Abigail Kate's Birth Story

ahh! long time, no typing! LOL

But honestly, who wants to write a blog (or cook, clean or anything else, ha!) when you have a precious newborn who wants nothing more than to cuddle all the time! :)) NOT ME!

So, life has definitely been changing yet very pleasing and perfect at the same time!

Our sweet Abigail Kate was welcomed into this crazy world June 18th 2010 at 1242am. She was 6 pounds 9 ounces and 19 inches long. She is the most beautiful bundle of perfection ever! We love her to pieces and spoil her on a daily basis (something I said I would never do, but hey, you go through labor and get handed this adorable little girl and after looking into her eyes, try to remember not to spoil her) Yeah, right. haha.

Abigail Kate's Birth Story--
(the beginning) Wednesday, June 16th 2010. (also, Mommy & Daddy's 3year Anniversary)


I woke up on this day, knowing that we would be going into Naval Hospital Camp Lejeune at 6pm for a scheduled induction. Anxious as ever to meet our baby girl but feeling like the hours leading up to this time would be an eternity! (since the past 9 months have already been too long) 


My Mom had already arrived by lunch time and Justin's Dad, Shannon, Dylan & Trenton were still truckin' down I-40 on their way over! Justin & I met my Mom over at my Aunt & Uncle's house for lunch (pizza, probably not the best choice for a preeclamptic pregnant lady, but we enjoyed it) haha (wait till you hear what we had for dinner) We hung out with them while waiting for Justin's parent's to arrive and impatiently waiting for this never ending day for 6pm to come! Once they got here, we had to meet them at the gate to get a pass and brought them to our house. Justin & I got ready to go to dinner and celebrate our 3year anni! We were told to come to the hospital with a full stomach! Shogun!!! & let me tell you it sure was delish! Yummy! One of the best Japanese restaurants I've ever had! Thank you honey bear for a wonderful dinner and the best three years of marriage yet! ((many more to come though, right?)) lol Love you!


So, off to the hospital we headed! We arrive, Justin drops me off at the front door so I didn't have to waddle across the parking lot! and we were running late! I go up to labor & delivery, with my paper saying I needed to be there and that it was a scheduled induction. What do you know? No one knew I was suppose to be there. NOT ONE OF THE 8 NURSES SITTING THERE! Seriously, like deer in the headlight looks and ummm, stupid questions on who told me to be there, I should have called before I came etc. I show them my paper and tell them (in a very annoyed tone) that I was there now, I'm sorry that I did not call, what did they want me to do?! So one of the nurses kindly asked me to wait in the waiting room while they got me a room ready. Birthing Suite 14. Well, apparently they claim they had my initials backwards on my file and that's why they didn't recognize my name. (I think it was a lame excuse for giving me crap before, but I guess with having first names for both first and last, it could be possible) 
So from here on out, here's the breakdown of what happened the rest of the time I was there:

Arrived 6/16 @ 6pm; inserted Cervidil @ 840pm; ck'd- 1cm 20% effaced.

Started magnesium sulfate 6/17 @ 12am; inserted catheter; bloodwork

More bloodwork @ 6am

Removed Cervidil @ 840am; ck'd- 1cm 70% effaced

Took Cytotec pill @ 10am

Took Tylenol @ 220pm; ck'd- 2cm 70% effaced

Started Pitocin @ 315pm

Water broke @ 320pm

IV meds started- Stadol & phenergan @ 335pm

500pm ck'd- 3cm 90% effaced

Epidural @ 630pm (didn't work)

2nd Epidural @ 900pm; ck'd- 3cm 90%

Active labor 1 hour 28 minutes; Pushed 32 minutes

Abigail Kate Kelsey: June 18, 2010; 1242am 6lbs 9oz 19in long

I don't think I could have had a better labor companion or done any of this without the wonderful support of my husband. Justin was amazing during the whole labor & delivery. He stayed by my side the entire time and held my hand and I remember feeling so emotional over it because I loved having that warmth and coziness from his hands. He was definitely my rock. The hardest part of labor was the urge to push my girl out but the nurse not wanting me to push. I vaguely remember why they didn't want me to push (I was almost out of it at this point) but I remember everyone telling me not to push when I felt a contraction coming on. It was the most excruciating pain but I held on as long as possible. Justin was a great "coach" at helping me keep my mind off pushing. Very funny story with the breathing exercises & choo-choo sounds. (I don't want to talk about that, lol) Let me tell you though, once they gave me the go, I remember being tired but so determined to push our girl out into this world. I wanted her more than life itself. 

My other two labor companions that I am very thankful to have had there beside us, coaching, holding hands and legs, was my mother and my aunt Kris! Justin and I both said from the beginning that we wanted it to just be the two of us in the room when Abigail was born because of the special moment and then everyone could come in immediately after but I am very happy with our last minute decision to have them in there as well. They were a ton of help and I wouldn't have had it any other way! ((I have to add in that my mother of course was the one that about got sick during this and had to walk away)) 


I don't remember exactly the times and how long it took but just to get to 5cm seemed like forever but once I got there, I remember everything started to progress very quickly and within 20 minutes or so after the nurse checked me, I was at 8cm and them bam! I was fully dilated and Abigail was ready! I do remember thinking at this point, it's about time and let's get this beautiful baby girl born! The contractions weren't too bad and I wasn't feeling the need to actually push with every one. It seemed like every other contraction, I was pushing and definitely feeling more and more relief as I did. I pushed with all I had and then could take a break and between all of this, once Abby's head was almost emerged, the nurse was grabbing my hand and telling me to feel. It was such a sweet and once in a lifetime moment to reach down and feel my baby's head as it was making it's way out. I remember at some point the nurses told me that they would not be able to deliver onto my belly because she would need immediate suction and care but once her body was fully born at 1242am on 6.18.2010, they plopped her onto my stomach and her legs and feet were right in front of my face, I was touching and feeling her and I could feel the biggest smile across my face just looking at her and watching Justin cut her umbilical cord. One of the best moments of my life.


They took her over to the warmer to suction her and clean her up. It felt like I was never going to get to see her again because of the time it was taking them to weigh her and measure every inch of her tiny little body and get her hand and foot prints. I think it it was a good 30 minutes or longer before they did finally hand her over to her Daddy and he walked her to me. Only getting to hold her for a short time before they had to take her down to the nursery.

Labor is definitely one of the most intense pains one can experience (that's why they call it labor) but once Abby was handed to me, and I held her sweet body for the first time, looking into her eyes and thinking how tiny and perfect she is and smiling and then looking back at Justin to say how beautiful she is, I somehow forgot about all I had just been through and would do it all over again knowing the joy and comfort I would receive after.

Abby was taken down to the nursery to be monitored and watched a little more closely since she was also being effected by the magnesium sulfate and wanted her levels to be just right before letting her into our room. I was a bit sad because I didn't want this precious girl out of my sight for one minute but I had no choice. She also had a small grunt in her breathing but seemed to clear up very soon after being in there. She ended up not getting to leave the nursery until our last night in the hospital. We got to visit her as much as we wanted and I would have to go down to feed her. You better bet that I was anxious as ever to see her again every time we had to leave her. Seeing her tiny body laying on the warmer in the nursery and her being hooked up to an IV and all these other cords was heartbreaking to this Mama but I knew that they were only trying to get our girl better so she could come see us! Ahhh, finally, she was brought to us late in the evening on Saturday, 6.19.10, where we had several visitors waiting to hold her. ((The Goebel's, Fish & Butters)) The following day we got to check out and bring her home! (which was also Father's Day) Lucky Daddy! He couldn't have gotten a better Father's Day gift!! We are so thankful to have her and know that she is one gorgeous, healthy newborn!

Abigail is finally here and we are so in love!

"No one else will ever know the strength of my love for you. After all, you're the only one who knows what my heart sounds like from the inside."

Abby, you are so perfect to us and you will always be our little girl no matter how big you ever get. Remember that we love you more than anything, in fact, all around the world and back.

Love, Mommy & Daddy