Erin's Story-- 9 lbs., 10 oz.-- Hospital

9 lbs., 10 oz.

21.5 inches

15 inch head circumference

Hospital

Mother’s height: 5’ 8”

How was your pregnancy?
Long! Gained 60 Pounds. High Blood Pressure. Lots of Swelling.

How did you feel about your upcoming birth?
Scared out of my mind!

Description of your birth experience:
The day before my due date, my mom and I went to the mall to do some shopping (really she just wanted to see if we could walk the baby out!). After 4 hours of shopping, I went home, took a warm shower, and laid down for a nap. I woke up to some leaking (Not gushing) fluid, I thought I was just peeing, so I started nesting a bit before bed. I woke up on my due date to more leaking. I called the doctor and he told me to come in. When we got there the nurse did a pH test and sure enough it was my water! But I was not having contractions. So they hooked me up to Pitocin. Nothing happened that day. At 8:00 pm the doctor placed Cervedil on my cervix to ripen it and we started Pitocin at 7:00 the next morning. Labor was intense! At one time my contractions were back to back and I asked the nurse to check me, because I knew I was at a 10! She checked and I was at a 5…so I asked for the epidural. It was very light, I still felt the pressure of the contractions and I felt the overwhelming urge to push. At 2:30 pm I began to push and at 3:12 pm Annabelle was born! I had a first degree tear.

How did you feel after the birth (first month)?
I was up walking around about 3 hours after I had Annabelle. I was sore for a week, but nothing unbearable. Within 3 weeks, I was back to normal.

How did you feel six months after the birth? One year? Now?
Annabelle is 7.5 months old now, and I feel great! I would do it over in a heart beat!

What did you learn from this birth?
Pitocin sucks! Labor is beautiful! I can do anything!

Any words of wisdom to impart?
No