Announcing....

Carter Miller Steffen

February 24, 2009
8:58am
8lb 4oz
20.5in


The much anticipated birth story:

Since Thurday, February 18th I have been having contractions. They had been very spaced out and ranged in intensity. I knew for sure this baby would be early.

Monday night, I watched the Bachelor and went to bed around 10:30pm. At 2am Tuesday morning, I awoke with a very painful contraction. I got up, walked around, drank some water, and the contractions kept coming. I was afraid to time them because I didn't want to jinx it. So, I ran a hot bath and stayed in for a while. Around 3am I timed one contraction. It lasted over a minute and the next one was less then 3 minutes later. Woah! So, I woke up Brian and asked him to call the Dr for me. He called, and the midwife on duty called me back and told me to head into the hospital.

We got to the hospital a little after 4am. I went to triage and was checked. I was mentally prepared to be 1 or 2cm and was hoping I could stay there at least and not be sent home!! I was checked and I was 4cm, 70% effaced! I was on my way to my attempted VBAC! We called our friends the Ashtons to see if they could take Parker until my parents got there. Brian ran Parker down and I went to my labor and delivery room (I was in there around 5am). Not long after I got in the room my doula, Chris (short for Christine), arrived, and it was her birthday!!

The on-call midwife (i don't know her name =[) was amazing. She kept telling me to visualize the baby moving behind my pubic bone while I was standing and swaying. When I had a contractions she would tell me to 'breathe my cervix open'. She was a very sweet lady.

I was hooked up to the fetal monitors and they ran an iv just for a bit. Then Chris and I walked around while Brian went to the car to get the bags.

Soon after, I asked if I could go in the tub. I went into the jetted tub at 6:15a. No iv! No monitors! =] I was 6cm dialated, 90% effaced. I stayed in the tub for about an hr.

I started feeling lots of pressure and pain and so I got out of the tub and went to the room to be checked. I was 9cm dialated, almost 100% effaced.

At this point the contractions seemed to never stop and so, I got in some different positions to help. While I was leaning on the bed at 8:23a my water broke! All of a sudden the room got really bright and I had a burst of energy. Contractions became even more tough. My cervix was almost all the way effaced- there was a tiny little lip left. I asked just to make sure I could not get medicine at this point. Chris said "Holly, you are almost there. You've done all the hard stuff!" That was what I needed to hear. My doctor, one of the midwives, Chris, Brian, and a couple nurses all witnessed what you are about to read:


I laid on my side for about 2 contractions and I said "oh my gosh, I gotta push! I can't stop it". So, they hurried to check me. I was ready to push!!!! At 8:40am I started to push.
After 18min, Carter arrived!!

I did it!! I really did it!! I can birth babies as God intended!!
Tears started coming, I had done it.

My dream came true.

I AM A SUPERWOMAN.

ICAN and IDID VBAC Med Free!

No words can describe the feeling I felt as I felt his little body coming out of mine. This is what it was supposed to be like. This is how it was supposed to feel. My body knew what to do, and did it! Incredible.

They placed him on me, and then took him away to complete all of his vitals. He wasn't breathing and was a little blue. (later I found out the cord was around his neck) I wasn't worried then or when I found out (they would monitor his heartbeat often with the portable monitor or they'd place the other monitor on me to hear/see the heartbeat)..... They got him breathing and gave him a little oxygen. Brian cut the cord. He was weighed, wrapped and we got him back! No wisking him off to the nursery! I saw my baby!!!

I could not have done it without my amazing support team!!! Chris (below) and Dr Berry were lifesavers.

Brian and I are so blessed to have experienced this.
Our first family photo: I know, I look amazing.Brotherly Love:Carter is all ready to go home!
(Random side note: There was a woman due 1 day before me and she was a VBAC too. She had her baby Monday- the day before me- and she was also successful.... we also gave birth in the same room!.... room 16 is a lucky one, I tell ya!)

THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR YOUR PRAYERS, SUPPORT, AND LOVE!!!

Oh, and for the guessing:
Britta was closest to the date guessing Feb 23rd and he was born the 24th!
& Racheal had the weight spot on: 8lbs 4oz!
Thanks for playing!