Hurry down: The birth of Brooklin

In April I had found out I was expecting a little baby! I got so excited, but I did not know what I was in for. During my (long) pregnancy, I was in and out of the hospital and so scared every single time I was there. Toward the end, they told me that my little girl was swimming in too much water, which meant I had too much amniotic fluid. That scared me to death. All of a sudden I had to go in for stress tests every few days up until the time I delivered.

Before they could plan my induction date on December 20 (my due date), I started having really bad back pain. Every step I took, every breath, every little movement made me cringe. So I figured it was time to call triage to see if I should come in! They said I was definitely in labor, but because I was planning on having a natural birth they told me to labor as long as I could at home. (This was at about 5 p.m.) By about 9 p.m. I couldn’t sit still anymore! So me, my mom, and my daughter’s dad headed for the hospital.

I got there, and they checked me. I was only 3 centimeters. Around 3:30 a.m., they sent me home saying that I was not in labor and wasn’t going to have a baby anytime soon.

I went home, upset and just thinking that I was going to be pregnant forever. (At this time I was technically a day late.) I could not sleep at all, so at about 4:30 a.m. I hopped in the bath. I fell asleep there because it was so relaxing. All of a sudden I woke up hurting so bad and having a pushing feeling. I hopped out of the bath, put shorts and a tank top on and sat on the toilet thinking I had to go No. 2. (I know, funny right? But I didn’t know what it was supposed to feel like.)

I pushed a few times and felt something coming out. But nothing was coming out! I thought, hmm that’s odd. So I felt down there, and I felt my amniotic sack! I ran into my mom’s room and yelled, “I need to go to the hospital now! I’m crowning!” We all rushed out to the car. I didn’t even have shoes on. I called triage and told them to be downstairs waiting for me because my baby was almost out already. I got to the hospital five minutes later (thank god for living so close!), and my doctor and four nurses were waiting for me.

They took me up to the delivery room, and I got on the bed and was checked. I was given the OK to start pushing. So there I was lying on the hospital bed, pushing as hard as I could. My mom held my hand as she’s watched her first grandchild be born.

On the third push I felt her head come out, and she was in the world! Welcome baby Brooklin, my 7 pound, 12 ounce beautiful blue-eyed baby girl! I was so proud of myself. I stuck it out with the no pain medication, and it was the most beautiful experience of my life! If I could do it over every day, I would.