Happy Birthday Eve Ashlee

Eleven years ago on this night, we were being checked into Kaiser on Morse Ave., getting ready to bring our first baby into the world. Labor was short and intense, and I will never forget the feel of having my very first baby placed onto my chest- warm, wet, and crying- just after midnight. She was so alive, such a miracle, and Forrest and I wept tears of gratitude without restraint. It is a moment I will always vividly remember.

Happy Birthday-Eve Ashlee! In honor, I thought I would share her birth story:

My due date was Friday, October 1st. I went to my doctor on Friday, and I was only a little over one centimeter dilated and 70% effaced. I had been walking quite often, as I hoped that would help to speed things up. My doctor stripped my membranes a little when she was checking my cervix. I wanted to do anything I could to have this baby! Later that day, I lost my mucous plug. I became very excited (and nervous), knowing that I could go into labor at any time. Saturday night I began having stronger contractions that were about seven or eight minutes apart, but then they would stop. My biggest worry was that I would go to the hospital too soon and be sent home.

Sunday rolled around, and still I felt no different. I was still having some painful contractions that were anywhere from seven to fifteen minutes apart, but they would not come regular. Around 4:30 Sunday afternoon, Forrest and I laid down to take a nap. Suddenly, my contractions became so strong that they were keeping me from falling asleep. I decided to time them. From 5:30 to about 6:00, they were six and seven minutes apart. They quickly went to being five minutes apart. That is when I decided to wake up Forrest. He, like I, didn't think it was going to be the real thing. We timed them together, and they became so strong that I was starting to cry during them. They were now four and five minutes apart. I remembered learning in class that if it were the real thing, walking would make the contractions stronger, so we decided to walk.

We walked around outside of our apartments, and they were getting stronger and closer together. I came home and called my mom. She told me to get to the hospital FAST! We called the rest of our family on the way down. By the time I got to the hospital I could no longer walk or talk through contractions. I began my deep breathing techniques I learned in class. My parents, sister, and Forrest's sister and neices showed up shortly after we had arrived. They put me in a very small room and hooked monitors up to my belly. About thirty minutes later (9:30 p.m.) the nurse came in and checked my cervix. I was six centimeters dilated. I was very happy to hear that, knowing that I was already over half way there!

We requested to have an ABC room, but they were both full. They put me into another room, where Forrest, my mom, my sister, and my dad accompanied me. Forrest's sister also sat in the room with us. I didn't want to use any medication, so I continued to take slow, deep breaths through the contractions. I found it really helped to have Forrest breathing with me. I liked listening to him the most. The doctor came in and checked my cervix again. I was now at seven centimeters. I couldn't believe how fast it was going! I wanted to walk to speed it up even more, but the doctor said she would prefer to break my water. She then left and returned shortly. She broke my water, and I felt a very warm gush. It was kind of relaxing in a way, like taking a warm bath. Then I heard her say to the nurse that she saw some meconium in the water. I knew by the way they were talking that it wasn't good. She proceeded to tell me that the baby had pooped a little, and that they would have to take extra precautions during the delivery (deep suctioning of the baby's lungs.) I got a little worried, but everyone told me it would be okay. She, however, was not qualified to perform that kind of delivery, so I got a new doctor. It turned out to be the one who had stripped my membranes just a few days earlier.

The contractions continued to get stronger, and I figured that I was probably in transition. The nurse came in and checked me, and I was eight centimeters. They had to keep telling me to slow down my breathing because the baby's heart rate had dropped a little bit and I was being monitored internally. The nurse came in and put an oxygen mask on me, and I thought that was the WORST! On top of that, I had an electric blood pressure gauge on my arm that would go off every few minutes, and since I was squirming around during the contractions, it would tighten around my arm and not deflate until I stopped moving. I really didn't like being hooked up to so much machinery. I also had an IV in the back of my hand that felt like it had been inserted incorrectly. The only thing that kept me going (without medicine) was knowing that my labor was progressing so rapidly, and that it would be all over soon. Forrest was excellent support.

The nurse came in one last time and checked me at ten centimeters. However, a little of the cervix was still remaining so I had to roll over onto my side. I went through a few more contractions in this position, when all of a sudden I felt a tremendous pressure on my whole bottom area. I KNEW it was time to push. I said that someone had better go get a doctor because I was pushing! The doctor came in, checked my cervix, and said, "It's time. Let's go to the delivery room." Those words literally brought the biggest smile to my face. I remember looking up at the person beside me and saying, "I get to push!" I was overjoyed.

The first time I had to push, I thought, oh my gosh, how am I going to do this? I ended up letting out a scream, then remembered that if I could hold my breath, I would be able to give stronger pushes. After the head crowned, I told Forrest to go down and look. After the head was out, I had to stop pushing so the doctor could suction her lungs. Not being able to push was hardest of all. I think it only took one more push, and Ashlee came sliding out. I heard her cry, and I broke down into tears. They placed her warm, slippery little body on my stomach and I felt the happiest I had ever been in my entire life. Forrest was crying just as much, and everybody came and gave me hugs. I couldn't stop crying and smiling. She was 7lbs. 11oz., and as healthy and beautiful as could be.

In the postpartum room, the nurse bathed and dressed her. I immediately began breastfeeding. She cried all night, and I only got one hour of sleep, but I was so happy to finally have my little girl. Forrest returned the next day at 10:30 a.m. We found out she had fractured her right clavicle some time during the birth. However, we were told that it wasn't too serious, so we didn't worry. We just had to be extra careful with her arm for a few weeks. We were released to go home around 4:00 that afternoon.

The first few nights were very trying, but we got through them. I couldn't have done it without Forrest and all of his support. Now Ashlee is almost two months old, and she is the joy of our lives! I wouldn't trade her, or my birth experience, for anything in the world.

Happy Birthday Eve! We love you and are so thankful to have you as our first-born.