Birth story

This will be written in parts (over many days) - being a Mommy is my first priority now!

I am still in awe that we have such a bright, beautiful daughter.

Addison Faith Harris was born on Christmas morning, December 25th 2010 at 12:34 AM weighing in at 7 lbs 5 ozs - Born at Credit Valley Hospital with my loving husband coaching us along and a wonderful team of nurses. The OB wasn't our OB and we didn't like him at all, horrible bed side manner, but the team of nurses more than made up for it.

It all started on December 23rd at 11:14 PM when I woke Aaron up telling him my water broke. I think that is the biggest wake up Aaron ever received. We both were so shocked as her due date was January 9th 2011. Addison has other plans, she wanted to be our Christmas miracle. We went right to labour and delivery to be checked out, I was only 1 cm dilated so they sent us home and said we had to be back by 11 am on Christmas eve (December 24th) so we went home. I don't think either of us slept at all that night, we were too excited and nervous that our miracle was about to come into the world. I was very scared and my anxiety took over when we were at home, at the hospital I was amazing.

We headed to the hospital around 10 am, we wanted to get the show on the road and were hoping Addison would be born on December 24th so she would have her own birthday. They were all ready and waiting for us in our birthing suite (room 3334) and I got dressed and hooked up and they started pitocin around 11:30. Grama and Grampa came by to wish us luck, as well as Aunt Jessica and Shawn. They left once the pain started around 3 pm. I was still only about 2 cms at this point.

Our one nurse Jasmine said I should get up and walk around or roll/bounce on the birth ball. It is a huge yoga ball - Aaron said I was on the ball for over an hour and I got to 6 cms with that. This was around 7 pm now. My goal was 4 cms before getting the epidural, and I made it to 6 cms - I was thrilled with myself for that. Let me tell you, back labour is so very painful.

I was more scared of the epidural than any other part of labour/delivery. The Anastegoligst was super friendly and chatty which really helped. I was having a horrible contraction while he was doing the epidural and as the meds went in, the pain went away instantly. I was very relieved.

I had to have oxygen after the epidural because our heart rates went a little off, Addison and mine. The shaking from the epidural was more scary...but it is a very normal reaction and went away within 20 minutes or so.

We were told to get some rest before the big event, the nurse brought Aaron and I warm blankets. Who was she kidding, our miracle was on her way - we couldn't sleep! We just rested...and chatted...

By 9:30 PM I was 9.5 cms and thrilled!! The moment we had been waiting 9.5 months for - well, over three years for - was around the corner.

At 10:30 we started pushing and Katie the nurse said I was pushing like a pro. Addison would have been out sooner but her head had troubles coming past my pelvic bone. They suggested after 1.5 hours of pushing that they might want to use the vacuum or forceps, and that was not happening in my world so I pushed with all my might. 12:34 AM Addison was born - "Its a GIRL" three words I will never forget, and how she came into the world with big bright blue eyes just staring at us. A little cry from her and us and our lives were changed forever. Weighing 7 lbs 5 ozs we have our beautiful miracle daughter in our arms.

More details of our first few weeks to follow...

She was in a stocking when we went to the recovery ward :)
Megan, Aaron and Addison - Sent from my BlackBerry device on the Rogers Wireless Network