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Mariah's Birth

As I write this I am gazing at my six and a half month old daughter, Mariah as she sleeps. I was sixteen when I became pregnant with my daughter. My pregnancy was wonderful I really enjoyed being pregnant. It was so amazing to know a life was growing inside of me. I remember times when I could feel her elbows and knees sticking out, or when she would turn completly over. I will always treasure that time. I was a week over due and had actually went out of state the day before.

The next day I was having contractions since seven thirty in the morning they were about seven minutes apart. I went to the hospital at four-thirty p.m it was a thirty minute drive. There I had a bloody show and I was six centimeters dilated. I was in transition for approximatly six hours. My mom was such a big help during labor I held her hand and after each contraction she would give me an ice-chip. Labor was such a wonderful thing although painful it was a lot easier than I had expected. I had a natural childbirth. Since I stayed dilated at seven cemtimeters for a long period of time they put me on oxytocin to help the contractions be more productive though more painful.

Both of my parents were present as well as my sister and friend when I gave birth. At 9:30they wheeled me in where I was prepped. My obsterician was the doctor on duty and he delivered my daughter an nine- forty p.m.

I remember the doctor saying how much dark hair she had. I was so relieved when I heard her cry and knew she was healthy. When they told me the baby was a girl I was very happy (though it didin't matter.) My sister videotaped her when they were cleaning and weighing her. She weighed six pounds thirteen ounces and was nineteen inches long.

When they placed her in my arms I was filled with joy and so much pride. It was as if I already knew her (which I did) she was so familiar. We had done this together!

I chose to room in with her since I was going to breastfeed. That night I stayed up just holding her looking at her face and memorizing the details of her face she was so perfect. That night is when I knew her name was Mariah.

I am now seventeen and my daughter Mariah Adriana is six and a half months old. I am so thankful and blessed to have Mariah in my life. I thank God every day that he has entrusted her care with me. The time we have together goes by so fast and she is growing up so quickly. I cherish the time we have together...