Introducing...

Miss Harper Elizabeth Moody

September 13, 2011

12:35 p.m.

7 pounds, 12 ounces

21 1/2 inches

Now for the birth story...

I had been having a lot of Braxton Hicks contractions the last couple weeks of the pregnancy, but I had absolutely no pain associated with the contractions.  I was fully convinced that I would not go into labor on my own and that I would have to be induced on September 15th (6 days after my due date).  However, I woke up around 4 am on September 12th and felt mild cramping along with the contractions.  I really didn't know what to think of it.  I got up, walked around, googled "how to know when you are in labor", timed the contractions...  my doctor had told me to go to the hospital when the contractions were painful and 5-10 minutes apart for an hour.  Well, these were 5-10 minutes apart for an hour, but I wasn't sure how painful the contractions were supposed to be.  So after calling my doctor, Jason and I headed to the hospital to get checked out.  Unfortunately, I was still not dilated and, after being monitored for 30 minutes, we were sent home.  Bummer!  Jason ended up working from home that day, just in case. 

Well, the day went on and the contractions started becoming a little more painful.  I think it was around 4 or 5 pm that the contractions started to take my breath away.  Jason and I went to my scheduled ultrasound appointment and Harper and the placenta looked great (and her weight was estimated to be 7.8 pounds!  Pretty darn accurate!).  I ate dinner despite having no appetite and having to pause when a contraction came on.  Well, over the next few hours, the contractions became unbearable.  I have never felt pain like that in my life!  I tried every position, breathing trick, curse word (okay... not really) during the contractions.  Nothing.helped.at.all.  But I still couldn't convince Jason that it was the real thing.  He was timing the contractions and since they varied from 3 1/2 to 10 minutes apart, he didn't think it was time to go to the hospital.  I finally made it clear that I was going to the hospital.  I was going to be admitted.  And I didn't care if I had to be induced.  I NEEDED AN EPIDURAL!

So off to the hospital we go.  Again.  At midnight.  This time though I was dilated to a 4!!  I was admitted!  Hallelujah!!!  So they took me to a room and literally the second I got into the bed I lost my mucous plug.  I thought "so that's what I've been looking for the past couple of weeks!"  Finally, FINALLY, I got the epidural sometime around 2:30 am (Although I can't remember details like time when I was in that much pain).  

Ahhh... relief :)  I was checked again and had dilated to a 7!!  We thought that Harper would make her appearance in the next 3 or so hours.  Not quite.  I stayed at a 7 until the doctor rounded at 9:30 am, at which time she broke my water.  That speed things up a little and I was finally ready to start pushing at noon.  35 minutes later, I had a beautiful, healthy baby girl in my arms!!  

I feel like I should also tell you how wonderful Jason was during the delivery.  I was pretty worried about how he would do since he got a little queasy at a couple of the ultrasounds.  However, he did great!  He stood next to me and held my hand and helped me with the breathing while pushing.  He watched Harper being born in the mirror at the end of the bed.  He cut the umbilical cord.  He took lots of pictures of Harper being cleaned up right after she was born.  And he didn't get queasy at all!  He's been such a great Dad, too.  But we'll have to save that for another post.  This one is long enough!

Here are some more pictures of our little miracle's first couple days of life...

going on about 35 hours without sleep

going home!

celebrating Daddy's birthday

sleepy smiles... so sweet!