Around 11:30 am on November 16, 2009 I started to feel some of the typical contractions that I had been having for the past week or so. Usually about the time that I would start to question whether or not labor was imminent that contractions would slowly begin to fade away. But, the 16th appeared to be different, not only were the contractions sticking around, they were progressively getting stronger throughout the day. One thing I learned while obsessively reading about early labor was that it is important to stay active if possible. Justin and I spent the day running errands, playing cards, enjoying each others company all while trying not to get too excited about what the day may have in store. By the time evening rolled around and we went on our daily walk around KBR Park things really seemed to be kicking into gear. Afterwards my stomach was a very upset and I wasn’t feeling up to eating much. Justin and I hung out a while and then decided we should actually finish putting our hospital bag together. Afterwards Justin urged me to call it a night and go to bed a little early just in case. Despite my efforts I found it hard to sleep. I woke up several times and each time my contractions were noticeably stronger. Finally sometime around 11:30 pm I went to the bathroom and it seemed that I had developed a bit of a trickle and also had a bit of show. “Okay, this is it. I think this is the real deal.” I thought as I flushed away the evidence. I decided to let Justin sleep in spite of the strong desire I had to let him know about my progress. I knew I needed rest as well, but my back pain wouldn’t let up. Eventually I let Justin know that I was leaking a bit of amniotic fluid as well as the status of my contractions. We used many of the wonderful coping techniques we had learned about. I wanted to remain home as long as possible, but after my contractions had been three minutes apart for about several hours I felt pretty confident that I would be around five centimeters, by the time we settled in at the hospital. Justin called Saleem and he rushed right over ready to drive us to Rainbow Hospital. Once Saleem arrived, I told Justin I wanted to try and hold out just a little longer, but with my back the way it was the bumpy ride ahead started to seem more and more daunting. The time came, and we grabbed our bags and headed off. I was greeted with a wheelchair and taken to the birthing center. After some time, I was checked and notified of my progress, or should I say lack of progress. Two centimeters, it was a crushing blow, but I decided to stay positive. The first stage takes the longest. My back was in constant agony, what about all the stuff I read about relaxing in between contractions? I had been warned by chiropractors in the past that due to my Lordosis (Hyper curvature of the lumbar spine) that I may have some difficultly during labor, This may have been a factor, but later I was told that Kira was turned and I realized I was probably experiencing “back labor.” Six to Seven hours later I was checked and was absolutely sure that I had reached the transition stage of labor. Five centimeters! Man, did I misjudge where I was at the house or what? Again, I bit of apprehension naturally rushed over me as I received the news. Justin immediately consoled me and told me how far I’d come and what I terrific job I had done. Justin was truly amazing all throughout. He constantly encouraged me, brought me water and rubbed my back and made every effort to comfort me. I was determined. I can do this. God, please give me strength. I had planned to have this be a completely natural birth and I had made it this far so I focused on the outcome and continued. Five more hours passed and I will just cut to the chase, I reached seven centimeters. I should have tried to eat and drink more during the earlier phases, because my strength was almost completely diminished. I honestly didn’t have enough energy to even open my eyes at that point. I was trying so hard to resist the urge to push that I wasn’t sure if I would have enough energy to push when it actually came time to do it. I stuck it out another hour and then I decided I would get some relief hoping that I could recuperate. The doctors told me they thought that Kira would be born in the next one to two hours, so the epidural would be set to fade so I would be able to push correctly. It was actually nine hours from then when Kira was born. The epidural was long gone. Dr. Reddy was a bit worried that things had slowed and that I was still only at nine centimeters. She thought I may need Pitocin, but I didn’t want to do that so I went back to using gravity to get that final centimeter. Before I knew it the urge was there and I could finally put it to use. I could try and describe this state of being, but it was unlike anything in comparison. It was uncontrollable and yet so unimaginably powerful. I pushed and pushed and although I was in another world so to speak, one voice did get through the chaos. I could tell I was near the end when the tone in Justin’s voice changed. It was so urgent and genuine. “Beck, that’s it, you’re almost there, keep pushing, KEEP PUSHING, KEEEP PUSHING!” I didn’t think I could, but I knew I had to. They tried to turn her, and then at 11:20 pm it happened; I did it. Kira was born! It was absolutely the most amazing thing I have, and probably will, ever experience. There she was covered in goop, a head like a banana and truly the most beautiful sight I had ever seen. I grabbed her in my arms. I couldn’t believe it; 7 lbs 13.5 oz, 20.4 inches and completely healthy. We are so, so, so, happy. We couldn’t have asked for anything more. Although I didn’t follow my birth plan to a tee, I feel like I made the right choice. I needed that small break otherwise I may have ended up with a cesarean and I still lived through the awe inspiring experience of pushing Kira out. Every woman that has ever given birth is absolutely amazing. Thank you Mom, I never knew. So there it is the close of my terrific pregnancy. Justin and I cleaned up and gave in to our pure exhaustion with our beautiful baby girl at our bedside. What a true blessing. We are home and on our way to recovery. A new chapter in our incredible journey has begun. It’s going to be wonderful.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEETIE!

SOUND ASLEEP IN DADDY'S ARMS

BATH TIME WITH MOMMY.