Kate had the baby!!!!

Chatty - posted on 01/30/2011

YAY! Congrats to Kate and family!

Cathy - posted on 01/30/2011

Congratulations Kate.

Epidurals have there place and I'm pleased you did what you needed for your body to get through it.

Get some rest!!!

Erin - posted on 01/30/2011

Yay for new babies! I'm glad that you are comfortable with your choices regarding Paul's birth. Just goes to show each birth is different, and if you follow your instincts you can't go wrong.

Enjoy your babymoon :)

Shannen - posted on 01/29/2011

Thats Awesome Kate. Glad it's over for you and now you can enjoy every moment with him. I'm sure, even though your sleep deprived now you will get more sleep then you were a week ago.

Desiree - posted on 01/29/2011

COngrats!!! May he bring you great joy.

Johnny - posted on 01/29/2011

Congratulations to you & your family Kate! I can't wait to see pictures of little Paul. It sounds like you did exactly what you needed to do for your body, and that's all we can ever ask for, right? Too bad about the stitches though, I guess you'll be making friends with some peas. Enjoy the ride and I'm happy to hear he's such a nursing champ and that your milk came in.

Nicole - posted on 01/29/2011

Congrats!!! I hope you feel better soon. REST! If that is even possible with another child at home, but try. ;o)

Fiona - posted on 01/29/2011

Congratulations Kate and welcome to little Paul. What a wonderful happy ending/beginning for you all. Enjoy!

April - posted on 01/29/2011

ps...i can't find the Guess Kate's Date thread...I wanted to find out who won bragging rights for the closest date and weight/height!

April - posted on 01/29/2011

Kate, I am so glad that everything is finally over for you and that little Paul is here! I was reading your last post and it brought tears to my eyes. If I ever get a chance to have another baby again...I am going to remember how strong you were. You knew what your body needed and you fought for the right to labor the way you wanted, even though the doctors and nurses gave you a hard time! I am going to try for an HBAC for my next baby, there won't be doctors but I am sure I am going to hear from others who think I should do this or that. Thank you again for sharing your story...congratulations again, Kate!!

Joanna - posted on 01/29/2011

I'm glad the pain is over... Hope little Paul lets you get some rest! Congrats!

Kate CP - posted on 01/29/2011

Thanks, everyone! Paul and I are doing good although I have to admit: I'm SORE. I wasn't this sore with my daughter, but the whole experience was SO night and day different it doesn't surprise me.

I went to my doctor's appointment at 10:30 on Wednesday and was having contractions every 10-15 minutes. I was miserable, I was in pain, and the genius basically shrugged his shoulders at me and said "I don't know why this is happening. There's not really anything I can do unless I send you for an amnio to see if the baby's lungs are mature enough to induce you NOW. You can try taking some Vicodan at home to see if it will help the pain. We can induce you next Thursday?" Fine, whatever. I took the induction appointment, went home and took the pills, and continued to have contractions every 10 minutes or so. Only now I was spacey from the Vicodan. Fun times. I stayed at my mom's all day Wednesday because it was closer to the hospital and she was my labor coach. By 8pm on Wednesday I was have contractions every 5 minutes or so and I was NOT a happy camper. It was at this point I called the hospital again and said "If I come in and I'm not dilated I want you to give me an IV for fluids and KNOCK ME OUT. I'm exhausted and I need a break." The doctor on call agreed and I went to the hospital. At this point my mother began to fight with me about going to the hospital. She kept saying it's too early to go, that they wouldn't be able to do anything. I told her I didn't give a shit and that I was tired and sore and needed a damn break and if she didn't like it she could stay home. She came with me. I get to the hospital and I'm relieved to find out I'm 3cm dilated! I could have done a dance I was so happy! They admitted me, gave me demerol, and I labored on my own for another four hours or so. The demerol stopped working, the contractions were getting stronger but not really closer together and I reached transition. I was done. I opted for the epidural.

Yes, folks, I said it: I wanted an epidural. And I got one. And I'm thankful I did. I still can't believe I opted for one AND I'm happy I did it, too. It blows my mind. Here's why:

I told the nurse "Call the anesthesiologist. I want the epidural." She goes to call the doctor and my mother gives me a look. "This will slow your labor down, you know" she says to me. I tell my loving, well-intentioned mother that I didn't give two shits what it did to my labor. I was in transition, I had been in labor for SIX FUCKING DAYS and I needed a break. "I'm sorry, Mom. You know that if this hadn't been going on for so long that I could do this without it. But I need a break. I can't do this any more. I'm about to lose it," I told her in between contractions. She nodded and said okay, said she wasn't disappointed (I still don't know how truthful a statement that was) and she understood. So I got my epidural and the experience of getting it wasn't bad. I apparently got a walking epidural as I could still move around and feel pressure to push but the pain was pretty much gone. Right after the epidural was in and was taking effect my contractions went into over-drive and I was almost constantly contracting. Two hours later I was pushing (went from a 4 to a 10 in two hours). I remember how long I pushed this time around (!): 20 minutes. I tore this time instead of having an episiotomy and I have internal sutures, too. I am *sore*, ladies. Paul was born at 3:38 in the morning, latched on immediately (he's a champion nurser), and has been doing great ever since. My back feels great, I haven't had any headaches or other issues from the epidural, and I'm exhausted from lack of sleep...but I'm so happy it's over and he's healthy. Again, thanks for all the love and well-wishes, ladies. It's meant a lot to me to have this much support. :)

Amanda - posted on 01/28/2011

Congrats!

Veronica - posted on 01/28/2011

Congrats Kate -- I was rootin for next weekend -- Hope she is doing well, and baby too!

~Jennifer - posted on 01/28/2011

Yesterday, V.
=)

Veronica - posted on 01/28/2011

What date?

Melissa - posted on 01/27/2011

congrats

April - posted on 01/27/2011

CONGRATULATIONS KATE!!!! :)

Teresa - posted on 01/27/2011

Congrats Kate!!! :)

Sapphire - posted on 01/27/2011

Congratulations to you & your family :-)

Nicole - posted on 01/27/2011

Congratulations!!!

Joy - posted on 01/27/2011

That's awesome! Congratulations Kate!!!!!

Sherri - posted on 01/27/2011

Congratulations!!

Becky - posted on 01/27/2011

Woohoo! Congratulations Kate!

Amanda - posted on 01/27/2011

yay! congrats Kate! i think we should all have a sundae in her honor!

Erin - posted on 01/27/2011

Fabulous! Congrats Kate!

Julianne - posted on 01/27/2011

congrats.

Lady Heather - posted on 01/27/2011

Yay!!!

Jocelyn - posted on 01/27/2011

Yay congrats for Kate!
Too bad she doesn't get to join our club tho :P

Good Day! - posted on 01/27/2011

Yay!!! Congrats Kate!

Tara - posted on 01/27/2011

Congrats Kate and family!!
Welcome to the world Paul!

Minnie - posted on 01/27/2011

Excellent! Congratulations, Kate!

Rosie - posted on 01/27/2011

yeah, i saw michael posted that on her wall katherine, lol!! we both got excited at the same time, hehe!! great minds think alike!

Lacye - posted on 01/27/2011

woo hoo! congrats Kate!

Jodi - posted on 01/27/2011

Congratulations Kate!!! I'm so glad he's finally here and healthy!!!!

Shauna - posted on 01/27/2011

CONGRATS!

Bonnie - posted on 01/27/2011

That's great news! Hope you recover well Kate!

Esther - posted on 01/27/2011

YAY!!! So glad her agony is over and her baby is fine.

~Jennifer - posted on 01/27/2011

Yes!!!!!!

Isobel - posted on 01/27/2011

a day too early for my bet...and too little too ;)

Congratulations Kate. I hope you ate a gallon of ice cream :)

Katherine - posted on 01/27/2011

I JUST saw after I posted. How did you know? Did you see Michael's post?

Rosie - posted on 01/27/2011

i just got done putting it in the update thread, lol!!