Our Birth Story

Kaila Christine
Due January 3, 1993
Born December 23, 1992
Weight: 7lbs. 4oz.
21 inches long

There really is more to tell to this story than the actual birth and it all started about a year earlier. This story is a little different from most I have read on the net but seeing as there are a lot of young mothers out there like I was I thought some of them might like to hear from someone who might have been in a similar situation. I met my now husband at 17. He was on the rebound from a bad breakup when we messed around a little too much and I ended up pregnant. It was probably one of the most depressing times I can remember. Shortly after I became pregnant we broke up of course. When I told him, he didn't believe me and I doubted myself as a week later I got my period. That happened every other month until I was 5 1/2 months along. I hadn't told my parents and I was scared to death how they would react, but there was no way I would have an abortion. It was just one of the things I never believed in.

I knew I was pregnant because I threw up every day at least once but somehow I kept trying to tell myself that this was not happening to me. Finally in the middle of September my mom found me on the floor in the bathroom having just thrown up and still unable to get off the floor because when I throw up I THROW UP. She asked me what was wrong and then if I was pregnant, you know the way moms who pay attention to their kids just kinda know? Well I started crying and blubbering how I wasn't sure but of course I really was sure. Duh I was 5 1/2 month gone by now. You would think I would wonder what that thing moving around in my belly was. Any way things got better after that. She told my dad and Dave (my boyfriend) and I had to sit down and have that wonderful "NOW WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT THIS?" speech. Actually that was the best part, I had been so afraid he wouldn't want me anymore and other silly stuff.

I made a doctor's appointment the next day. Soon after that I had more blood work done than I ever thought possible because all those tests that they stretch out over that 6 months had to be done in one fell swoop. I thought I was going to run out of blood. But every thing came back fine, which doesn't say much for the need of early prenatal care but hey I learned my lesson. The doctors at the Navy hospital determined my due date to be Feb. 23 then oops we mean Feb. 3 then oops twice more till it was officially called Jan. 3. So, with much of the rest of my pregnancy going pretty predictable with all the high stress factors like throwing up, high blood pressure and the like I was really ready to have this baby by the time December rolled around. I was still sick in the morning and nervous at every doctor's appointment. I didn't like the doctors checking me you know down there.

The nights before I had Kaila, David and I had another fight… and I drove home mad. I got pulled over for speeding not too high but on a real dark road. The officer could see me crying and very very pregnant and asked when I was due. I told him next week and cried even harder. He sent me home with a warning to be careful and to rest. I went home and fell asleep on the couch. I woke in the morning to the television blaring. My younger brothers had just started Christmas vacation. I got up about 7:30 and was on my way to the kitchen when all of a sudden I was wet from waist to toe. I remember thinking, "I know my bladder is weak but this is ridiculous" then "OH my god my water just broke". I went to the bathroom, threw up, and then as I said I was real nervous about the doctors checking me, I caught the leaky stream in a specimen cup that my nurse provided for each visit. There was no way they were touching me until they proved I needed it. Then I woke my mom who was my coach, and told her I though my water had just broke. I felt really bad for getting my mom up because she worked nights till 2:30 am and I knew that she also had stayed up reading for a few hours when she got home. She got up and I called the hospital and they told me to come on in. So off the hospital we went.

When we got there I handed my cup to the nurse who laughed and told me I wasn't the first one who did that. I felt a little better. I still had had no contractions but right away the nurse came back and told me to change into my hospital gown this was it. So I did and then they came in to start my IV, which was mandatory at this hospital. While they are doing this I told my mom that she HAD to go call David, as I was not doing this without him here. So she went and finally about an hour later (we live 2 minutes from the hospital) David arrived nervous as all get out.

But that turned out ok since it took every nurse on the floor plus 4 others called in to get that IV started. Then they told me they would give me pitocin to get things started right away. I was never given a choice and now I know I would have refused. I immediately began to feel immense pain and then they decide that I HAD to have an internal monitor hooked up. The procedure for which was never actually discussed in my child birth classes. It was really scary being hooked up to all those machines. Tubes and wires and needles hanging every where, constantly hooked up to the blood pressure cuff and me all the time left flat on my back. My contractions sped up right away and for 10 1/2 hours they were about 2 minutes apart and lasted about a minute. By the time only a few hours had gone by I was exhausted and irritable even though with my mother being there I would never say so to her. David just sat in the room wondering what to do. We were so on again off again the whole pregnancy he didn't go to the classes so didn't know what to expect. I asked for something for the pain and they gave me blessed stadol. It worked really well I slept between the contractions and had a half dose more when it wore off. By the time I was dialated to ten and ready to push the medication had long since worn off so I wasn't too worried about the baby. I just wanted it out. So after 1/2 hour more of directed pushing by really mean nurses I delivered Kaila Christine into the world.

I had an episiotomy and no tears but the whole room was laughing when the doctor started to stitch me up before the anesthesia had kicked in. I hadn't cried or screamed or even moaned loud through the whole thing but when he started with that needle I sat straight up and screamed into his face "OUCH GOD DAMNIT THAT HURTS." I didn't get to hold her but they showed her to me as soon as she was cleaned up and my mom carried her off to the nursery. As soon as I was cleaned up and taken to the maternity ward for new moms they brought her in and I breast-fed her till she fell asleep. They let me keep her with me for as long as I wanted and took her back to the nursery when I needed to rest. By this time visiting hour are over and they sent every one home and I sat there all night wide-awake and alone. While every one else was at home celebrating. David came back right away the next morning and proposed right then and there with tears streaming down my face and the nurses. I said yes but it took 3 years more until we were both ready for marriage.

Kaila and I had no other complications beyond Jaundice a week later, which she got over quickly and I got to go home Christmas morning to a family so happy to receive a new member. Now David and I have grown up. We finally got married 1 1/2 years ago and we are now HAPPILY expecting our second child in just a few weeks July 9. Kaila is doing great she's five 1/2 and exited about a new "SISTER". I think if we bring home a boy she'll make us take it back J . This time I have chosen a different hospital and my own OB who's wonderful. I know this time will be different because I know the choices are mine to make and I plan to make them.