Natalie's Birth Story

I have two children already, so when I was pregnant with number three I thought, "No sweat!" My son was delivered via C-section and I had a VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean) with my daughter so I thought my third, another girl, would be a walk in the park.

Even though Miss Natalie was three days late, when she was ready, she wanted to enter into the world right then and there! At my regular doctor's appointment on a Monday, my doctor told me she would schedule an induction any time I was ready, but since my other children were late too, I figured I could just be patient. I thought it would be soon because I was having more severe contractions, although only about one every hour.

My husband and I decided to take the kids to his brother's house for the night in case I went into labor. We arrived at 7 PM and hung out while my sister-in-law timed my contractions, but it was nothing to get excited about. They were on again, off again all night, but very sporadic.

At 12:30 AM, I was still having contractions about twenty minutes apart, but my husband and I decided to go home to get some sleep. My husband fell instantly asleep while I lay there for a while. Suddenly the contractions started coming practically non-stop! I climbed out of bed almost unable to walk. My husband jumped out of bed and asked if he could shower and I said, “Sure, if you think you have time.” He changed his mind and dressed at rapid speed.

The contractions were right on top of each other and I was barely able to walk to the car because of the pressure of the baby. Driving top-speed, we arrived at the hospital ten minutes later, and even though the waiting room was empty, it still took five excruciating minutes for anyone to acknowledge us. Finally we got a wheelchair and were off to delivery.

They checked me and I was almost eight and moving fast. The nurses were running around getting things ready for immediate delivery. The doctor was still on her way; we didn’t call her before we left because we thought we had plenty of time.

We checked into the hospital at 2:15 AM, and Natalie Nicole arrived at 2:53 AM. My mother, the doctor, and even my husband (who had left to register me) made it just in time to see her arrive. There was no time for any medication. I felt every episiotomy cut and stitch, every labor pain, and every joyous bit of the birth. I have forgotten the pain and realize it was all worth it and I’d do again. However, I have suggested to my sister-in-law, who is having her second baby soon, not to wait so long so that they will have to drive 90 miles per hour to get to the hospital. That part really hurts!