Lila’s Birth Story

3/4/14 9:26pm

7 LBS 3 OZ 19 IN

Tuesday morning, March 4, Paul had just left for work around 8:00. I got up to go to the bathroom and my water broke. It wasn't a big gush like I thought it would be, so I wasn't quite sure if my water had really broken? I texted Paul and told him to come home. I called the Women’s Clinic. They told me to come in and they would check me out to see if it had really broken. They told us to bring our hospital bags just in case. Paul got home and we kind of scrambled to get everything together. We had our hospital bags packed, but needed to add a couple last minute things. I knew that if my water had really broke that this baby was coming soon. 

We got down to the Women's Clinic and they checked me and confirmed that my water had broke. Because of that, we were kind of on a time clock because the risk of infection goes up the longer your water is broken- especially after 24 hours. Alyssa, the midwife on call that delivered Lila, said they recommend starting Pitocin to get things going but she also gave us the option of waiting a couple hours to see if things would start on their own. We knew that our chances of having a natural birth (which I wanted to do, but was keeping an open mind about) would be slim if I went on Pitocin because it makes your contractions suuuuper strong. We decided to wait a couple hours and see if we could get things to start on their own.

We headed to the hospital, which was just across the street. It really just felt surreal. I had wanted Lila to be early, but I didn’t think she really would be. It was crazy to think that this baby was coming THAT day!!

We got all checked in at the hospital. They hooked me up to the monitors and made sure everything looked good with Lila and I. We started walking around to see if we could get some contractions going. We walked and walked and walked. After an hour or so of walking, they hooked me up to the monitors again for a couple minutes and I was having regular contractions every 2 minutes or so. They weren’t very strong or painful… YET! haha! So I wasn't in a lot of pain. Alyssa, the midwife, came around 11:00am and was happy that I had started to have contractions. She checked me and I was at a 3. They decided to check me again in 2 hours to see if I was progressing. We did more walking and the contractions were getting more painful. She came back around 2:00pm and I was at a 5. They decided they didn’t need to start me on Pitocin because I was progressing- so we were really happy about that!! 

Things were getting more painful so I asked for the TENS unit. I had heard mixed things about the TENS unit relieving labor pain but decided to try it out. We put the little pads on- 2 on my back and 2 on my stomach. It was really helpful! I had the electrical pulses turned all the way up as high as they could go! It really took my mind off the pain. The electrical pulses kind of just felt like pins and needles or that feeling when your foot falls asleep... so that was better than feeling the pains of labor. A little later I went in the tub. We were playing relaxing music and I would squeeze Paul’s hand really hard when the contractions came. Paul was such a good labor coach/cheerleader. He would remind me to breathe and just kept reassuring me that I could do this. I seriously couldn’t have done it without him. 

They checked me again around 5:00pm and I was at a 7. Things were getting more painful. I tried the TENS unit again while bouncing on a birthing ball. I started doing some classic “hee-hee-ho’s” and bouncing to a rhythm during the contractions. In our birthing classes I always thought it sounded really silly... At one point I got on my knees and laid my head on the hospital bed and Paul would push against my back. It was around this time that I started to think maybe I couldn’t do it. I started crying, but Paul was great and kept telling me I could do it. I think it really helped that no one offered me an epidural because I think at that point if someone offered I would have said YES!

We kept pushing through and I just kept telling myself that I’d come so far already and that I was more than half way done. As things continued to get more painful I ended up sitting up on the hospital bed. That ended up being the most comfortable position. When contractions would come I would just close my eyes and breathe really slowly and deeply through them. Alyssa came and checked me at around 8:00 and I was at a 9! So close!! She told me that just the edges of my cervix weren’t dilated, but things were close. They started getting the room ready for the delivery.

Alyssa told me to let her know when I felt the urge to start pushing. I felt a lot of pain, but not really a need to push. She suggested I get up and change position. As soon as I got up felt the urge to push and it hurt BAD. Up until that point I felt like I had the pain mostly under control. It was what I expected things to be like. But once I started pushing it was like a whole new level of pain that I wasn't prepared for. I started yelling some good one liners that Paul likes to remind me of. They are funny now, but at the time I was totally serious. I remember yelling: “I am never doing this again!” “I wish I got an epidural!” “Just get her out of me!” I'm sure there were some other great ones too...

Pushing was exhausting. I remember I kept asking if she was almost here. Paul kept telling me he could see the head and that I was close. They asked me if I wanted to feel her head or if I wanted a mirror to see her. I just kept saying"no", because I just wanted her out as fast as possible. I guess Lila’s heart rate started to increase and I heard the midwife say that they might need to do an episiotomy. When I heard that I remember thinking “No! That can’t happen!” So I just pushed as hard as I could and after a few more pushes our little Lila Jane came into the world.

They placed her on top of me and I saw my beautiful baby girl for the first time. I will never forget that moment and those first feelings of pure love.  I remember looking up at Paul next to me and he had tears in his eyes. Giving birth to Lila was definitely THE hardest thing I have ever done physically, but it was really empowering for me. She was worth the pain and it's amazing how much of it I have already forgotten. We feel so grateful that everything went well and that their weren't any complications. We love Lila so much and our so happy she is in our family.

Doing laps around the hospital trying to get things going. I'm still smiling haha!
So I wasn't having serious contractions yet. 

This is when the contractions were getting painful. You can't really see it, but I have the
TENS unit in my hand to help with the contractions. 

The contractions

This is my most favorite picture ever. Paul holding Lila for the first time. Pure joy!

Our first family picture.

Lila just a couple hours old. All bundled up and sleeping soundly.

Me with my sweet girl.

Hanging out with Dad in the hospital.