Hannah Abigail Clark
July 20th, 2012
3:52 a.m.
9 pounds 2 oz.
Birth Story.
I assume at one time or another everyone who has been pregnant feels like they will be pregnant FOREVER and at a week past my due date I was definently no exception. We had an induction date set for the 20th and at exactly 8 in the morning I called labor and delivery and was told they were FULL! so no induction. I was quite disappointed. my body felt DONE. I felt done. and I couldn't wait to hold and snuggle our little girl.
But there wasn't anything I could do but wait and for some reason I felt at peace. I realized I wouldn't be pregnant forever and I told Nathaniel, "we aren't being induced today but I feel like we are going to have Hannah very soon. Today feels like the day." I am sure he just smiled and nodded as we both felt at that point that Hannah was quite comfortable staying where she was.
Camden and I ended up having a great day together and that night after Nathaniel got home from work and we ate dinner we decided it would be a lot of fun to walk to the park as a family. That's when the fun began! I noticed at the park that contractions were coming every 5 to 7 minutes, but I just kind of shrugged it off - I had been having contractions for weeks by that point. When we finally decided to leave the park about 10 seconds later I was hit by a pretty strong contraction and I told Nathaniel that this might actually be it - followed by me saying, "but it can't be my body apparently doesn't know how to go into labor again." - I believe that is what denial is called! Well we made it home and the contractions kept coming over the next half hour but they never felt as intense as with Camden so I still assumed that I couldn't be in labor. But Nathaniel convinced me that we needed to take Camden to my sister's house and head over to the hospital. At this point I was still thinking, "I can't be in labor. The contractions aren't that intense. They aren't coming consistantly. And when we get to the hospital they are just going to send us home." But Nathaniel was adament about going, so we loaded Camden up in the car and headed out.
We arrived at the hospital about 9:30 p.m. and I told the nurses at the front desk that I thought I was in labor. I am sure they were thinking, "yeah right...who "thinks" they are in labor and is actually in labor". But we head over to triage and I get hooked up to the monitors. and I have ONE contraction in the next 10 minutes and it wasn't even that strong. So the nurse comes in and says that he is going to check me and while he is checking me I say, " have I changed AT all", and he asked what I was at my last appt. and I laughed at said a one to two, but I am pretty sure my midwife gave me that two to make me feel better" and he laughed at said well you are a SIX! that's right I had already made it to a six and didn't even realize I was in labor.
So I was admitted and then I met my nurse, Becky! She was AWESOME! This labor so far was completely different then Camden's. I was able to breathe through each contraction and laugh and talk in between them. It was very relaxed. But I knew I still wanted an epidural. And I was in luck, within 20 minutes of being admitted I met the anestigeologist (sp). He was great and so nice and as we talked we also found out that his wife was from Utah as well! About this time I met my midwife, Michelle. AND yes once again I lucked out and she was Amazing. We were so blessed with everyone who helped deliver Hannah and who took care of me.
After I got the epidural everything progressed smoothly and steadily and by 3:30 a.m. I was a 10! Time to meet Hannah. I had one practice push with my nurse, who then called in my midwife right away. I then pushed for about 8 to 10 minutes with my midwife coaching me and Hannah was born at 3:52 a.m. She was placed on my stomach right away and I instantly feel in love and couldn't hold back the tears. My midwife then said "look at all that hair" and I laughed while crying and said, "I can't see anything through my tears". l.o.l! Later as they were cleaning me up I finally got the nerve and asked how bad I had tore, and she looked at me and said, "you didn't tear at all". Which means healing from this delivery has been a breeze.
As Nathaniel and I were later talking we both said we felt so blessed and amazed how smoothly this labor and delivery was. We are madly in love with our daughter and can't believe she is ours. Being a parent really is the greatest blessing our Heavenly Father has given us.
