Ella Katherine is here!

Ella Katherine entered the world at 2:15 am Saturday morning! I am so relieved for all to be over and well. The story...

Saturday I went to L&D at noon to be checked because I had bloody show and had bad contractions the night before. I was 3 cm and fully effaced then, but was sent home to see what happened. My  midwife said she had a feeling I would be back, but I didn't want to get my hope's up. At 7:30pm I started to have contractions again about 4 min apart 45 seconds each. I waited until 9pm to really alert my mom and others. They were more painful than  usual and I knew it was different. At around 10pm, it was like BAM! All of the sudden, they were steady 2 min apart and sometimes topping each other. I called my midwife and she met me in the hospital 1 hour later. I waited til the last minute to call her.

I checked in at 11pm and immediately hit the jucuzzi tub. I labored for about an hour and a half there before going to the bed. I was 5 cm when I got to the hospital and by this time was 7. When I got to the bed things were intense. I did not opt for pain management and had been dealing remarkably. I spent the next hour or so in a complete trance as the last phase of labor went down. My midwife simply was there for support and the occasional peek to see how things looked. When people say they meditate to completely shut out the surroundings, that is exactly what I did until the urge to push suddenly snapped mt out of it. I simply said "feeling a lot of pressure" and she got things ready for me to push. She trusted I knew when the time was right and she was right to do so. I was all ready pushing cause I could not help it. She broke my water and it was on. I pushed for about 10 minutes and there she was. I was sooo relieved. For a second I think we panicked because her head was out and her shoulders were stuck, but my midwife was so calm and all went well. I have never experienced anything so intense and had to be so in control of a situation. I wouldn't change a thing. The experience was amazing and I am glad that I opted for no pain meds this time. I feel great today and it's so good to be home. I can't wait to see the DVD footage from the birth. My friend Daffney showed up and handled the filming until she almost fainted. LOL! She was amazed!!! I think I may have a pornographic video since I didn't care at that point what was filmed. Haha. I still don't care.

Thank you all for your support and shared exitement. I couldn't wait to share the story and pics with all of you.

Awesome! I figured since you hadn't updated us that you were busy having a baby! Congratulations...she is absolutely beautiful and you have an amazing story! It sounds like you did a fantastic job. Can't wait for more photos!

Thank you for the wonderful details of the birth of your lovely daughter. Congratulations! I'm happy all went well for both of you. Take care. i can't wait to see more pictures

Oh and I forgot to add she was 7lbs 14.9oz and 20 3/4 in.  Big baby for being so early.

Oh my goodness! Congratulations Shill! That is truly amazing and scary all at the same time. I can't believe I'm going to be going through that in a few more months. She is so pretty!

Congrats!!!  I checked in on Saturday and saw you hadn't been on, so I figured you were having a baby. 

How are you feeling?

Congrats mama!! She's precious!!! How are you feeling?

Yay!  Congrats Shill!

She is absolutely gorgeous.

How are you feeling?  How is the baby doing?  How is Big Sister adapting to the baby? 

Unmedicated birth and labor is hard but it's so WORTH IT!! :)  I would do it again!! Your the one in control!! :)  It's awesome!! Sounds like you had an uneventful birth glad everything went well with the birth.  Congrats!!


Clarice

gorgeous!  and you're so brave and strong and have an amazing birth story to tell her one day!!!!!!!!!

Congrats!  Beautiful pics.

Ahh, such an awesome story! I hope your recovery goes just as smoothly.

:)

You are SUPERWOMAN! Congrats!!!!

I love hearing labor stories! I think they are some of the most inspirational life moments we can share. It sounds like you did wonderful, and your daughter is lucky not to have had any health issues. I am excited for you. I hoe your continued journey as a mommy go as well as the labor/delivery sound. Parenting is definetly an area in life where control is needed. Good luck, and thanks for sharing your amazing story with us!

Thanks to all of you for your shared excitement. I am wonderful. I haven't felt like getting on long enough to read all the responses, let alone reply. Can't imagine why. LOL!  Ella is beautiful and sweet and smiles all the time (no, not the gas kind). Alex, my oldest, is smitten and is a great help. She is so understanding and caring. I guess I did something right.

I have been walking with her since Tuesday. I can't stay still. I am soooo not a homebody. She loves it too. I think for me it would be depressing not to get out and see people and get fresh air. I am adding more pictures today. I know we all love pictures.

PS. Anyone heard from Bier? Her C-section is scheduled today!!!!!!!

Also, how are all the other moms doing?  

Your baby is beautiful and so is your birth story. You are obviously an amazing woman. I love reading birth stories, especially natural ones because it gives me hope that I can do it too!

That's the second time someone told me I was amazing for natural birth. LOL! I'm gonna go with it. Ha!

You can so do it too. Just stay calm and chant "This too shall pass..." I kept internalizing that.