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Birth Story:

So I pretty much knew by 10pm on Friday night that it was going to be "the" night, but I just tried to go to bed as usual. I was having contractions, but they weren't regular yet - they just felt different. More painful for one thing. Since the Dr stretched me at my appt that morning, I had been losing the rest of my mucus plug all during the evening. I got up about 11 and came in the living room and messed around on the computer for about an hour and then I decided that I needed to sleep a couple of hours (I hadn't slept hardly at all in days). I laid down and tried to sleep, but all I could do is start timing my contractions. They were 5-7 mins apart. I fell asleep for about 15 mins and a particularly painful one made me sit straight up in bed and that woke up my husband. He wanted to get up, but I told him I was going to take a shower and see if they went away. He heard me moaning in the shower and when I got out he was fully dressed and had woken up the kids. He took them to their grandparets house and when he got back we went to the hospital.

The contractions were coming about every 2-3 mins by the time we got there - it was about 2am. I was in triage for about an hour (b/c I was still only dilated 3cm when we got there) and I was hooked up to the moniters monitering the baby's heart rate. The nurse called the on call Dr (as my Dr was out of town for the weekend) and advised him I was in a lot of pain w/ each contraction - I couldn't talk through them, I had to focus on my breathing and hold my husband's hand. FINALLY they admitted me and got me in a room about 3am. I got an epidural put in and then I was 4cm. At first it was only working on the right side, they kept asking that I turn from side to side so that it worked on both sides. I tried to rest, but I couldn't sleep at all. The nurse shift changed and my next nurse was really on top of everything. I liked how she kept us very informed and constantly had some advice about what to expect and how to keep me comfortable. My Dr came by to check on my progress and he broke my water. I went from 5-7cm really fast, in about an hour... then I stayed at 7cm for awhile, for about 2 hours. My nurse kept saying I needed to take cat naps and try to get some rest since I had been awake for about 24 hours at this point. But who can sleep in a hospital!?!? Either a nurse was coming in to check things out, or the effing moniter for my blood pressure would go off every 2 mins. I was so frustrated!! Anyway, they gave me a small amount of Pitocin to get me over the "hump" of 7cm. Then I stayed at 9cm for almost 2 hours. My contractions had changed from dilating me to moving the baby down the birth canal. Every time they checked me I was still at 9cm, but she was getting really low. Her heart rate was also dropping when I was having contractions so the nurse called the dr (who, by the way, I had seen during my first pregnancy, he was in practice w/ the ob I saw w/ my son. It worked out very well, b/c my husband really liked him too). He came in and said he was probably going to hurt me - he needed to check me during my contractions b/c we needed to get her out. While I was having contractions he would reach in and stretch me out to a 10 and I would push. All of a sudden they were breaking down the bed and the Dr was putting on his sterile robes, or whatever. We did the contraction/pushing combo 2-3 times, then it was time - she was about an inch from crowning. I had been up for about 30 hours at this point and I was so exhausted. My husband was being so great, holding my leg and letting me push against him (he said later that he couldn't believe how strong I am, lol. He was having to brace as I was pushing against him). The dr said about 3 more pushes and she'd be out (he said I'd given birth to an inch of hair so far. LOL). She crowned w/ the next push - but she wasn't coming any further, he couldn't stretch me anymore, so he asked me if he could cut me. At this point I did not care, I just wanted her out. I didn't think I could keep going much longer, I was so tired. They kept telling me I would want to stop pushing, but I needed to push through the pain and get her out... at one point I just looked up at my husband and shook my head "no", I was just so tired. My husband held my hand and told me how strong I was and that we were almost there, so I nodded and started pushing again. The Dr kept saying her head was such a tight fit and that it was unusual since she is my 2nd baby. He cut me a little (2nd degree - way better that w/ my son - they let me tear & it was 4th degree) and her head was born. They asked if I wanted a mirror to see her head - heck no!! I just want her out, I'll look at her as soon as I get her out of my body!!! It was so hard to not push like crazy and get her out, but you have to slow down to get the shoulders out. 2 more and she was out and they laid her on my belly. I had started pushing about 11:30am and she was born at 11:47am. McKenna Daveigh weighed 6lbs 7oz and is 20 inches long. She is perfect and gorgeous!!!!!!!! I cried and cried when I finally had her in my arms - Daddy cried too. It was amazing and we are so in love w/ her!

This is my 2nd pregnancy. I have a beautiful son, so I wouldn't mind a beautiful daughter this time! My husband and I have a pretty full house b/c he has 3 children from his first marriage (1 girl and 2 boys), but we don't have them full time so I get a rest. :) We are thrilled about this baby and can't wait!!

October 17th

Ok, mommies... tomorrow is the big day. I'm on the hourly count down!! lol. I can't wait! All I wanna do is go buy one outfit that is either pink or blue! My friends at work have a pool going and right now we are tied w/ 4 boys and 4 girls. :) I think I might have gained 1 pound. Yay! But I have really grown in the past 3-4 weeks. I'll be 20 weeks on Friday ~ can't believe I am halfway through! This time around everything is going much faster! I feel the baby move every day and today she/he has just been doing flips in there! :)

Oct 19th

We are having a gorgeous, perfect little girl!!! The ultrasound was amazing! She moved so much and she is developing perfectly. We got to see all her little organs, everything is there. She is measuring at the right size (3 days behind gestational age, but tech said that's fine). We saw that she is a girl and then she moved her legs, so the 1st picture didn't come out. So... the tech tried again and the little modest lady kept moving her foot in front of her. Lol. But we finally got the shot that shows everything and we are sure! I was so happy I cried! (every dream I've had in this pregnancy it was girl. My husband also wanted a girl, but he was sure we were having a boy. He shed a tear too!) They weighed me and I've finally gained almost 3 lbs, so that is very good too!! Her heartbeat was 160 bpm. We have another appt in 2 weeks! :)

Nov 2nd

I had some bleeding on Tues. It's the first time since I was about 9 weeks. This time it wasn't spotting though, it was bright red and had clots in it. I called my Dr and even though I had an appt the next day he asked me to come in right away. He checked me and everything looks good. My cervix is closed and firm. He scheduled me for an u/s the next morning to make sure that the placenta wasn't trying to separate. Our little McKenna is perfect and there are no signs of anything wrong. Guess my husband and I just got a little too rough in the bedroom. lol. Dr said to take it easy and if I bleed again he'd tell us no sex at all until after delivery.... so I'm thankful that there hasn't been anymore and I'm praying it stays that way! :) The tech also double checked and now 2 u/s have confirmed we are having a precious little girl! SO EXCITED!! So, 22 weeks now and have gained 4 lbs. 18 to go.... :)

Nov 20th

Oh, I am so excited it's the holidays and I actually am going to get some time off work to rest!!! (well, as much as you can rest w/ 4 children and going to Arkansas for Christmas!). Last night I rolled over on my husband and propped my belly up on his back and after a few minutes he started laughing. It woke me up and I asked what was so funny at 3 o'clock in the morning and he said "McKenna keeps kicking me in the back!". He loved it. I'm still getting those comments "you can't possibly be 6 months, you look like you are about 2 months along". They are driving me crazy!!! But I guess from here I will only get bigger and maybe that will shut people up. Lol. Can't wait to go to the dr next week and hopefully hear her little heartbeating, I wish I could have another u/s! But I've been lucky to have 3. Still only have gained 4 lbs though

Jan 2nd

So I'm up to 16 lbs total gained. I had my appt today and I have one scheduled for every Monday through Feb 25th. I get to have an u/s at every one! I'm very excited about that. My dr said that he just wanted to keep an eye on her size since I have gestational diabetes. But he said my measurements and weight are right on target. I don't think she'll be very big, but you never can tell. Also, we talked about inducing since my husband works out of town every other week. If I haven't gone into labor by March 4th we are going to induce that night when he gets home from work. I can't believe that I have 8 more appts and then she'll be here for sure!!! She loves to bunch up on one side of my belly, it looks hilarious when I'm all lopsided. :) My kiddos are getting really excited to since my belly has gotten bigger.

Jan 18th

Only 6 more weeks... I can't believe that's the absolute longest it will be before our little girl is here. Sometimes it feels like it's forever and sometimes I'm in a panic b/c it's right around the corner!! We finally bought the stroller/carseat last weekend and my baby shower is Sunday!!!! I'm very excited about that. I'm having u/s and non-stress tests twice a week now. It's awesome to see our little girl every week and to know that she's doing so well. I'm just about miserable now though.... I don't understand how 18 lbs can make such a huge difference!! I can't sleep, I can't breathe, and b/c of the gd I'm thirsty every second. :) I keep thinking she'll come early, but I'm scared of that b/c of my husband's schedule - what are the chances she'll come on the week that he is home? (he's week on, week off). I'm having contractions every day, they'll be about 20 mins apart for 3-4 hours then they go away.

Feb 22nd

Only 2 more days until I get induced!!!!!!! We are so ready for this baby to get here! lol. Went in for my regular ob visit on Mon and they checked me, I was 1-2 cm dilated, but still thick. Dr said I wouldn't go this week. My husband came home Tues and we have been walking a ton and having lots of sex. :) I went in for an u/s and nst on Thurs - they est the baby weighs 6lbs 6oz. During the nst her heart rate dropped while I was having a contraction, so the nurse came in and said they were going to check me again. She also said that the baby probably just rolled on her cord, but they still wanted to move my induction up a week from March 4th to Feb 26th. She checked me and I was 2-3cm. They also wanted me to come in again this morning for another nst just to make sure her heart rate isn't dropping during more contractions. So we went again this morning and everything looks good. Dr checked me again and I'm 3cm and 70% effaced. He also stretched me. Fun... ok, not so much. lol, but it wasn't bad. Since he checked me I'm spotting and lost the rest of the mucus plug. Also, they moved my induction again to Mon, Feb 25th at 6:30am. He said he'll break my water about 8am and we should have a baby by the afternoon as I'll probably be 4cm when we get to the hospital. YAY!!!!!!! We are about to have a baby!!!! I am sooooooooooooooooooooooo excited! :)