Keila Jo - My Natural Child Birth Story

So I have some time...trying to spread it out when it comes to computer stuff. I will tell you about Keila! I was contracting on Sunday the 28th about 8 minutes apart for most of the day, but not all of them were horrible...so Jared was on a serious stand-by. At 3:30 am Monday morning, I woke up with hard contractions that wouldn't let me sleep. So after an hour I thought I would start to time them. At 5:00am I decided to time them but also write down everything...how long they lasted and how far apart they were. At 5:30 I told Jared that he needed to come down and that we needed to go to the hospital because they were mostly 3 minutes apart and lasting at least a minute. I also told Caylan my doula friend who was going to help during labor and delivery...it was definitely the real thing this time!

So we all got to the hospital around 8:00am (my dad drove me to the hospital so Jared could just meet me at the hospital). They put me in a triage room to check my contractions and see if I was dilating...I was...3cm! So they went ahead and admitted me and sent me over to a labor and delivery room. I talked with Caylan and we decided to go ahead and try different things to help labor and dilating along. The nurse came back a couple hours later and I was dilated to 4 cm! It was nice to hear that I was progressing! I did have a few visitors...my mom stayed in my room and visited until my water broke and Jared's parent came and went a few times until we didn't allow visitors. Jared and I went for some walks around the floor and I went in the jacuzzi tub once and sat on the birthing ball...all to help dilate more. It was working, and I was dilating a cm every couple of hours...the nurse came about avery 2 hours to check progression. So when I hit 6 cm, I had bulging waters and so we decided that I should try a different position to help my water break...it worked not long after she checked me! She came in to check the baby's heart rate really fast and my water broke when she was doing it. It felt really weird!!! So that is when we kicked my mom out of the room and put a 'no visitors' sign on the door. I felt bad when I heard that more people were outside in the waiting area. A few people poked their heads in to say hello, but it seemed like everytime someone did that I was having a contraction and couldn't say hello.

I have to say I think contractions got worse after my water broke, but my dilation slowed a but. After a little while they checked me and I was around 7-8 cm, but I stayed at 7-8 for probably 4 hours. It was getting really frustrating and hard. I was tired and in a lot of pain. I decided to get back into the jacuzzi tub, even though the first time I was in there didn't seem that relaxing. It helped to slow down the contractions a little bit and I actually was dozing off in between contractions...waking up with every one though. I was told to go in for only 15 minutes or so, but I was probably in there for longer because it was as relaxing as it could get at the time. I was also feeling a bit more pressure, so I though I was probably progressing. By the time I got out of the tub, it was time to be checked again, but alas, I was stil 7-8cm. The nurse asked if I wanted any pain meds or an epidural, but I said no. So I stood up and decided to stand and squat and do those things during contractions. So while the nurse was doing paperwork, I was contracting while standing and Jared was holding me...I felt a LOT more pressure and a good urge to push a little. So I got back on the bed to be checked again and the nurse said I had just a little bit left to go (I think she said just a lip of my cervix was left). I was so happy that things decided to kick into gear so I could be done!

At this point, contractions were painful and I had a lot of pressure and I was tired! I knew the Doctor was at the other hospital, but I didn't care and would continue to try and get her to come out in whatever way was necessary. I could hear nurses talking to each other, trying to figure out who would be able to make it to the hospital to deliver. The on-call Dr was at the other hospital delivering a baby there at that time, so I think they called the Dr who was on call earlier in the day, but she was too far away. So as I am getting into positions to push and getting myself ready, a Dr finally comes in the room. Someone who happened to be at the hospital but wasn't on call...not sure how it worked exactly. I just know she was there! Caylan and Jared were being very supportive and I remember Caylan reminding me of how to position my body. It didn't feel like it was that long, but Jared thought I pushed for about 30 minutes. It is weird to think back and remember what everything felt like in the last bits of labor. When it was time to push, the contractions didn't hurt but just gave the urge to push. Now, getting her out hurt! I remember thinking, and sometimes still thinking, why do people do this more than once!?? Haha, but thinking back on it right now, the pain isn't horrible, it doesn't last long, and the recovery isn't bad either. I did tear a little bit, so I have stitches, but I didn't feel it happen and it wont take long to recover.

I have a beautiful daughter to show for it. I am tired from not getting long bouts of sleep, but doing great with her in my arms!

Oh, I weighed myself today. I am within 5lbs of pre-pregnancy weight, so it shouldn't be too hard to get back to looking like I did pre-pregnancy! Yeah for that! Oh, and if you are wondering how to pronounce her name...pronounce the 'I'...so broken down K-eye-la. We probably gave her more hassles with the way we spelt it, but it looks cuter than other ways :)

Me at 3cm...still able to smile for the camera :)


Me very very close to the end...


Jared helping me squat through a contraction


She's out!!




Next day at the hospital




At home










First bath at home