A letter written to her precious baby girl…
February 4, 2012 your estimated due date according to Mommy’s last menstrual and date of conception. Doctors inferred you were due February 7, 2012, they were wrong, not saying any due date is accurate but ours was hours off rather then days.
On February 3, 2012 Mommy woke up like any other work day, got ready and went to work. Mommy and Daddy planned for Mommy to work half a day (7am-11am) as Mommy’s contractions were fifteen minutes apart throughout the night. At 10:45am Mommy text Daddy to let him know Mommy was ready to come home for the day. As Daddy arrived to pick up Mommy, Daddy could tell by the look on Mommy’s face, the way she was walking, her voice and the period between contractions that Daddy needed to take Mommy to the hospital. Mommy being so anxious to meet you could not believe the time had finally come. Mommy called Grandma to notify her that labor was beginning. After months and months of worrying that Mommy would not be able to identify a contraction because of having a high pain tolerance Mommy knew for the first time what a contraction felt like as it literally stopped Mommy’s every movement. Mommy insisted on going home to get the rest of her things to prepare for you…you being our precious little girl.
Mommy and Daddy arrived at Bartlett Beginnings at 11:15am, already preregistered. Staff checked us in and checked how far along Mommy was and Mommy was dilated at 3 cm 0 % effaced at 11:40am. While Mommy lay in bed the door opened and in walked Grandma and Grandpa. Mommy, going through a contraction could only say, “what the heck you doing here already?” as Mommy thought Grandma was still in Hoonah and Grandpa in Craig. Mommy continued to have contractions, enduring each and everyone without any pain medication or epidural. Instead making use of a tub full of hot water. As Mommy climbed out of the tub and back to the bed the contractions came closer together. An hour and twenty minutes passed and again the doctor checked Mommy. Mommy was dilated at 6cm, 50% effaced. Forty-five minutes later Daddy was out the door to get the nurse as Mommy’s contractions where on top of each other, getting stronger and longer. The staff did not want to believe Daddy when he tried to tell them Mommy was ready to have you. They said Mommy is a first time Mom and it takes hours for first time mothers to dilate and be ready for delivery.
Finally Daddy got the nurse to come check on Mommy and found that Mommy was 9+ cm dilated and 100% effaced at 3:06pm. The pushing began. The doctor entered the room only to begin to tell Mommy not to push, the nurse had to remind the doctor that it was verbally stated in Mommy’s birthing plan that no one can tell Mommy not to push. So the doctor quickly dressed into sterilized clothing. Mommy could not, not push and told the doctor “I’m going to push and even if I tried to not push there is no way I could not push.” Contractions were strong and Mommy took each one without screaming and with the coaching of Daddy and Grandma. Daddy stood on one side of the bed and grandma on the other. Grandma providing cool wash cloths, massages, love and support while Daddy talked to Mommy and provided encouragement, love and more support while being an excellent coach. Mommy remembers looking at Daddy as contractions where at their strongest and saying “…and it only gets worse?” Daddy then said “no babe you are almost done.” Mommy was amazed! Yes it was painful but Mommy thought it was going to be much much worse. Delivery had began and after the third push, your head was touchable by hand but not yet out, the doctor then had to perform an episiotomy, on the forth push Mommy heard the doctor say your heart rate was going down and that Mommy needed to push and get you out. When Mommy heard that bit of information Mommy pushed with everything she had and with force and speed out came you, you where here, you arrived at 3:20pm. Daddy said Mommy pushed so hard she turned purple and the nurse was trying to get Daddy to give Mommy oxygen but Mommy denied the oxygen. With that final push Mommy remembers seeing you fly out, yes fly out, doctor barely catching you with one hand, the other pushed against her chest and all the fluid spraying her. Then there it was your first breath, your first cry out. Daddy proudly cut the umbilical cord. Three hours and forty-five minutes of labor and Fourteen minutes of active labor you where here!!
"Mommy and Daddy fell instantly in love with you and were and are the proudest parents ever."
You were placed on Mommy’s chest then taken to the side to get cleaned up as the doctor began the long procedure of stitching Mommy while Daddy gazed upon the most beautiful baby girl getting looked over, weighed and measured. You were a healthy baby girl weighing 8 lbs 1 ounce and measuring 21 inches long with a head full of dark blonde hair and grey/blue/greenish eyes. The doctor was surprised by your size as she estimated 6 lbs some odd ounces before active labor began. Apparently Mommy held/carried you well. Exercise and staying active during pregnancy paid off.
Mommy and Daddy fell instantly in love with you and were and are the proudest parents ever.
