Birth Story

At 40 weeks and 3 days pregnant I was induced into labor.  Initially I had mixed feelings about being induced.  I wanted labor to start on its own- when the baby was ready.  But I also didn't want to have a huge baby.  I was able to be induced as early as 39 weeks, but since Hattie came right at 40 weeks I was hopeful that labor would start by that time.

It didn't.  I had an appointment with my OB/GYN the day I was 40 weeks along and I was scheduled to be induced 3 days later.

So on Sunday March 15, 2015, we woke up early and got ready to have a baby!  We dropped off Hattie at the Roths.  Before leaving Kurt and Joe gave me a priesthood blessing and we took a picture:

Then it was off to the hospital!  It was a strange feeling: going to have a baby, but not being in labor.  It wasn't urgent, I'd actually gotten some rest the night before, but it didn't quite seem real.

We checked in and went to our room.  The nurse, Jeri, put the straps around me to monitor contractions and the baby's heart rate.  I was already contracting and dilated to 3cm (I already knew this heading in) but I could barely feel the contractions- I'd been having them for weeks.

At 9:00 am I was started on pitocin,  I was contracting regularly within 10-15 minutes, but they still weren't very strong- uncomfortable, but not too painful.

Around 11:00 am my doctor came to check on me.  She said if I wanted to speed things along she could break my water.  I said yes!  He's 3 days past due- let's get things moving!  And it certainly did.  Things got way more intense in a short amount of time.  I had also been told I could get an epidural whenever I wanted- the anesthesiologist was on our floor and ready to go any time.  Around 11:30 I was ready for that epidural!  And I had it by 11:45.

After that things were pretty easy going.  I took a nap.  Kurt went down to the cafeteria and ate lunch.  At 1:30 pm the nurse checked me- I was 9cm!!!

About 20 minutes later it was time to push.  After 3 rounds of contractions (you only push when you're contracting) Henry Werner Biehl was born at 2:01pm.

When he came out Dr. Cardona said "whoa! Big baby! At least an 8 pounder"!  And then after they weighed him everyone agreed he's not a big baby- he's a huge baby!

9 lbs 11 oz and 22 in long

This whole process was so much better than my birthing experience with Hattie.  Not that it was awful with Hattie, we had no complications, it was just sooo long.  It was actually a very similar process for both- started out slow, broke my water to speed things up, got an epidural, quickly dilated to 10cm, then had a baby!  With Hattie it was an 18 hour process, with Henry it only took 5 hours total.  And I wasn't even in labor when I arrived!  It was much less stressful and less exhausting both physically and emotionally for me and Kurt.  It was amazing!

Now if only the healing process could be sped up too.

Henry is perfect and amazing!  We love him so much!  Not only is he adorable, he's a great eater, a surprisingly good sleeper, and very tolerant of an excited 2 year old sister.  Welcome to the family Henry!  We're so glad you're here!


Also- he looks like Hattie!