a long overdue welcome to Adeline Grace

My last day being pregnant....little did I know!!!

Arriving in our labor and deliver room around 2 am....in between contractions and still smiling at 2-3 cm dilated and 90% effaced.

This is old news by now...but I have to get a blog in about our birth experience...

Here is an edited excerpt from my journal of Adeline's birth:

"The hardest work of my life was upon me--I had to push Adeline out. The “ring of fire” was in full force and at one point I didn’t think I could do it. It was such intense pressure and pain--but everyone kept telling me I could do it and Johnny was right there, holding my hand. He could see Adeline’s head and that gave me hope. They got a mirror so I could see Adeline too. It took me pushing very hard with about 3 contractions, but she was finally born onSeptember 8^th at 10:24 am weighing 6 lbs, 14 oz and was 20 inches long.

They brought her right up tomy chest, skin to skin, and she was alert and opened her eyes right away. At that moment, we were a family--me a mother, Johnny a father, and we had our beautiful little girl in our arms after a long 9 months. Johnny cut the cord and we cuddled Adeline and kissed and looked into each other’s eyes…filled with tears of happiness and love…it was the most amazing experience of our lives.

We did it together with out pain medicine or an epidural, with a strong will and determination. Natural childbirth is a beautiful, wonderful, intense, emotional experience that tests the limits of your very core and being. I am proud of myself and Johnny."