Carina’s Birth Story

Carina’s Birth Story

I’m excited to finally be sharing Carina’s birth story with you all! This is the story of my 3rd birth and 1st time being induced…

Here I am 40 weeks pregnant (exactly!) and ready to hop in the car to have my baby!

My due date was March 3rd. My boys were born two days early and one day early so I figured I wouldn’t go into labor early this time around.  February, despite being only 28 days long, felt like the longest month of my life. I felt so big, even though I gained the least amount of weight this pregnancy and her head was so low. Then to make things even more fun I got a cold the very last week of the month/last week of my pregnancy. It was quite miserable. Thankfully my cold went away just in time for me to have my baby.

I planned to be induced on my due date and was a little nervous because it was my first time being induced. Little did I know it would turn out even better and easier than I could have imagined. I was beyond excited for March 3rd to come around and it finally did! I didn’t sleep much that night. I woke up at 6 am to call the hospital and was so grateful they said I could come in at 8 am. I really didn’t want to wait around that morning. My mom came over to watch the boys and we were off to the hospital.

Once we got to the hospital everything went pretty quickly. I had pre-registered so that saved a lot of time. They showed me to my room and I changed into my fancy hospital gown. I couldn’t believe it was go time!  I had one nurse assigned to me, Lara, and she was amazing. It was my first labor having just one nurse assigned to me and it made it a better experience than in the past. It took sometime to get everything started but by 9 am I was all hooked up and the IV and Pitocin was started. To start off I was dilated to a 2 and actually contracting even though I wasn’t feeling it.

The rest of the morning just flew by. We were entertained by big snowflakes falling down. It’s hardly snowed at all this year in Utah so it was fun to see snow again. My contractions picked up and I slowly started feeling them. They got more painful but weren’t so bad. Just a little after 10 am my nurse asked me if I wanted the epidural. I was shocked! Already? She said it would be just fine to get it and if I was planning on it I might as well get it now. I just couldn’t believe it. I had really only felt pain from like 7 contractions and it wasn’t bad at all. I could totally handle it. With both boys I labored for hours at home with painful contractions plus a couple hours at the hospital before I could get the epidural. I happily agreed to get the epidural.

Shortly after deciding to get it the anesthesiologist came in. I actually found it a little painful and uncomfortable this time when in the past it was like nothing. I’m thinking maybe because I was in pain the last two times and not this time. Almost immediately my legs went numb and I couldn’t feel the contractions anymore. I’m a big fan of the epidural! There was one time around 11 am when my right side started hurting pretty bad for about 20 minutes but after lying on my right side it went away.

Just a little after noon my doctor came in and was going to break my water but it had already broke! I thought it might have but wasn’t sure. I was now dilated to a 4. I was hoping it would be more but it all worked out. At 1 pm my nurse checked me again and I was already at a 10! All ready to go. I couldn’t believe it, I was so excited! She left to call the doctor but he was in surgery and would be another hour. I was a little bummed I had to wait but it all worked out. I got tired and took a little nap.

My doctor came in a little after 2 pm and it was time to have my baby! I was so very excited! It was such an amazing experience. I was able to see it happening because there was a mirror. We aren’t sure but it probably took 5-7 minutes to push her out. It happened so fast! My doctor was amazing and I am so grateful for that. I had different doctors with my last two babies and had a better experience with my doctor and his staff this time around. With my first push her head started coming out, with some waiting in between contractions and a few more pushes out came my baby!! Words can’t express the feelings I had seeing her for the first time!

I loved her so deeply from the moment I knew I was pregnant, watching and feeling her grow was beautiful. Actually seeing her and holding her for the first time was absolutely amazing! Just after she was born my husband cut the cord and I was able to hold her, skin to skin. It was my first time doing that right away because with my boys they both had to be looked over right after birth because meconium came out before they were born.

I was so happy it made me cry! It was a beautiful experience. The first ten minutes of her life, seeing her for the first time, and holding her will always be one of my happiest moments of my life!

It melted my heart to see my husband holding her! When they took her measurements my husband was able to help out and get some pictures. She weighed 6 lbs. 14 oz and was 20 inches long. My biggest baby! (My boys were 6 lbs. 7 oz and 6 lbs.)

We had plenty of time to relax after she was born, just the three of us. It was so special! I nursed her which went so well. We were so happy cuddling and bonding with our new baby girl!

The rest of the hospital stay was great! I was so thirsty and hungry after she was born I enjoyed all the food and drinks during our stay! I didn’t have much room for food the end of my pregnancy plus a lot of heartburn so it was nice to be able to eat like normal. We enjoyed visitors and plenty of time to rest. Although she nursed at night every couple hours so I didn’t get much rest at once. The hospital wouldn’t let kids 14 and under in due to it being flu season so I was really looking forward to going home for the boys to meet her.

My boys meeting their baby sister for the first time! So sweet! They were so excited and I was so happy to see my three kids together.

I had such a great experience having my baby I feel so blessed! Labor went smoother than I could have expected, my baby girl is happy and healthy and life is good! I love my little family and love being a mommy.

I can’t believe she is almost 1 month now. Let me know if you’d be interested in monthly updates on her or I could combine it in my monthly Becky’s Bites of Life.