birth announcement and story

Makayla Monroe Colberg

born June 2, 2010

at 4:53pm

5 lbs 4 oz

17 3/4 inches long

Well, we didn't have to wait until the nonstress test to see

when Makayla was going to arrive. I guess she

decided she didn't want her birth story to begin

with induction and took matters into her own

tiny hands, about 10 days early.

I woke up about 4am on Wednesday, June 2nd

to use the restroom and as I got up my water broke

(or so I thought...it wasn't a huge deal

like on TV or in the movies).

Brandon was down in Augusta for work,

so I called my OB's office and spoke to the triage nurse.

She called the on call doctor

who suggested I wait a while if I wasn't having

contractions,but if I was to go on to the hospital.

I wasn't having contractions yet

and didn't want to get to the hospital and be sent home

so I decided to wait until morning.

 About 5:30am contractions began.

Or at least I thought so.

Never having had my "water break" or "contractions"

before I was just assuming this wasn't the real deal.

False labor, perhaps???

At this point I couldn't go back to sleep so I

finished packing my hospital bag, wandered around

our condo, tried to watch a litle TV, but mostly

watched the clock waiting for it to be 8:00 so

I could call the doctor's office.

I called my Mom and told her I thought

I was in labor. She was at the beach with my Dad and sisters.

She said to let her know what the doctor said and if

this was it she was on her way up.

I called my mother-in-law to take me to the doctor,

because I was hurting a little too much to drive.

Once 8:00 finally rolled around, I called

the doctor's office and got an appointment at 9:10.

It seemed like they were calling everyone else

in the waiting room except me, and during

this time the pain in my stomach and lower back

was intensifying.

About five seconds into seeing the doctor he said

my water had definitely broken and I was in labor,

I was 3cm dialated and needed to get the hospital.

He said "Today's the day!"

I was shocked, and a bit scared.

I had called Brandon at 4am and again at 7:30

to let him know what was going on...

so I called him back and said to get on the road fast!

 My mother-in-law (Bonnie)

had actually called him while I was in

with the doctor and said she thought this

was it and he should go ahead and start driving.

story break for a cute sleepy shot

So, they wheeled me out of the OB's office

(which is attached to the hospital actually)

hopped in Bonnie's car and drove about

two minutes to the main entrance.

I barely remember being wheeled to my

labor and delivery suite because

I was having back labor and it was really starting to hurt.

Either way, I showed up at the LDR suite

(which are super huge and nice, by the way)

and got changed into my lovely hospital issue gown.

As a sidenote: I wasn't a big fan of the nurse

I had right away, but I lucked up

 and they had a shift change about halfway

through and I got the sweetest nurse and nursing student

for the remainder of the delivery.

My doctor on call was one I had never seen before,

but I was so glad to have her.

I was glad to have a female doctor,

and she was calm, genuine and encouraging...

perfect for someone like me that tends

to freak out!

Ok, back to labor...

At this point I had monitors hooked around my

belly to track Makayla's heartbeats

and my contractions. For some reason

the monitor wasn't picking up my contractions

but I was definitely having them.

The contractions themselves weren't

as bad as I thought...it was the back labor

that hurt like the dickens. Geez!

They checked me again and I was at 4 cm,

and was told my doctor said I could get an epidural

if I wanted or some drugs via IV.

I said no to the IV drugs and the epidural at first.

Brandon hadn't gotten there yet and I wanted

to wait a bit longer in the first place, wanted him

to talk me through the epidural decision

and be there if/when I got one.

I think he was still about an hour away...ugh!

I tried to breath through the pain and Bonnie tried to

help massage my back pain away. The nurse kept

asking if I wanted meds and I declined a few times,

saying that when my husband got there I wanted

to walk the halls. At that point she said my contractions

were too close together and I wasn't getting enough

relief in between to walk the halls.

Once I realized that, and that I was probably going

to be staying in bed anyway, I agreed to the epi.

She started my IV, and fluids and called the anesthesiologist.

I know they use a super huge needle,

but it wasn't that painful...really. The worst of the pain

was the inital shot to numb the area.

I was leaning over, fighting the pain of a contraction

and, praise the Lord, Brandon walks in.

Perfect timing!!!

He held my hand while I was getting the epidural

and now that he was there I finally started to feel better

post-epidural hospital pic

notice I am smiling and not doubled over in back pain

notice Brandon's work attire on June 2nd...pink shirt and tie

please disregard my awful hair, I had a hair appt that same day

but obviously had to cancel it

So, after the epidural we just passed the time for a bit.

Within two hours I was at 6 cm,

and unfortunately a lady enduring fully natural

childbirth came into the room beside mine.

She was screaming her head off

and it terrified me. I admited throughout the day

that I was nervous but that was not cool.

I started crying and saying that if it was that bad

I couldn't do the pushing part.

Brandon and Bonnie reminded me

the epidural would take away the pain

and so I finally calmed down and plugged

my ears with my fingers until her

delivery was over. Thankfully it was quick!

Well, a few more hours went by...

I started feeling some back pain

and contractions again so they

upped my epidural meds a bit.

Dr. Jain came in to chat

and check my progress and I was at 10!

She said it was time to push.

Within a few minutes several people

were in the room setting up a table of supplies,

the nurses were prepping some things here and there

and Dr. Jain was in the corner flipping through some

papers. I guess my medical charts.

Once everything was ready we waited for the next contraction.

Each time a contraction came on they

told me to take a big breath and blow it out,

then to take a big breath and push.

I think I got about three long pushes per contraction.

The doctor and nurses

said I was really making progress and kept

at it for about 40 minutes.
Towards the end the doctor said if I looked down I

would be able to see the head...I said, no thanks.

(We had previously told the doctor and nurses

that I wanted Brandon to stand by my head and

encourage me and neither of us really wanted to

see anything...ha...we are not brave and didn't really

want to see what was going on!)

A few pushes later the doctor said,

"Ok, look down here."

Of course I said, rather sternly, "I don't want to!"

Dr. Jain then said,

"No, look, your baby is out!"

With that she lifted

Makayla onto my chest

and the tears started flowing.

She was gorgeous!

I remember crying and saying "Hey little girl"

and turning to Brandon and saying how beautiful she was.

Makayla was here,

safe, sound, healthy and beautiful!