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Kayla Carolyn Craft's Birth

May 3, 1997
8 lbs 13 oz/21"

I found out I was pregnant right after we got back from our honeymoon. I was so excited! My husband, Monte, went with me to my first prenatal appointment and we heard the heartbeat of our baby. We were so excited. We starting buying things for our baby the minute we found out we were pregnant.

We had an ultrasound done in December and found out we were about two weeks off of our calculated due date. Our due date was May 7 and by the ultrasound it was April 26. Monte was so excited that our little girl (yes, we cheated and found out!) was going to be born earlier than we thought. I knew that first babies were born late and I picked May 3 in our office pool. I guess moms really do know!

My pregnancy was wonderful. I suffered from morning sickness for the first four months. I was sick almost all day. When I hit month five I felt great. I was starting to show and loving every minute of it. The rest of my pregnancy went smoothly. I would talk and sing to my baby all the time and tell her how excited we were that she was going to be here soon. Monte would rest his hand on her and feel her move every night before going to sleep.

My blood pressure was a concern for my midwife, Barbara. I work for a CPA firm and with the baby's due date right after the April 15 tax deadline (I tend to stress when a deadline is close), she watched my pressure closely. I took calcium supplements and it was fine the whole way through. I attribute that to Monte who helped out with the housework and kept reminding me to relax.

By the end of the eighth month I was suffering from heartburn so bad that every time I ate I had heartburn and by the end of the ninth month it was constant. We went through a lot of TUMS at our house!

After the April 15 deadline, everyone would say "You haven't had that baby yet?" I was still days away from my due date, but when April 26 came and went with only Braxton Hicks contractions, which I had been having since the fifth month, I was starting to ask myself that same question. I loved being pregnant, but I really wanted to see our little girl. This is where the story gets a little long.

On Tuesday afternoon, April 29, I started having contractions. I thought they were more Braxton Hicks because they were 15 minutes apart and not very strong. They had been like that before, so I didn't pay much attention to them. By the time I went to bed, they were still every 15 minutes apart. I started thinking that this could be it. I tried not to get too excited because I knew the first stage of labor could take a while. I just never knew how long.

On Wednesday, April 30, I had an appointment with Barbara. She said I was 1-2 cm dilated and 90% effaced. I hadn't changed much since the week before. In the afternoon I timed the contractions and they were eight minutes apart. By the time I went to bed they were six. By that time I was sure I was in labor. I tried to sleep, but the contractions would wake me up. I was too excited as well!

On Thursday, May 1, they picked up to 4 minutes. I was so tired that day that I went home to take a nap at lunch time. I would never have done that, but they say you do strange things right before you have your baby. When I left work for the day I knew I wouldn't be back. I called at midnight and left a message that I was in labor and I was starting my maternity leave.

On Friday, May 2, My contractions were at three minutes. I would breathe through them and I was fine. My sister-in-law, Teresa, came over to be with me while Monte was at work. She had just had a baby in January and it was comforting to have her there. At 9:00, the contractions were about 1-2 minutes apart and lasting for about two minutes. We drove to the hospital. When we got into the room and had Barbara check me I was only 2 cm and 90%!! I couldn't believe it. I had been in labor for what seemed forever and not making much progress. I was sent home with a prescription for Seconal so I could get some rest. I took the pills around 11:30 and didn't get a lick of sleep. My contractions were one on top of the other and with three or four peaks during each contraction. By 2:30 am I couldn't take it. I told Monte to call the hospital and tell them we were coming in.

It is now 3:00 am and my exam revealed that I was 3 cm and still 90%. By this rate I wouldn't have her until next week! They dimmed the lights and Monte went to sleep. I was still having contractions, but I was able to rest better. The nurses were great. I was the only person in the labor ward all day and I was spoiled. They came in to check on me every hour during the night to see if I needed anything and if I was comfortable. I felt like a queen.

At 6:00 am Barbara came in for the long haul and check me. I was 4 cm and 95%. I got in the jacuzzi. It was the most relaxing thing I had done in days. I could have sat in the tub forever. I got out about 7:45 and was at 5 cm. We talked about options for speeding up labor. Monte and I decided to have my membranes ruptured. This intensified my contractions, but I was still dealing with them. I wanted to get back in the jacuzzi, but Barbara told me a change would be better. I got in the shower. The water was very effective in relieving pain. That is when I started getting the urge to push. When you have to push, you have to push.

I got out of the shower at 11:00 I was at 6-7 cm. The good news was that with a contraction I was 7-8 cm. I tried not to push because it would cause my cervix to swell and I would end up with a c-section. We were trying for a natural birth. I couldn't stop pushing and opted for an epidural. This was at noon. I felt in control again. I could still feel the pressure from the contractions, but the pushing urge was not there. At 3:00 I was at 9 cm +1 station, but still 95%. I had this "lip" that would not go away. I was given pitocin to help the contractions stay regular

Because I had a midwife, she had to keep in touch with an ob/gyn through out the day. He was called in for a consultation. Dr. Z. was the worst! He came in and took control. Monte and I had been in control all day, calling all the shots. It was awful. He did an exam and even with the epidural it hurt. I had had exams all day and never once did they hurt. He said I was 100% and I should start pushing. I was very happy for him to leave.

After he left I started pushing. This was around 6:00 pm. I ended having a lot of family in the room during this time. Monte, Teresa, my dad and his girlfriend, Monte's dad and his wife. It was nice to have all these people around. Neither dad had been able to see their children born, so I know it was special for them to see their granddaughter born.

I had a mirror the whole time and it was great. With every push I could see her head move further and further down. During one break during the pushing, Monte whispered in my ear "I love you. You are doing a great job." That meant so much to me. I pushed for 3 ½ hours. It seemed like only minutes to me. Monte held one leg and Teresa the other.

Her head and shoulders were born and Barbara told me to take her. At 9:37 pm I gave birth to my daughter and pulled her out the rest of the way and hugged her to my chest. She was absolutely beautiful. Her apgars were 8/9. I looked up and all of my family was smiling through tears. It was a perfect moment.

I ended up with a minor tear that required three stitches. I was up the next morning without any difficulties and felt totally recovered within the week. Breastfeeding is going great. Kayla is a happy baby who weighs just over 11 lbs just on my milk. It is a great feeling. We were also lucky with the fact that she started sleeping through the night at 3 ½ weeks.

I can't wait to have another baby and have Barbara as my midwife. I chose a midwife because of their understanding of the natural birth process, compassion, and support. I felt that I was in control of my labor and birth, which made it a perfect experience for us.