Jana :: How I Became a Mother

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Jana’s Story

I was nine days past my due date and so ready to have my baby. Family members were calling multiple times a day by this point to check if there were any updates. I really wanted to go into labor naturally and thankfully my doctor was fine with letting me go until 42 weeks before inducing labor. I was praying and hoping she would come before that…

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And then finally, at 2am on December 16, 2011 – GUSH. My water broke. BIG time. We hopped out of bed and started to get ready. This was the day we had been waiting for. This was the day we would get to meet our baby girl.

I was having what I thought were Braxton Hicks contractions, but as it turned out, they were real contractions. Since I wasn’t in pain yet, I did what was only natural to do at 2am – shower, blow dry and straighten my hair, and put on make up. It was going to be one of the most important days of my life, and I wanted to look good. Well, as good as one can look at 41 weeks pregnant in the middle of the night.

We arrived at the hospital at 3:40am. By this point I was in pain. I wasn’t sure how close my contractions were coming because for the life of me I could not get the contraction timer app on my phone to work properly. But they felt like they were coming very fast.  My water continued to come out. I am talking about a LOT of water people. I waddled into the hospital with a full size bath towel shoved down my yoga pants and stopping at each contraction to get through it. That must have been a sight! Luckily they checked us into a room right away.

Next comes the part where we had the whole how-the-heck-do-you-assemble-your-own-hospital-gown debacle. This is where my husband claims I got a little mean. There just seemed to be hundreds of snaps, and why can’t they just come with pre-snapped sleeves, and CAN’T YOU JUST FIGURE IT OUT ALREADY?!? Where are the nurses? Better yet, where is the anesthesiologist?

Somehow the gown came together and a nurse showed up. She began the usual routine of hooking me up to monitors to check the baby, giving me an IV, taking my blood, and asking me lots of questions. When she checked me, I was 4cm dilated.

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I was definitely ready for the epidural. I have heard that after your water breaks contractions hurt worse. {I like to tell myself that so I don’t feel like such a baby for wanting my epidural so soon.} By 5:15am I had the epidural in, and let me tell you – it was the best thing ever. They checked me again, and I was 6cm dilated. I thought the epidural might slow down my labor, so I was mentally prepared for an all day labor-athon. Little did I know I would be holding my baby girl just 3 hours later.

Once the epidural was in, I felt great. We were told that my doctor would arrive around 7:30am to check on me. In the meantime, we chatted with my parents and sent a few updates to family and friends.

My doctor arrived a little after 7:30am. I was completely shocked when she told me I was 10cm dilated and the baby was right there! Was I really about to see this little life that I had been carrying around for 9 months? I couldn’t believe it was happening so fast.

The doctor and nurses began to set up and prep for delivery. I started pushing around 8am. The epidural was very strong, and I could not feel a thing. I was thankful that I didn’t have pain, but it was hard to tell if I was pushing correctly. Greg, my mom, the doctor, and nurses were all cheering me on. I pushed with all my might for 30 minutes, and then the doctor said, “On the next push she will be out.” I was so excited I just couldn’t believe it. Just as she said, on that next push…

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Cambry Paige was born at 8:24am, 8lbs. 10oz.  It was the most surreal moment. I was holding a baby. One that was just inside of me. Now crying and wiggling and breathing. Miracle of miracles. What a privilege to experience.

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In a way, I became a mother the moment I saw that positive pregnancy test. But in a way, it is a change that happens over time. The love continues to grow. With every snuggle, every kiss, every late night feeding. I am a mother. And I am thankful.

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[hr] Please Note :: Bassett Baby Planning is graciously sponsoring our ‘How I Became a Mother Series’…and we would not have it any other way!  We are passionate about all that they are doing for new and expecting moms, and we encourage you to contact them to help in your journey to becoming a mother too.

To learn more about Bassett Baby Planning

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2 COMMENTS

  1. What a great story, Jana! I love that you showered and fixed your hair before you left for the hospital, too, haha! I was wondering if I should do the same thing next month, so that makes me feel so much better! Cambry IS a miracle and a blessing, and so is Miss Lainey! Love you all!

  2. i had a very similar story – also 9 days late, only my water didn’t break, but I did begin contractions in the middle of the night. Waited and got my nails done (because when would I have time for that again!?) then headed to the doc. I was 5 cm when she checked me and had me go to the hospital. Got the epidural, got to 10 cm, got to push (feeling nothing) but ended up with a c-section because my baby kept poking out but refusing to come and my fever spiked which concerned the docs. Really wish I could have had the “natural” way but most thankful for my healthy, sweet, wonderful little man.

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