Kylee's Birth Story

Kylee Rose Lankford arrived at 5:42 pm on April 17th, 2012. She weighted 6 lbs & 12 oz and was 19 inches long. She has beautiful dark hair and big blue gray eyes (for now)! We are SO in love!!

Here is the story of Kylee's arrival on April 17th, 2012.

We had to schedule a date to be induced and the doctors actually made the BIG DAY her due date. Although I originally wanted to go into labor on my own and experience the frenzy of rushing to the hospital...I was ready to meet our beautiful daughter! I couldn't sleep the night before because I was filled with so many emotions. I was told not to eat or drink anything past midnight (which wasn't a problem because I had NO appetite).

Tuesday morning we arrived at the hospital and all I could think about was how hungry I was!! All I could eat was ice chips...I actually tried to pretend they tasted like a delicious breakfast :) Once we were in the prep room the nurse hooked up my IV, and apparently I have "tough" skin which caused the nurse to really use some muscle inserting the IV...OUCH! Next came the doctor to break my bag of water...it took three attempts and it was by far the worst pain of the entire process. Once that was over they started the Pitocin (to start contractions) and the waiting started...

The nursing staff was WONDERFUL, especially my main nurse Linda. She kept telling me how great I was doing and was constantly making sure I wasn't in any pain. Our board had a "pain meter" and I kept using low numbers because I knew it only goes to 10 BUT lucky my nurse could see the pain in my eyes and suggested the epidural. I am so happy she did because by the time we waited for the anesthesiologist those contractions were VERY intense! I even snapped at my mom and Mike for talking during a contraction. I wanted it to be completely quiet...I really don't think that I was asking to much!!

Once the anesthesiologist arrived I had to sit up, hug a pillow and hold my head down. This is when I lost it I was uncontrollably shaking and even a little hysterical. I wasn't that scared of the epidural but once she arrived I think the reality hit me quick. On a happier note once that medicine kicked in I felt amazing :) I was relaxed watching T.V. (and all the pizza hut commercial) and I even took a quick 20 minute nap. I really enjoyed watching the monitor and not being able to feel the contractions!!! However, slowly I started to feel when I was having the contractions again and I mentioned it to Mike but he thought maybe I could just feel them because they were getting stronger. I considered this until I started to really feel the intense contractions and they were very close together. I decided to call the nurse and she went to find the anesthesiologist. At this point I was 8 to 9 cm dilated and freaking out that they weren't going to give me more medicine. By the time the anesthesiologist arrived I was clenching the bed in pain and the shaking had returned. LUCKILY they did give me an additional dose which in turn caused me to not be able to move my right leg at all!

Once the medicine kicked in we did some practice pushing with the nurse during every contraction. I was getting pretty exhausted and needed an ice chip after every attempt. Finally the doctor arrived for some pushes and I swear next thing I knew everyone was cheering me on and shouting one more big push! At last they lifted her up and set her right on me! That immediate connection will never leave me and I now understand that instant motherly love. 

The nurse allowed me to hold her for about a minute and then took her to the warmer to clean her up. Mike and my mom went to watch her and within minutes of being born she was already holding daddy's finger and starring into his eyes!

After what seemed like forever, but was probably only 5 minutes they brought Kylee back to me and laid her on her chest. It was the best feeling in the world!

I laid there holding and enjoying our first memories as a family. I couldn't believe this itty bitty baby just came out of my belly & was already loved so much!

 Kylee's birth was the most incredible experience :) I will never forget this day and those first precious moments of her life!