Introducing Naja Simone...

Hello Everyone!

I took a two day hiatus to birth my child, lol!!! I am SOOOO happy to be back in action. Now that Naja is here, I don't know how often I may post baby-related stuff. You know this blog, it goes with the flow and evolves with me. I posted pics (below), but I am taking the time to use this post to share my labor story because I think it's hilarious.

My Labor Story
Tuesday morning I woke up around 5:30 AM, and I felt like I was having more than the regular Braxton-Hicks contractions. I was using the bathroom about every 20 minutes, and I was having contractions about every 10 minutes. I felt pretty miserable. At 6:30 AM, I called my doctor who informed me that I needed to come in when my contractions are only 5 minutes apart. At this point, I think everyone thinks I'm over-reacting, because it's 10 days before my due date, and it is my first child. I continued to time my contractions, which came consistently at 10 minute intervals, then sometime around 8:15 AM my water broke. It was undeniable - it felt like a balloon popped and warm water gushed out. I went to my mom to inform her of the news, and called the doctor's office. They told me to rush right in! I took a quick shower to get ready to head to the hospital, then my mom and I were off!

When we arrived at the hospital, I was met with a nonchalant nurse who hooked me up to a machine to monitor Naja's heart rate and my blood pressure. She left me in the room for a good 20 minutes, I was coping with the contractions well - still planned to go all natural. She came back and took a swab to check to see if I was ruptured, and she said that I wasn't. The swab didn't turn blue, and she said they may send me home. That's when things got a little wratchet.

My contractions were coming a lot more often, I felt nauseous, and I had a dry mouth. I started banging my fist up against the wall, and I called the nurse to see if she could remove the monitor around my belly (watching Naja's heart rate). I also said something like, "I can't believe women still have children with this kind of pain." While waiting for the nurse, my mom asked me if I was sure that I still wanted a natural birth. I asked her if the epidural would eliminate my contraction pain. Her reply, "Oh yes!" My reply, "Then YES, I want the epidural!!!" Thirty minutes later, the nurse came into the room to inform me that we couldn't remove the heart monitor, and that the doctor asked to check me to see if I was dilated. She checked me and I was 5-6 cm and 90% effaced at 9:50 AM. I was quickly admitted to labor and delivery.

The following moments were a blur. I went into the labor and delivery room, they put an oxygen mask on me, and had me sign a lot of papers. My contractions were steadily worsening. I was in pain. I kept asking, "Am I going to have time for the epidural?" They replied, "YES!" I screamed, "AHHHHHHH!" The nurse said, "Honey, that isn't going to help." Then, I pulled the oxygen mask off, and asked if they could remove the heart monitor again. I was really going through it!!! My mom tried to re-focus me on breathing and getting through the contractions. Then - I felt it - like I had to go - and I knew it was Naja. I said, "She's coming!!!" They looked and saw that I was 8-9 cm and 100% effaced. They called my doctor, who was in another building, but after three hard pushes, baby girl was here! The on-call doctor actually delivered Naja. I did have an episiotomy, but I had a natural birth. No pitocin, no epidural! Ok, now for the part you care about - my beautiful baby girl. Introducing Miss Naja Simone...

We don't know who she looks like - I think she'll either look like her father or my mom. It's so hard to tell with newborns. Either way, she's a beauty!