Isabella Birth letter From mommy

My Dearest Isabella,
  My name is Danielle. I'm 23 years old and I am your mother. I'm writing you this letter to help you understand how wonderful your birth was for me to experience. On February 18, 2003, I took a home pregnancy test and found out that you were on your way.  I was overjoyed to have another baby! Your Daddy was the first person that I told. I wanted to tell him in a special way, but I was just too overjoyed to contain myself, so I just screamed the wonderful news through the house. I began my pregnancy by going to a doctor, but I quickly found out this doctor wasn't for me. There were many beliefs and wishes I had for your birth that his doctor and I didn't agree on, so at that point I felt a midwife would be a much better choice for us. I had an epidural with your two brothers and wanted to bring you into this world in a more natural way. I found a wonderful midwife named Cathy Badeaux. She was wonderful, she saw me though my pregnancy. She listened to your strong heartbeat at every visit. You gave us a hard time tracking it, because you didn't stay still, but that just made us laugh. You had a little personality already. I had many concerns about your birth. I carried you for nine months and I didn't want you to leave my side. I didn't want any unnecessary hospital produces to be done on you. I was worried about the hospital staff trying to do things that were against my wishes, but Cathy always tried her best to put my mind at ease. On June 12, 2003, Cathy set me up to see the doctor she works with instead of her for an ultrasound. The ultrasound reviled that you were a perfectly healthy little girl. I was just beside myself with joy. In August, I found a wonderful Doula named Kathy Parry. A Doula is a woman who supports a mother through her labor and delivery.
 The last few weeks of my pregnancy I was getting very excited about your upcoming birth. I was ready to meet you. Everything seemed to be ready for you. I had tons of pink everywhere just waiting for you to arrive. Your big brothers were so excited too. They would kiss my belly and ask when you were coming out. On Thursday, October 9, 2003, I just knew it was time for you to be born.  I talked with my Doula Kathy and she gave me a few pointers on helping to encourage labor. I went to see my midwife, Kathy that after noon. She listened to your heartbeat and gave me an exam. I was 1-2 cm dilated and 50% effaced. It could be anytime now she said. I was so ready to meet you. As a joke I asked my midwife, Cathy to sprinkle Labor dust on me. I went home and waited for Daddy to come home. When he got there I told him I needed to get you a head support for your car seat, so we ran out and got one. On the way home I told Daddy that he wasn't going to work the next day that you were coming out that night. He laughed at me. We went home and put your big brothers to bed. I tried three of the labor encouragement things my Doula had suggested. Nothing worked. I had given up and was having a glass of tea and was going to lie down. A half an hour later, a little after 10 o'clock at night I started having some painful contractions. The contractions weren't all that strong, but strong enough to where I couldn't sit still. I got on the computer and went online to try and take my mind off of the contractions, but that wasn't working.  The next few hours moving around the house; lying on the floor and hanging on the counter tops. Around 1:30 in the morning I decided to call my midwife Cathy and let her know what was going on. I didn't think I was in Labor, I thought it was wishful thinking. I was hoping if I went to the hospital they would help get things moving since something was going on. Cathy told me I could either stay home or go to the hospital. Since I wasn't getting any rest at home and I wanted to know if I was in Labor, I told her I was going to go to the hospital. She said okay and she let them know I was on my way. I went upstairs to my bedroom and looked around wondering what I should bring. My suit case was packed, but since I didn't think I was in labor I said I wasn't going to bring it. I was in a pretty good mood wanting to stay active. I went and got your two brothers up and carried them to the car. Daddy was fixing their car seats. I put them in and off to the hospital we went. I arrived there about two o'clock in the morning. The nurses hooked me up to the monitors to watch your heartbeat and my contractions. I saw three contractions pretty close together and I was amazed. I knew the pains were real and not just in my head at that point. The nurse examined me. I was 4cm dilated and 65% effaced. I was in disbelief, since I had been only 1-2 cm that afternoon. The nurses called Cathy and I was told to walk for an hour. I called my Doula, Kathy and let her know I was at the hospital and that they wanted me to walk for an hour and that I was 4 cm dilated. I had your brothers and Daddy with me for a little while. Your brothers are only 3½ years old and 2½ years old. Alexander walked with me some. When I stopped to breath through a contraction he would copy my breathing. Cameron was very tried and fussy.  So I thought it be easier if your brothers went home for a little while with Daddy. I still wasn't convinced I was in labor. They left and I kept walking. I tried to walk through the contractions not paying any mind to them, some were harder than others. At the end of the hour I was examined again and was 4-5 cm and 70%-75% effaced. I was staying for sure. I called my Doula back and told her that I was in labor and she could come to the hospital. I called Daddy and told him I was staying, but I was okay for now. Fifteen minutes later I started to lose my mucus plug. I called Daddy and told him all the things I needed and to call my grandma and to take your brothers to her. At that point I asked to be moved to the big Labor room with the tub. My back was hurting so I asked to get in the shower. That felt good I stayed in there for about 15 minutes and let the shower beat on my back. When I got out they wanted to watch your heart rate so they put me in the bed for a while. I was in so much pain while on the bed. I started calling the bed evil at that point; it made labor so much worse. Around 4 o'clock in the morning my midwife Cathy arrived and shortly after my Doula Kathy arrived. I had gotten on the birthing ball and was leaning on the bed. My Doula, Kathy was putting pressure on my lower back which was helping with some of the pain I was having. I was in a fairly good mood, still laughing and talking between contractions. My midwife, Cathy was laughing because when I would get a contraction I would do a dramatic bow and I would bury my face into the bed. My midwife Cathy had offered the tub, but I was still doing okay enjoying myself talking and laughing even trying not to pay attention to some contractions. I was waiting on Daddy to get back, but it started to get bad so I told them to start running the water. Daddy arrived a few minutes later. I got my shirt I planned to wear out of my suit case and got in the tub. I started out just sitting up with my Doula, Kathy putting pressure on my lower back and breathing through the contractions. Daddy and my midwife, Cathy were sitting beside me too. After a while I realized I had to use the bathroom. I stood up to get out the tub, but before I got out another contraction came. The tub helped so much that I sat back down. When the contraction was over I ran to the bathroom with my midwife chasing me down with a towel, she was afraid I would slip. I had another contraction in the bathroom. My Doula, Kathy helped me through it. I tried to use the bathroom then I went back into tub. My midwife brought me some ice to eat. That was my big craving through my pregnancy. There wasn't enough time between contractions for me to eat or drink anything else. My midwife, Cathy was laughing at how excited I got for the ice and how I crushed it with my teeth. A little while later I had to use the bathroom again. This time I got out the tub slowly. I went from the tub to the birthing ball and finally to the toilet. I asked to use the bathroom alone this time, I had to pee through a contraction, but I fully emptied my bladder. After I used the bathroom I went and laid on the bed for an exam. I was a good 6 cm and my bag of water was bulging. My midwife, Cathy asked me if  I wanted her to break it. I told her I didn't care, so she just hit it with her finger and it broke. It went everywhere; I had a lot of water. My midwife, Cathy had to change. After it was broke I looked down and half my belly was gone, but I could see where your little butt was. I had about three contractions on the bed and then it was too much for me I had to get back in the tub. The contractions were getting pretty bad at this point. I wasn't just breathing through them anymore, I was moaning through them. Around 6:30 in the morning Daddy finally called the family to let them know you were on your way. I had stopped talking and laughing through the contractions at this point. My moans were louder. I was crying that I was doing a bad job, but Daddy, my midwife Cathy and my Doula, Cathy were all encouraging me and telling me I was doing great. They were all so supportive. I started having more pressure with my contractions, so around 7:15 in the morning my midwife, Cathy examined me I was 9 cm with just a little lip. My midwife, Cathy told me I could push when I had the urge. I became very emotional crying before each contraction. I was crying because I knew I was going to have you all natural, the way I wanted to bring you into this world. There was no turning back now. A few minutes later I started to push and before anyone knew it you were crowing and your head was coming out. You were born at 7:28am. I was truly amazed once I had you in my arms. I was filled with tears of joy. You brought so much happiness to my life with in moments of your birth. A few minutes later I handed you off to the nurse to wrap you and then she handed you to Daddy.  I got out of the tub and into the bed where I delivered your after birth, twelve minutes after your birth. A few moments later you were handed back to me and you were nursing like a pro. I was so proud, of you already doing so well. I was so amazed by your birth. It was one of the most amazing things I have ever experienced. I was so proud to bring you into this world in such a wonderful way. I now believe that any woman can have natural child birth. It just all depends on what empowers her and you empowered me to do it. I was very doubtful of myself but you gave me the strength to do this for you. It's one of the best experiences of my life, it truly made me feel as if I done something wonderful and remarkable in this world and it was all for a wonderful little girl named Isabella Lauryn Tassin.
 Our stay at the hospital was wonderful. Everything I worried about through my pregnancy with you fell right into place. You were weighed and measured in my room weighing 6 pounds and 12.8 ounces. You were the first baby to be measured and weighed in her mother’s room at this hospital. We got a huge private room. Daddy had a nice cot to sleep on. The only time you went to the nursery was for your pictures and because I needed a shower. We had a lot of calls and some visitors. You are now a week old and you are lying in my lap sleeping as I write this letter to you and I truly feel blessed. You are a wonderful, delightful little girl.
 
Love you Always,
                    Mommy