Beckett's Birth Story {one year later}

I originally wrote this post on 1/3/15 but decided to wait until close to her first birthday to post her birth story. I wanted to post this so that I can go back and re- live this day!

12.19.2014

The most empowering, strongest, and best day of my life! 

My due date was 12.15.14 

We waited and waited and waited for Beckett's arrival and she decided she wanted to be fashionably late. We tried every old wives tale to induce labor: pineapple, walked 36 miles in a week, made eggplant parmesan...we did it ALL! 

We went to the Dr. on Dec. 15th and I was 75% effaced but 0cm dilated. I cried. We discussed an induction since I was showing no signs of dilation. I wanted Beckett to be here before Christmas and my Dr. didn't want me going past 41 weeks. 

We set the date for 12.19.14

The "plan" was to go in at midnight, get 2 doses of a medication to help me dilate, the Dr. would break my water, and start me on pitocin. But my HOPE was that after one dose of the medication to help me dilate that my body would go in to labor on it's own. 

Dale and I arrived at the hospital on 12.19 at 12:30am to check in. I was given 1 dose of medication at 1:30 am and tried to get some sleep. I was woken up at 5:55 am and woke Dale up. I said, "either I just peed or my water just broke." I pressed the call button for the nurse and she quickly came in. She checked me and I was 3 cm dilated and now having STRONG, consistent contractions that were 1:30-2:00 min apart. Thankfully I didn't have to have a 2nd dose of medication, didn't have to have them break my water, and didn't need pitocin. My body just needed a teeny kick start!

Dale was so amazing through my entire labor. Dale rubbed my back through each contraction, watched the monitor during my contractions and let me know when they were easing up, and helped me breathe. 

The nurse came in around 7:30am and told me that the CRNA was going in to 2 back to back c-sections and if I wanted an epidural then I needed it NOW. I declined. I wanted to push through and experience EVERY part of labor naturally....and boy I did! 

I continued to have strong contractions until about 9:00am and they kicked in FULL FORCE. I was literally yelling. I'm sure everyone on the L&D floor heard me yelling through each contraction. I called the nurse back in and said, "you have to check me now because I NEED to push." For some reason I was convinced that I would only be 5 cm or so and not be able to push yet.  She checked me and quickly made a call and said, "we have a delivery in room one ready to go!" My dr. wasn't even at the hospital, they had to call him over from the clinic. Luckily, I had amazing nurses and an amazing husband who coached me through the entire process. I continued to yell and finally a nurse said, "instead of yelling, just push" Praise the Lord! Pushing actually felt good, in a weird way! 

Our Doctor and Dale got pretty close through my entire pregnancy and since he knew Dale was in medical school and just completed an OBGYN rotation, he gave Dale a gown and gloves and said, "get ready to deliver your baby girl!"

Dale was holding my hand at the time and the nurse took his spot.

I only had to push for 10 min and Beckett made her debut at 9:42 am and her daddy delivered her which was the most proud moment of Dale's life! Not many kids can say that their daddy delivered them! The nurse handed me the scissors and let me cut her umbilical cord!

What special memories we have of 12.19.14! The Lord blessed us with our beautiful Beckett weighing in at 6 lbs 14 oz, 20 in. long!

I could go back and re-live this day 1,000 more times. We are so thankful for such a beautiful and healthy delivery!