| Most Wonderful Birth Experience/First Baby by: Cindy I was never scared to go into labor. I don�t know why. I just never was. People would always ask me, Are you nervous? Are you afraid? What about the pain? I would just shrug my shoulders and say I was ready. Don�t get me wrong. This was my first baby. I didn�t know what to expect. I knew it would be painful, but I felt like a soldier marching into battle. I truly was ready. At 40 weeks and 1 day I checked into the hospital to be induced. They were starting a two-phase induction. My cervix was very posterior, and this made exams painful. On the first day they inserted Cervidil. This was to stay in place to soften my cervix for 12 hours. The next morning when they checked me, I was only 1 1/2 centimeters dilated, so they started the second phase, which was a Pitocin drip to start my contractions. This was at 5 a.m. By 4 p.m. I had been in hard labor most of the day. I received pain medication and an epidural, but I was still only at 1 1/2 centimeters dilated. Even though everything I had experienced up until this point was painful and uncomfortable I still wasn�t afraid. I felt it was my duty as a woman and a wife to bring this child into the world, and I was going to do whatever was needed! My husband was the perfect labor coach, and together I knew everything would be OK. My nurses were the best anybody could ever ask for. I will never forget them, from the level of care to the bedside manner. Everything couldn�t have been more perfect or relaxing. I was wheeled into the operating room for a Cesarean section at 4 p.m. I still wasn�t nervous because I always told everybody since I was a little girl that I would have a C-section. I just always knew, I don�t know how! My husband was at my side the entire time. At 4:49 p.m. on March 4, 2004, Jordyn Sierra was born via C-section, weighing 7 pounds, 15 ounces and 19 inches long, with bright red hair! Even though I was on pain medicine, I cried my eyes out when I first heard her cry and when I saw her. My hubby was crying too. They measured her, weighed her and wrapped her in a blanket and gave her to my husband, which is a picture I will never forget. I got to hold her once I was in the recovery room, and I was so amazed at how beautiful she was. We stayed in the hospital three more days, and we were sent home. Jordyn Sierra is now 15 days old, and she is the light of my and my hubby's life. This is our first baby, and I truly believe you can make your birth experience what you want it to be, no matter what the circumstances! Ladies, don�t be afraid. You can do this! I can�t thank my husband or my nurses enough for the encouragement and relaxing environment. |