Childbirth Experience

I don't have children of my own yet.  My husband and I have been trying for years and after many visits to the doctor have learned that IVF is the best route to go.  I pray that one day soon I will be able to talk about my own birthing experience.  Instead I will share the day my niece Kalynn was born.

I will never forget receiving the phone call at 4:15 a.m. from my father on March 26, 2004.  I answered the phone and heard "Keli, your sister is in labor.  You should need to get to the hospital".  I sat in bed for 3 minutes trying to process what he had said.  I was still half asleep and I didn't know if I was dreaming.  It didn't take me long to kick it into gear.  I had no idea how long we would be in the hospital so I grabbed my portable DVD player and some of my sisters favorite movies.  My hope was to try and keep her laughing and as comfortable as possible.  I soon found out that my plan wasn't the best one.

I drove to the hospital and remembered that I had an 8:00 class I was supposed to be in.  I called my professor and left her a message saying that I was not going to be in class because my niece was being born that day.

I finally made it to the hospital at 5:30.  They have given my sister an epidural and she was feeling no pain. In fact right after I got there we both fell asleep for a couple of hours.  My sister didn't get much sleep because the nurses kept coming in to check her status.  When I woke up we chatted for awhile and I asked her if she wanted to watch a movie.  5 minutes into the movie she sits straight up in bed and groans.  I looked over at the monitor and saw that she was having a contraction.  I began to get nervous because I knew the medicine was wearing off.  I asked my mother if I should go get the nurse.  We waited a few more minutes, but each contraction that came the pain was greater.  I ran to find her nurse!  She came in and said that it was to soon for another epidural.  I think everyone in the room was devastated by this news.  It was so hard to watch my baby sister in pain and there was nothing I could do to help.

9:45 - The nurse come back in with the anesthesiologist to give my sister another epidural.  The nurse checks her one more time and said that she had dilated 10 centimeters and was about to have a baby.  Unfortunately she did not receive the second epidural.  The doctor came in and said it is time to push!
I held her right leg and my aunt held the left.  My mother held Kasie's hand and we all encouraged her through the pain.  I remember looking down and seeing Kalynn's head starting to come out.  I was so excited i could barley hold my sisters leg.  I couldn't believe that I was seeing this miracle happen before my eyes.  Kasie gave her final push at 10:05 and Kalynn was here.
I will never forget that day.  My niece is 9 years old now and I have shared with her what it was like to see her come into this world.  I have a wonderful relationship with Kalynn and I see her almost everyday.