Ka'Lya's birth story.

2 hours after the birth.

On April 15, 2009 I was having contractions every 5 minutes and some of them were really painful! Kevin took me up to the U and they monitored me for a few hours, and then decided to give me the beta methasone shot, which is a steroid that helps to develop her lungs faster. The shot does expire within 7 days and you cannot get the shot after 34 weeks. I got the first shot at 32 weeks and 2 days, and they give you the next one 24 hours later. I was admitted on the 15th later that afternoon. I was dilated to a 3 and 75% effaced, and when Rita (midwife) checked me I was dilated to a 3+, and that is why they decided to admit me. They observed for 24 hours and decided that the labor had not progressed and the medication was working. They gave me a prescription of nifedipine, originally used to help control blood pressure, but also found that it relaxes the uterus and helps with decreasing contractions. When I came home I was so glad to leave the hospital. I HATED being there. I was away from my kids and I missed them so much. I also felt so bad that everyone had to put their lives on hold to help me and Kev and our little family. Once I came home I was supposed to be on strict bed rest and that alone was hard to do. I knew Ka'Lya was preparing my body, because she was coming soon. The next week was very painful and the contractions and cramping hurt constantly. Kevin was really good about doing everything he could and letting me rest so the pain would not be as bad. Anyways the following week proved to be a preparation for her arrival!

On Wednesday April 22, 2009 at 12PM my water broke. I called my mom and told her we were headed to the hospital and we needed help with Aja. She was just going to come up to the hospital later, but I am so glad she decided to ride up with us that day or she would have missed everything. We dropped off Aja with my grandma and we went up to the U. When I got there at about 1PM they were going to have me just be checked at the OB ER. They asked me to stand up and they were going to do a sterile spec on me, but I told them as soon as I stand up I will gush water. They still made me stand! It was so weird I felt like I was peeing in front of everyone. The nurse was so funny, she said well I am supposed to examine you but never mind, I will get my sample from the floor. She took her Q-tips and swabbed my amniotic fluid from off the floor. I thought that was funny, but glad she did not have to sterile spec me!!!

She gave me a gown and got me a room. The time was about 1:30PM. I was having no contractions and was not laboring. Once I was settled in my room Dr. Draper and Rita came in. He checked me and said I was a 3+ and still 75% effaced. He told me that his goal was to wait until I was 34 weeks and then deliver me. I was thinking about infection and all the other stuff I had heard. Anyways, he said if I did not go into labor on my own he would give me pitocin on Saturday. At this point my mom told my dad and Brittnie that they did not need to come up because I may not have the babe that day. It was at this point I started having some small contractions that were every 10 minutes or so. Kevin decided that he was hungry and B&D burgers sounded good. He took everyone's order and left. The time was about 2:15PM. Kev had been gone maybe 15 minutes when the contractions hit HARD!!!!! The pain was indescribable. I was nervous because usually my mom freaks out when one of her kids is in pain. She panics and is not much help, with Kevin gone I thought I was on my own. This is when I realized that my mom can be an amazing labor coach. She told me to find a spot to focus on and breathe. They were about 3 minutes apart and she called my dad and Brittnie and said Stacie is a 5 and her contractions are bad so you better get up here fast! At this point I realized that Kevin did not have a cell with him and These contractions were close and bad. I was feeling them in the scar from my last 2 c-sections. They were very different from the other kids labor. The pain was scary. I knew that Dr. Draper said that he was going to allow me try to have a VBAC, or vaginal birth after a cesarean. I had 2 previous C-sections so it was a little riskier, but he believed it would be fine. When the other docs found that my pain was all in my scar area they were a little concerned. There were several docs who came in to check me because the biggest risk I had was the risk of uterine rupture. This is deadly to the mother and sometimes the fetus. I became panicked. I had to go to the bathroom and thought the position change would help. When I sat down, I realized I was wrong and that is when the terror and pain escalated. My mom caught me and held my hand. She told me to slow down my breathing and focus. The inside of my belly felt like it was being ripped apart. I imagined my uterus opening and that is when I realized something could go wrong fast. I was so glad that my mom was there. She kept me from imagining the worst even though she knew that the fear I was feeling was a real possibility. I was so worried Kevin was going to miss it. Finally after I went to the bathroom and my mom helped me back to bed, Kevin returned with his prized meal! He realized that the labor had intensified and was excruciating. He let me hold, or deform his hands, lol. The anesthesiologist came in to discuss the risks and benefits of an epidural. I was still sitting on the fence. I thought that I could do it natural. I was only worried about the contractions hurting in my scar area. I was concerned during every contraction that it was getting closer and closer to rupturing my uterus. I had one more contraction and decided that if I had not progressed then I would get one. Kevin said I was getting one no matter what! I did not find out until after the delivery that he wanted me to have one because the pain I am in and the risk of the rupture was making him stress and become very worried. The epidural would allow us to think straight and calm down as he said. I was checked and had not changed. I was in shock because for that 1 hour and 15 minutes I was sure there was a change or my body was broken!!! Since I had not changed I decided it was time for the epidural.

She got started right away and prepped me for the procedure. The biggest worry was that I was contracting during the procedure and I had to be still. Kevin came and sat in from of me and held my hands. I had to curl my back while sitting up over the bedside tray. She began and I realized that this was going to be harder than I thought. The first contraction hit and the pain was worse it seemed because I could not move! She got me numbed and began to infuse some medication and I had an immediate sharp pain on my right lower back. I screamed and she stopped. She asked where and what happened. I told her and she said she would pull all needles out and start over. It was later that I learned that she had forced blood out of my epidural space and into my lower back muscle. There was a large knot in this area and 2 days later there was a very small bruise. This caused a blood clot in the muscle and that is where most of my pain was after the delivery. It was gone after about 10 days. Once she was done she gave the medication and left. It was about 4:15PM and the epidural was not working. During this time my dad arrived and I was glad, but the pain was not gone. It was not even subsiding. They called her back in and she doubled the medication and by 4:45PM I felt good. Yeah!

It was at 5:10PM that Dr. Draper came in. he said he had a 7PM meeting but that he would check me and see if he could make the meeting or not. When he was checking me he surprised us all and said, "Are you ready to start pushing?" I was amazed I was fully dilated and effaced. Then I became nervous. I got a little scared about whether or not she was going to be OK. The Dr. who was a resident told me that if she knew doctor Draper he would have the baby out by 5:30PM. I was shocked. Wow it was all happening so fast. Then I got mad at myself for getting the epidural. I was disappointed but like Kev said it was probably what I needed to relax and allow myself to dilate. I agreed, even though I am still mad I did not wait longer!!!!!

I was so happy at this point that my mom and dad were there. My dad was the camera man and my mom showed me that she can be strong even in a scary time. Dr. Draper came in and asked if I was OK with a student in on the delivery. I was fine with it because not too long ago I was a student hoping that patients would allow me to be educated through their health care. The student gowned and gloved up and it was time to push.I forgot to mention that the entire last 45 minutes my mom and Kevin were giving a blow by blow on facebook. I began pushing at about 5:15PM and 3 sets of pushing later and Ka'Lya's head was out. Luckily Brittnie walked in 3 minutes before she was born. She said she parked her car with the valet people but did not have time to leave her keys. She just parked and ran. I thought that was funny. I remember asking Kevin, "does she have hair?" He smiled and said, "a lot!" Then one more push and she was out. Kevin remembers that right after she came out she opened her eyes and looked at him. He was shocked that being premature she would do that, it was a memorable moment for him. Once she was out she was passed through the "window" to the NICU. I was immediately crying. She was out, beautiful, breathing, and I was still alive! She never needed to be intubated or have a nasal cannula of O2. Her apgar scores were 4, 6, and 8. She did amazing and never had any major bumps in her journey to coming home. She was under the billi lights for 2 days. She never needed an NG tube, thanks to Kevin telling the Docs that our baby will not have one! She was meant to come when she did and worth every sacrifice given.

Ka'Lya ShirRae Fuller born on 4/22/09 at 5:30PM weighing 4lbs and 16.5 inches long. The months leading up to her birth were full of trials and tears for everyone. This pregnancy proved to be the hardest due to the needs of 4 other children. I was sick and vomiting often, I lost 23lbs and gained 2lbs back. I was nauseated all the time, and the pain of this pregnancy was comparable to laboring for 6 weeks. I also got a hernia in the left lower abdomen that is still healing to this day, and I have been anemic the entire second half and that has only added to the tiredness. I tell you all this because the trials and tribulations that me and my family and even friends have had to bear were all worth it. When I saw her little face and beautiful big eyes, I knew that I would have gone through it a hundred times more just to know her! She is perfect and beautiful and strong! She is small and as my mom has described it, she is a ball of joy!

I want to thank my family and friends and most of all Kevin and my mom for the sacrifice that was made on my behalf to get her here. I am so blessed to have her here healthy and strong. I thank my Heavenly Father for helping me and in those last months carrying me through the pregnancy. I am so blessed to have the kids that I have. I am happy to be here on this earth and be called Mommy! It is the most wonderful job and title I could ever be given! Thanks to everyone who is apart of our lives, we love you!