The arrival of Kinley Noel Barlow. My due date was Dec 21 but I was planning on being induced on the 28th since it seems like most people have to be induced on there first baby. On Dec 21 I had a Dr appointment at which they stripped my membrane for the second time. I was 3cm dilated and the Dr told me he thought I would deliver before the 28th. I started having frequent contractions but nothing painful. Brady and I met up with my family that night for a little Christmas party to exchange gifts. We came home and went to bed. I actually slept really well and woke up around 4am to use the restroom. When I got back in bed my contractions started getting increasingly more painful. I didn't want to chance going to the hospital and being sent home but didn't know how painful they should be before going in. Brady woke up to my whimpering but I held out until 5am when I couldn't take it anymore. We grabbed our things and headed to the hospital. We got checked in and the nurse came in to check me and said I was 4cm dilated. They hooked me and baby up to monitors but said they wanted to wait an hour to see if there was enough change to keep me. While waiting my contractions were getting really painful and luckily they decided I was advanced enough to stay. They couldn't do my epidural for about 30 min so the nurse decided to start an IV and just give me some pain meds. She had a really hard time getting an IV started but after 4 or 5 pokes finally got one in. The pain meds helped a little but I was still anxious for the epidural. I know i'm a wuss...I don't know how people do this naturally! They came in to give me my epidural and I was very surprised that it didn't hurt at all to get. It helped a lot but I was still feeling the contractions a descent amount which made me really nervous because I know the worst was to come. The nurse had the anesthesiologist come back in and he gave me a little more juice which did the trick. From that point I felt nothing from the waste down which was fantastic. The next time the nurse checked me I was 6cm dilated and she had the Dr come in and break my water. Brady was such a great support through everything. He doesn't do hospitals well so I was a little worried but he was so amazing. He even held the garbage for me while I threw up a few times. After the Dr broke my water it was only about an hour before I was 10cm and ready to push. The nurse told me most first time moms have to push 2 to 3 hours so that is what I was planning on. I started pushing around 10:45am an our little Kinley was born at 11:35am on Saturday, Dec 22, 2012. Things went so smoothly I just hope im not ruined if future babies are harder to get here. She weighed 8lb 11oz and was 20 inches long. It was such and amazing and surreal experience and I cant believe she is finally here. We spent the night at the hospital and went home the next afternoon. One of my favorite things is seeing Brady with her. He is so in love with her and I love watching him with her. He is the best Husband and will make the best daddy! We love our little Kinley and feel so blessed to be her parents.
