Kharissa Elizabeth



Contractions started around 10pm, Monday, Dec. 8, coming about 15 minutes apart and lasting for what I was counting as about 30-40 seconds. They were still rather *mild* so I tried to stay in bed and rest while I could. That wasn't working very well though. I was sick to my stomach then that whole fear thing began to set in. Around midnight I realized I NEEDED to wake Brad. "Simply" because I needed to tell him how I was feeling. So, I did and we immediately prayed for God's strength (in all manners)to be with us during this time. Then I switched on the tv for something mindless to occupy me between contractions. Shortly after Brad being up he says something along the lines of if I feel this is "it" and the midwife needs to come, to be sure to say so right away this time if she is to make it. I promptly replied with "well, you better go ahead and call her now then" As I was about to tell him to go ahead and call her, just before he spoke. So, he calls and tells her the contractions are about 15 minutes apart..but..that I said things felt as they have before and we know how THAT goes. So, she said she was on her way.

I continue to contract and work through this fear. I prayed, I quoted scripture, I tried simply not to think, not to think about labor, anything !!! LOL I was slowly getting a handle on things. Midwife arrived some time after 1 I guess it was. She came in, checked the baby's heartbeat, asked if I needed anything, how I was doing, etc. Then commenced to setting up. Wow..that was weird LOL To have a midwife there and setting up !?! We hadn't had any preparation since our first. So, she just got all her stuff set up over in the corner, ready for...whenever.

I continued to work with/through my contractions and we all chit chatted for some time. I really just wanted to lay back down and go to sleep, but I was too sick to my stomach whenever I laid down. So, I sat. Which hurt my back/tailbone. Can't win eh? Then of course, I was tired so really didn't feel like standing/walking. What I ended up doing was kneeling next to my bed. I could be on my knees, some relief to my back, not too tiring as standing, lean over the bed, somewhat relaxing. But that didn't work for long either..as my bed is so tall. So, we propped some pillows up in front of me on the bed. I had a couch cushion, 2 small couch pillows, my bed pillow and my body pillow folded over..that was finally sufficient.

Next thing I knew, I was needing to 'rock'. That's my typical response as contractions intensify. The rocking/swaying helps 'ease' the pain as well as works the baby down. I knew things were picking up then. My contractions were probably about 10 minutes apart, generally lasting a minute or so. Then I got to the point where I could really feel pinching inside. They were really HURTING now, not just an 'ouch' or uncomfortable, but really HURTing now. I would raise myself up off the stack of pillows, rock and sway and moan. Oh and complain that I was tired a time or two. But I was still having those longer stretches between contractions and that totally messed with me. I was used to things being closer together as they became this intense. So I wasn't sure WHAT to think about where this labor was going. I just continued to plug along the best I could.

That's when I was getting to the point of.."ok, come on baby, come on baby, we can do this. Let's just finish this up now, Come on baby, come on..."

Then....during a contraction I felt that pushing urge..which I resisted! For the first time ever I do believe LOL I held off for a moment as I was still in my pajama pants and no one was prepared So, as soon as that contraction was over I quickly said I'm feeling that pushy feeling. Brad jumps 'ok' midwife is like..ok....Brad says, no, you don't understand, that means NOW LOL So, he promptly helps me remove my pj pants and they get 'in position' Next contraction, I'm pushing and water breaks. Brad had planned on catching this one as well but he was on the left side of me up on the bed, midwife was to my right, behind me. He would barely wiggle and I couldnt stand it so I said 'honey, you're going to have to get off the bed' He quickly did and was at my head continuing to encourage me through the contractions. Something was said about him catching, he said he was fine..she was there and I was pushing. I agreed, I was comfortable with where everyone was so let's just continue LOL Just a couple more pushes *I think* and the head was coming out. Another push or two and there she was. No one had said what 'it' was yet. The cord was short so we were trying to get things situated for me to be able to turn around and hold the baby. Remember, I was on my knees leaning over pillows. Just as she was beginning to cry, from the first inkling of a cry I thought it sounded like a girl cry..but before I could even say anything Brad says...guess what..we got our girl...or something like that I saw her and thought oh my goodness..she's so tiny!! We didn't find out just HOW tiny until about 1.5 hr later at her exam.

Anyhow, we get things situated and I get turned around to sit and hold her. Then soon deliver the placenta w/o much problem. I was just too tired to push. Midwife said ok just gimme one more push and we should have it...I pause a moment, she asks if I'm pushing I said..hold on...waiting...Ok now... Then she's like just a little mooooore...then just as I stopped, she said THERE! I responded with "Good, because I was done, that's all I had in me" LOL

Then I get turned around to lean against the wall and latch her on. She's a pro! Woohoo! My last 2 have had some minor latch on problems we had to work through, but she took right to it. And nursed forever!!!!

After a bit I was checked and was found to have a 1st degree tear (again) but things look ok, it'll heal fine on it's own. Then Brad and I just relax in bed for a while. An hour + later midwife checks the baby's stats. A mere 7 lb!! What's up w/that? And after nursing even! hehehe Everything else, just fine. She had great color right away! Apgars were 8 and 10 with a nice strong cry and a sneeze to boost her points.

And here's our little sweetheart now, at 6 months old.

She's growing so fast!! The first time she rolled over, she went both ways, one right after the other. She's not stopped since. Rolls whenever she gets the chance. She's sitting well on her own. Can't get TO the sitting position on her own, but once seated, she does very well. She's taken a few tumbles off the bed. She'll take a nap on our bed, then upon waking, she stirs and fusses, calms down, stirs, fusses, calms down...next thing I know *thud* Brad says, ya know, ya really ought to try to prevent that LOL Yeah, well....

Here she is enjoying the great outdoors. Problem...the dog kept interfering so, this is the only shot we got that day.

Got some black and whites taken last month. Here ya go, Kharissa, just shy of 7 months.