• Name: Natalie Smith

• Baby Name: ---

• Weight: 8 lbs 13 oz

• Legnth: 21.5 in

• Birthday: May 26th, 2018

• Gestation: 40 weeks and 1 Day

• Time of Birth: 11:05 PM

• Location: ---

10:00 PM

A little before 10:00 my little brother had come up to the room to be with me. Everyone else was still out, but he joined me for a little while. We played cards and enjoyed a moment together. My mom also came up at around 10:00, just as the nurse was coming in to check me.”Well, now you’ve really done it,” said the nurse. “Done what?” I asked her. “You are 10 centimeters dilated!” I couldn’t believe my ears. I’m progressing like molasses all day long, and then in a matter of two hours I’ve gone from a 4 to a 10?? My brother frantically texted our families and I called my husband to come upstairs. The nurse left to get my doctor to determine if it was time for me to push.

10:30 PM

I began pushing. I’m not sure the number of pushes or the amount of contractions I worked through, all I remember is feeling the excitement and butterflies of the moment finally arriving! I was finally going to be able to meet my son!! I still held my breath, wondering if he would get stuck at his shoulders. I prayed he wouldn’t!

There were a few things that were not what I expected them to be. My doctor did not put my feet in any stirrups. Instead my husband and my mom each got to hold a leg. I loved having that support and feeling like they were right with me the entire time. Thanks to my epidural, I didn’t really feel much pain. Pushing was a relief as I fought to release the pressure of childbirth, but I wouldn’t call the experience painful. I did have to have an episiotomy, which I absolutely felt. That was painful. As were the stitches after delivery. But still, my experience was quite painless and peaceful. The delivery room was packed with nurses standing by in case my baby or I had any trouble, and yet there was an overwhelming peace and calm that I felt in the room. By my side was my husband and my mom. I also invited my dad to be in the room. He stood at the head of my bed and off to one side. 3 of my favorite people in this world, there to cheer me on and witness the miracle of life that comes when a baby enters this world.

11:05 PM

Our sweet son entered this world. I will never forget the moment my doctor put that brand new baby up on my chest. I held my breath waiting for the cry. As he gasped for air and let out his first cry, I also began to cry. There is really no way to describe the love, relief, and joy that washes over you when you have a baby. I looked up at my husband. Neither of us had to say a word, we just had to look at each other. Our little boy had entered this world with vigor and strength. He has been bright eyed since the moment he was born. I loved looking into those eyes.

My doctor was amazing. She was supportive, informative, compassionate, and efficient! As I held my baby she got to work putting me back together. I am so grateful for good doctors who take wonderful care of their patients.

For one full hour my son and I experienced skin to skin. That is an hour of my life and his that I will always cherish. He wasn’t whisked away. They simply wiped him off a little and set him on my chest. They didn’t take him for measurements or weighing or anything. They just gave us time. It was beautiful, him and me, with my husband sitting by my side. Our little family. I just feel like words can’t describe that time. The closest I can get: Heaven. When our hour was up I breast fed for the first time, we got his measurements, and our family came to hold him.

Our sweet son weighed 8 pounds 13 ounces and was 21.5 inches long! Our perfect boy, who really wasn’t terribly big at all!

My birth experience taught me that I am stronger than I believe and that I can do hard things. It taught me that love multiplies. My birth experience taught me that there is such thing as perfection, and that babies are perfect. I love how my birth experience turned out. I wouldn't change a thing. I'm grateful my family could join us. I am grateful my son was born healthy and that our medical staff was attentive and professional. Birth is a beautiful thing. If you want to read more about my birth story or my pregnancy journey you can find more on my blog, www.theutahborntexan.com.