Birth Story # 1

When I was pregnant with my first born, I was a single Mama. The birth Father had disappeared when I was 2 months pregnant, that is a long story that I will save for another day ;-) But I thought I would let you know that in case you were wondering where the father was in the birth story.

When I was 36 weeks pregnant, I was waitressing 70 hours a week!!! Alot, I know, but I was more then determined to stay home with my precious baby for her first 6 months, so I made as much money as I could while I was pregnant. However, in doing so I went into labor 4 weeks early.

On the morning of July 30th, 1999 I awoke with ,what I though where, strong braxton hicks as I had always had them very strong and frequently. I also did not think I was in labor because it was a month too soon. I was waitressing the lunch hour and the contractions where getting stronger and stronger, not very painful but I was having to stop and breath through them. Every time I would go to the kitchen to get the food, I would stop and breath. The guys working in the kitchen kept telling me that I was crazy and that I should go home, but I was determined to finish up the lunch hour, LOL. After the lunch hour was over I decided I should head for home.

I was very unprepared; I had none of my birth supplies and my apartment was a mess. My Step-sister came and picked me up from work, we went to the pharmacy to get the birth supplies. At this time I remember that the contractions were getting painful, as I did not want to go inside the store.

When I did get home I think I just ran into the bedroom and lay on my bed. My step-sister called my Mom and told her she better start heading down (she is about a 3hour drive away) and she also straightened up my house. At his point the contractions were getting very painful, but I was breathing through them OK (I think it was around 4:00pm). My Mom arrived around 7:00pm, by this time I was not handling the pain very well, I was having horrible sciatic nerve pain , which was more painful than the contractions. During the rest of my labor I remember vomiting several times, also , my mom kept trying to get me to squat and I just wanted to lay down. Towards the end I also remember crying and saying that I just wanted to sleep, LOL. At around 2:00 am I started feeling the urge to push, my mom checked me and I still had a cervical lip. I was very disappointed. Not to much longer after that, I was able to push, I squatted and pushed a couple times and out she came. My mom also told me her cord was around her neck, but she just slipped it off with her fingers.

My first little girl was born July 31st, 1999. She weighed 5lbs 4oz and was 18 inches long. Tiny but very healthy :-) It hardly seems like it was almost 8 long years ago, how time does fly!!!

Oh yeah, I WAS able to stay home with my baby for her first 7 months. After that my sister watched her so that was a blessing.

And this is my precious daughter all grown up at her dance recital this year :-)