Hello baby! – A birth story

Today we celebrate one of the most special days in my life: The day I became the mommy to a beautiful little girl! It’s been a trip, you guys. I read a beautiful saying the other day: “When a baby is born, a mother is born.”
And that’s exactly how I feel! I mean, even though I had been a mom for a good 12 years when I found out I was pregnant with Kari… it just felt different somehow. Plus now I have someone else’s hair to brush in the morning. Hey, I’m not complaining, it’s a perk! Anyways, I can go on and on and on but let me pull myself towards myself and start at the beginning!

D Day – 29 November 2014
Exactly a year ago today, we woke up really early (5:30 yo!) because my gynae had advised me to  get my pregnant butt to the labor room since I had been ‘in labor’ for a couple of hours by then. Keeping in mind I was still in no real pain or anything. But you can read all about that in this post.

Hubstopher and I woke up super early, got ready and took a slow drive to the hospital… watching as the city woke up around us. We were so excited, but in such a calm way! It was a serene drive and we barely spoke, as we listened to some music on the car radio. I cant even remember which songs we were listening to, but I do remember being extremely emotional… I mean, could I have been more dramatic than this? No, no I could not. But it was so fitting… I was about to give birth to one of the most dramatic little girls that I know!

We walked into the labor room at about 6:20am, to be greeted by extremely friendly and chipper nurses who advised us that all the labor rooms are full. But seeing my totally calm disposition, they asked us to have a seat at the nurses station in the meantime, while they prepare a room for me. We spent the next while chatting to the nurses and generally have a good ol time socializing and was eventually placed in a room where I watched Generations (for the first time in my life) and took a nap.

When I woke up, I decided to give the big bouncy birthing ball a spin. Hubstopher enjoyed my antics and took video clips and photos. I was like, I’m going to bounce on this thing until my baby comes out because I cant wait anymore! Also, I was not about to be in labour for copious amounts of hours! Nope, we will bounce until this princess makes an appearance! At about 9am a nice nurse came and did the dreaded finger test on me. (Hated those.) She advised that she would need to help my water to break a bit more.

At 11am we were moved to the labour room (which is not the same as the delivery room, where the actual birth takes place) and Hubstopher turned the lights low and played some soothing worship music. He kept doing little happy dances… guys, it honestly felt like it was Christmas!

Here comes the pain
I took a walk up and down the hospital stairs, to get some baby moving action going. And by that time I started feeling intense contractions mixed with…oh what is that I feel down below… PAIN!

It hurt real bad (like the Danny K song) but it was manageable. I had long before decided that I would not lay on my back, like in the medieval times, and allow my contractions to get the better of me. No ways Margaret! I handled my contractions by standing next to my hospital bed, with my arms and head resting on the bed. So my belly was “hanging”, basically. With each contraction I breathed in and out deeply. I believe this really helped since the gravity of standing helped my baby to get into position quicker and there was less pressure on my back (which normally happens when you are laying down). All of this was coupled with clever quips from the husband and even more quirkier comebacks from me. I remember laughing a lot and giving him running commentary of each feeling that I was experiencing.

But look, I am no super woman! Eventually, I had to get my sexy laboring butt onto that hospital bed! Hubstopher tried to sweet talk me and gave me little rubs and kisses and kind words but I reached a point where I was like, “babe, Im sorry to be rude, but can you not touch me anymore please?!” Hahahaha Hey, atleast I was polite!

By 1pm, I was like, “nurse, something is happening! I think I need to push!” I don’t think they were quite ready for that because she had to quickly go and call the doctor. When he got there, it was like… 1 push…2 push… 3 push… Baby! Ta daaahhhh!

Hello baby!
I remember looking at her and thinking… omw, I just gave birth and now I have a baby! I also remember thinking, “Praise the LORD, that is over! Woohoo! No more being in labor!” I couldn’t stop staring at her as she wailed those first few cries, and I said “hello! hello baby!” Hubstopher was quite emotional, and when he held her for the first time he immediately spoke a blessing over her. We laughed, we cried, we were swooning! “Look at her hair!” and  “Listen to her cry!” and “Who does she look like?” Besotted.

The nurse placed her against my skin and she immediately began looking for boob. Eventually, I got up to have a shower and change, as my mom dressed our curly girly in clothing for the very first time. She looked like a china doll!

Being Karis’ mom has been the craziest ride of my life! A crazy, fantastic, giddy ride of pure joy! This girl is as sassy as they come and I love watching her personality develop and am so excited about her future! Happy Birthday my curly girly!

Clip note: Interested to hear more about my preggy journey, with Kari? Travel down memory lane with me, as I reminisce about when I found out I was pregnant, my pregnancy, my ultrasound drama, all the baby showers and all the other little things in between.