Jen's Birth Story (Baby Kaleigh)
By Jen (jhoeflein)

Jen was diagnosed with gestational diabetes after 24 weeks and controlled it with diet and exercise.

I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes about halfway through my pregnancy (maybe a little earlier--I can't remember).

Anyway, I was on that strict carb counting diet from hell to keep the baby's weight down. My original due date was August 14, but that was a Saturday. My doctor told me in advance that he "doesn't do Saturdays."

I had problems off and on the last two months of my pregnancy because of extremely low blood sugars and major swelling in my ankles and feet. The baby had "dropped" by the time I was seven months pregnant and many of you know how uncomfortable that is! I suffered the rest of my pregnancy but it got worse the last month. By the last month I was unable to walk without waddling, unable to bend, kneel down, sit down, stand up, get into bed etc.

I went in for my final appointment August 3rd for an ultrasound. The doctor told me that Kaleigh was approximately 8-1/2 lbs, and that if we didn't get her out soon she would be too big for me to deliver vaginally.

So naturally I'm freaking out because I think she's a giant and, well, I was scared to have a baby. Those nerves can get to you when you know the baby is hours away!

I went in to be induced August 4th at 5 am. They started pitocin at 7 am and that wasn't bad at all. I watched TV until about 9:30 am when my doc showed up to break my water.

Now women aren't used to being soaking wet "down there" and they made me sit in it for what seemed like forever! It was so nasty!

After that, the contractions were a little stronger but I could tolerate it. My doctor said I could have my epidural any time, and not to test my pain tolerance. I went through about six contractions and I had enough!

Once the epidural was in, I felt better, but I started feeling like I wanted to vomit. So, they gave me something for that and it knocked me out.

Now when I went into the hospital at 5 am I was about 3 cm dilated. By 11 am I was up to 6 cm.

My dad had been up there all morning. He went to lunch with my step-mom and came back around noon. They had just checked me and I was up to 9 cm. Wow, 3 cm in an hour!

It slowed down by then and everyone was making phone calls to make sure the family was there in time. It was about 2:00 pm by the time my husband Brian's parents arrived. They visited with me for a few minutes then it was time to push.

The nurses threw everyone out (which made me feel important) and I pushed about 30 minutes. The time flew by. Then they called my doctor who came running in with about three people. The nurses are telling me to push, the doctor is getting dressed, they are taking apart my bed, and nurses are in and out--it was complete chaos!

About 15 minutes later, at 2:45 pm Kaleigh was born. She weighed 7 lbs even (so much for that 8-1/2 pounder). She was 19-1/2 inches long.

I had always said throughout my pregnancy that I thought it was so weird to love someone so much that I had never even met. Once I had her in my arms it all made sense. It's like a love I had never known or felt before and I knew in her eyes, I could do no wrong. All my fears were gone and I was ready to be with my baby.

Thinking about that day, its so amazing to me how fast it happened. From when they started pitocin to when she was born was only 7 hours and 45 minutes. Whenever I look at Kaleigh its almost like I have to pinch myself because yeah she's really here. She's healthy and she's happy, and I guess I'm doing everything right.

It's been almost a year from when I found out I was pregnant, and what a rocky road it's been but it's all been worth it. Every smile I get from Kaleigh reminds me how much it was worth!

Jen

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