 9oz and 19 in. long.

I was going to be induced Wed. Oct. 7th, but I went into labor on my own on Monday. Dave actually had taken leave for Monday and Tuesday, so that worked out great! Kayla went to her AM Kindergarten and Dave and I were running errands we wanted to get done before the baby was born. I was having sporadic painful contractions, but they got time able at 10 am and were 10 minutes apart. The next hour they were 5 minutes apart, and the next hour they were 3-4 minutes apart. (With Kayla I was 2cm for a month, and just like with her I have been having contractions off and on for a month...painful ones. My last doc visit I was 3 cm and 50% effaced.) At that point Dave had picked up Kayla from school and he started packing the car for the hospital! Dave really wanted to get moving because Ft. Carson is 45 mins. away. Dave gave me a blessing and we dropped Kayla off at our friend's house to spend the night with their 2 girls.

When we went to Triage they monitored me for an hour and said they couldn't admit me yet because I was only a 4! Man! So they had us go get something to eat and walk around for a couple hours. When we came back and they monitored me for a little bit they said I was at a 5, but my contractions were all over (no greater than 6 minutes apart). Should we go home? The next shift was in 45 mins, and they asked us to wait for the next nurse midwife. The 2 midwives came and talked to us and told us they were both not comfortable with me going home because of the distance and that things could progress fast and I could end up having the baby at home. So I was admitted! Finally! (As a side note, while we were in the waiting room various times, good old America's Funniest Home Videos kept us company. =) )

We settled in and labored a few hours. At one point when the midwife checked me I was at a 7, the baby's head was a zero, and contractions were 3 mins. apart. But then when she checked me again, everyone was shocked because she said she couldn't feel the baby's head at all or my cervix! What?! Proof our babies are so active! The baby had gone way up inside me, and my contractions were at a slow stand still. Dave and I said a prayer. Should we go home? Was our baby not ready to come? It was midnight, and we were both exhausted. The midwife came back and said if we decided to go home we would have to sign an "Against Medical Advice" form. So... we walked around and around and tried things to get the baby to drop down again. It worked! I was an eight now and the baby was right there! The midwife broke my water too.

But, things weren't progressing. They suggested giving me a "sniff of pitocin". I really didn't want it, but they reassured me it would be a low dose, to help get things moving. (I didn't have any painkiller. After Kayla's traumatizing birth I didn't want any drugs. Dave and I looked into the Bradley method, my friend let me borrow all her books. She and her husband also offered their expertise and advice having had 3 kids natural!) The pitocin kicked in hard and it was really hard labor. It seemed like forever, but all we were waiting for now was to push. I pushed, and that lasted for 1 1/2 hours. The baby's head was right there, but after the contractions, she would slip back into the birth canal! I was so tired and was almost ready to give up, but then there was one contraction on top of another and our baby was finally born! She was posterior, which is probably why it took forever. I tore where I had an episiotomy with Kayla, but I was happy they didn't cut me or use a vacuum or forceps. Dave got to cut the cord.

Dave was awesome as a birth coach! I needed him and he took good care of me. I wouldn't have made it without him!!!! He was so sweet, so patient, understanding, and a rock for me as he cheered me on and encouraged me "one contraction at a time"!

Our baby was so beautiful! I got to hold her right away. Dave went and observed the nurse clean her and test her right in our room. It was so surreal! We had a baby! She has been longed for and prayed for and she is finally here! Truly an angel, a precious gift from heaven. We have felt so blessed by a loving Heavenly Father through this whole process. We are so grateful for our new baby, and our sweet Kayla too. We love our girls!

Some of you may know that Dave and I have been soooo indecisive about a name! At the hospital we had it narrowed down to 2 names. Haley and Makenna. We thought when she was born we would know. When we saw her we both silently thought Makenna was the name. We found out we both liked it and we even let Kayla have an opinion. She liked Makenna too. Makenna was also born on Dave's mom's birthday! So we thought Janae, a variation of her name Janeen, would be fitting!

I should mention that Kayla has been wonderful! She is the best big sister! She loves Makenna so much and often tells her she loves her. She is such a good helper too. She loves to hold her sister and talk to her. It is so sweet! Kayla thinks Makenna is hilarious and loves to laugh and watch Makenna make faces. Kayla also has been on a Fall Break from school since Oct. 8th! She doesn't go back till the 26th! Dave had 10 days paternity leave, so he goes back to work tomorrow. It's been nice to adjust and just be together as a family.

As for me, I am feeling great! It's amazing what a week of rest can do! Recovery this time has been night and day compared to recovery with Kayla's birth. I'm really happy I didn't get drugs. They may be great for other people, but I don't think my body likes them that much. Things are great! We are a bit sleep deprived, but doing great. Makenna is doing well too! She was a little jaundiced, but nothing to worry about. I think one of my favorite things in the world are newborn sounds. The contented sighs, cooing, humming, grunts, groans. I LOVE IT! The cuddling and holding her and smelling her!

Life is good, we've been blessed so much!!!