Lila's Birth Story

Wednesday, January 27th 2016 -- Our last day of being a family of two.

We were told that the labor and delivery center could possibly call us as early as midnight to get checked in (you have to be exactly 1 week overdue before they will consider inducing you), so we wanted to be prepared for anything. We spent the day doing last minute preparations and soaking up the last few moments we would have as being a family of two. It was such an interesting realization! Drew and I would talk about how our lives were about to change forever.  We would hug and get teary... they were truly special moments and definitely memories I'll never forget.

I had been having consistent false labor contractions (or braxton hicks) about every five minutes apart for the past four days so I figured something was going on in my body! They didn't hurt at all. My belly would simply just harden for a little bit and then go back to normal. By the end of the night I started to get a bit nervous. I even lost my appetite but knew I had to eat something good because I most likely wouldn't be able to eat anything while in labor. Drew suggested In & Out but I didn't want it so we got him a burger and I ate a bowl of oatmeal because that is always easy on my tummy. I had been pretty tired all day and so I quickly fell asleep watching Harry Potter up in our bedroom but only slept for an hour. I woke back up and was starving! So I made myself two toasts and had some pieces of ham for a snack, haha..

My parents arrived at our house just around midnight. Can you imagine the nerves?! Now it was a waiting game... when would the hospital call us to get checked in? I was happy to finally have my parents there and luckily I was able to fall asleep for a while before the hospital called.

Thursday, January 28th 2016 -- The day that changed our lives forever.

My phone rang at 5:45 AM. "Can you be to the hospital at 6:30 AM?" You can imagine my heart racing! We jumped out of bed, brushed our teeth, grabbed our bags, and said goodbye to my parents. We told them to take their time and that we would just keep in touch with them as things go. As we drove across town I scarfed down some yogurt and a cutie but that is all I could stomach so I just had to hope that would do! (Lately I had been getting sick often if I didn't eat or if I ate too much sugar at a time without a good protein so I was a little nervous to go into labor without much in my system.)

We got checked in and settled down in the room I would be delivering in. (At this point I was dilated to a three.) I met my nurse and she just happened to have a student nurse following her around that day. If you know me, my reaction to anything hospital/doctor related is to be sarcastic and humorous... and blunt too I guess because I straight up told the nurse that I actually did NOT want to have a student nurse around, but she was cute and nice and so I told her she could stay. Ha! Well the student nurse attempted to get my IV in and failed twice. So finally like an hour later the regular nurse poked my wrist and got my IV set. However, it was right on my wrist where you rotate/the mobility. So it was pretty uncomfortable and I actually hated it the entire time because of where it was located.. it could have possibly been one of the most uncomfortable things of the entire experience that day! Ha!

Well they put belts and monitors around my tummy and sure enough the contractions were consistent and showed up every two minutes. But like I said earlier, they did not hurt. My belly would just get hard. They put me on a low dose of pitocin and around 9 AM the doctor came in to break my water. I was so surprised! I was like, "Wait, what!? Already!?" So I was only dilated to a three and the doctor broke my water. It didn't hurt one bit! I laughed and laughed because it felt so uncomfortable-- like I was peeing without being able to control it haha.. Anyways, the doc told me I could get the epidural whenever I felt like it so the nurses asked me when I would want it depending on the pain scale 1-10. I didn't know what to expect so I told them a 6. How was I suppose to know!?

Apparently breaking my water really got things going though because soon the contractions started to get really intense. By this time it was about 10 AM and my parents finally got to the hospital. I had been trying to breathe through the contractions and I had done really well but they were getting so intense that my body was shaking uncontrollably. They were tolerable, but I definitely had to pause and breathe through them and then I had around two minutes to try to rest until the next one came. I decided it was time to get the epidural.

I'll be honest, I was SUPER nervous for the epidural but it turned out to be okay. Still probably one of my least favorite parts but it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Soon my right leg began to feel really heavy and numb except my left leg still had feeling and movement. That made me nervous too because I did not want to have to get my epidural replaced. The nurses told me to wait for a bit to see if it would eventually kick in, and it did! Thank goodness. But I did end up having a small "hot spot" which was a small area that I could still feel the contractions. The nurses were concerned so my options were to be given something a bit stronger which could possibly make pushing more difficult, or they could replace the epidural. I opted for the stronger stuff and it did the trick!! Although my legs both felt like hot dogs, I still managed to have a bit of motion in them and I think it helped with the process a little later.

After the epidural, my dad and Drew were able to give me a blessing. It was such a special moment. I felt strengthened and comforted. My nerves had calmed down and I felt good. I am grateful for the priesthood and the blessings that can come through faith.

By noon I was dilated to a 9.5! I couldn't believe how fast things were progressing! Also by this time I was so relaxed I felt amazing. I just laid on the bed hooked up to all the monitors happy as could be as our friends and family arrived to visit and wish us luck. At one point I think there was about 15-20 people crammed in our delivery room just visiting and hanging out! Ha ha it was fun to have everyone there but I felt bad because I ended up getting sick and asked everyone to leave. This was the second time I got sick-- I felt nauseous and weak like I had low blood sugar. Sure enough that was the case because I felt better after we begged them to let me eat a string cheese, ha! Next time I will make sure that I eat lots of good protein before going into labor!

I progressed to a ten really quickly and then around 2:30 to 3 PM we decided to do some practice pushes. By 3:45 PM they decided it was go time and we started pushing for REAL! I had my mom hold one leg while a nurse held the other. I had Lindsey (my best friend and photographer) snap photos, Linda stayed behind my head, and Drew held my hand. I pushed three to four times during every contraction. When we first began, Drew started counting out loud with the nurse and it made me laugh so I told him he couldn't do that, haha.. Then the next time he said, "Okay Kate let's do this!" and took a deep breath and held it while I pushed. That made me laugh too so I told him he couldn't do that either haha it was so cute of him but I just could not focus when I laughed! He continued to root for me and cheer me on and he would say, "You're doing SO good Kate! You're pushing so well!" And I remember asking him, "how do you know!?" hahaha but it was much appreciated. I felt so empowered. I felt so much strength and confidence throughout the entire experience. I only pushed for about 20 minutes all together. The nurses finally called the doctor in. I pushed just a couple more times and then she was out!!! I remember feeling her slip right out and thinking I just lost 100 lbs haha. I lost it though right at that last push because I knew she was coming out and I started to bawl happy happy tears. Her little cry was so hoarse but strong! They laid her on my tummy and I remember thinking/saying, "she's so heavy!!!" I knew she would be big, but I didn't know she would be that big!

Through my tears I looked up at Drew and just smiled and kissed him! We were both crying and laughing and in complete awe of the entire situation. Drew got to cut the cord and then I was able to do skin to skin with her. I could not believe I was holding my daughter on my chest. She was here! She was perfect. She was healthy and strong. And she was so beautiful.

I can't remember very much after that because it was so magical. I told my mom right after she was delivered that it was way easier than I thought it would be! I was definitely blessed.

Before I knew it Drew and I were alone in the room with our baby on my chest/in my arms. There were no doctors or nurses in the room. It was literally just us three for a little while and during that time we sat there and cried together. She was so beautiful. That moment was a very spiritual one for us and we were overwhelmed with love and glorious happiness. No such joy can be compared! I thanked her for choosing us to be her parents and we just laughed and cried together some more in pure complete joy.

I could not believe this 8lb 13oz baby, 21 1/4 inch long baby now in my arms had been inside of me for the past 9 months. Just the night before I was bearing her big kicks and stretches and now she was in my arms!

Her eyes are so beautiful and big, she has a perfect nose, and perfect little ears. Her fingers and toes are long and lean and her legs when she stretches out are long and lean as well. She is literally perfect in every single way! She even has some hair! Which I didn't think she would have. AND it's light brown! She is so pretty we are sooooo in love with her.

I had enough strength in my legs that I was eventually able to move myself onto the new bed in which they rolled me upstairs to the rest and recovery floor. That is where the rest of the family was able to come visit us and meet baby Lila for the first time.

Grandma Linda, Grandpa Bill, Aunt Katie, Uncle Mark, Grandma Polly, Grandpa Dirk, Aunt Kambry, Aunt Kinsley, Uncle Konner, and our friends Dallas, Parker & Lindsey, Laura & Mike, and Aunt Christy and Uncle Brett all came to visit us that night. We had Lindsey snap pictures while Parker videoed everyone meeting our precious bundle straight from heaven. I was glad we got to capture those moments!

Drew and I ordered steak dinners from the cafeteria that evening and ate it while everyone came to visit us haha... I was STARVING! So it was good :)

I was so happy, I was on cloud 9. Visiting hours were only until 8 but even after everyone left our night never seemed to end because we had nurses coming in every couple hours. They call that floor rest and recovery but we did not get any rest at all haha..

And that concludes Lila's Birth Day. It was a glorious day and it could not have been any more perfect.

We are so in love!

Love,

Kate