Introducing...

KATELYNN MARIE CLARK
Born May 11, 2011
8 lbs 6 oz, 18.5 inches

If you only care to see pics, then scroll down. If you want to hear the detailed labor story then stick around! :)

I was scheduled to work my last day on Wednesday the 11th. My alarm went off around 5:45am and I slowly log rolled out of bed. I then went to the bathroom to start getting ready for work. I noticed a small amount of pink in my underwear and again after peeing. I can only assume this is what they call the "bloody show". Anyway, I was not contracting but knew that this was a good sign of labor so I texted my colleague letting him know that I would not be going to work. I then texted my mom so that she could get on the road to come here. After that I told Josh that I was going to have the baby that day and he was confused as to why I was so convinced. But, I knew it was the day. I then proceeded to get ready for the day. I figured it was probably my only chance. While getting ready I was having light contractions about every 2 minutes. Although they were coming close together they weren't anything to talk about, just more confirmation that I was in the beginning stages of labor. Josh and Jackson woke up and Josh started making some breakfast. I proceeded to do a little "cleaning up" such as some laundry, changing the sheets, and even cleaning a portion of the bathroom. We then ate some breakfast. I dusted the family room and vacuumed a little. Then the contractions got a little more regular so I started keeping track. By this time it is 9:40ish I think. I was contracting about every 5-7 minutes and they were uncomfortable but I was doing okay. Josh asked if I wanted to go to the hospital and I said no. I had no desire to go to the hospital and labor all day. I was rating my contractions as they came and most of them I rated around a 5 for pain. I did mention to Josh during a couple that they were very uncomfortable and I might consider an epidural at the hospital. Around 11:20am I got a contraction that broke my water, just like a "pop" and a small gush of fluids. I still didn't think I was ready to go to the hospital since the contractions really weren't that regular and still coming 5-7 minutes apart. I went into the bathroom and after a few minutes of wandering in a stupor I got a contraction that really made me feel bad. I was sweaty and weak and just felt horrible. I called to Josh and told him we needed to go to the hospital. He could tell I didn't feel good and started rushing around trying to get everything in the car and Jackson with his shoes on, etc. I crawled myself into our bedroom and then had a contraction that still wasn't unbearably strong but at the end I was feeling like I needed to push. I was thinking to myself, no way I am that close. But I kind of got scared so I told Josh and then he was sprinting around. I even contemplated calling an ambulance and was telling myself that I shouldn't have let myself get this far. Josh was ready in a matter of minutes and then I waddled to the car. We only live about 4 miles from the hospital, with the drive it takes about 10 minutes though. We were supposed to drop Jackson at a friends house but I made Josh take me to the hospital first. In the car I was contracting but never had the urge to push again, thank goodness. I just would sit back in the seat and with each contraction the water was gushing. Luckily Josh had piled several towels so the car stayed clean! I told him to take me to the front entrance and get a wheelchair. He followed my directions and was told to take me to the ER. So around the hospital we went and Josh went in again at the entrance to the ER. A nurse slowly walks out with the wheelchair. I didn't want to move, I think Josh may have almost lifted me out of the car and into the chair. He then tried to put my feet in the foot pedals and I didn't even want to bend my legs. I then told him to hurry and take Jackson to the friend's house and come back asap. The nurse wheels me up to L&D and is asking how far apart my contractions are, how long they are lasting and I'm just answering "I don't know". In the meantime I continue to gush fluid out and I'm sitting in a puddle with stuff dripping down my legs. I get on the L&D floor and see my doctor who happens to be there on her lunch, give her a little wave and tell her I don't think I'm going to go through with the natural birth anymore. The nurse tries to wheel me into the first room, and it hasn't been cleaned. Then they were going to take me to "triage" and my doctor said no since I couldn't deliver in triage. I was a bit out of it so I'm not sure how long this took. When I got to my room they handed me a gown and a cup to pee in. I went into the bathroom and felt like I was in a stupor, very slow motion. Took off all of the wet clothes, attempted to leave a urine sample and instead felt like I was going to have a BM so I told them I couldn't pee and came out of the room. I went to the bed, laid down and told them I felt like I needed to push. They strapped a blood pressure cuff on me, got about 30 seconds on the fetal heart monitor and out popped baby Kate's head. My doctor turned around and delivered the rest of Katelynn with her bare hands. I then had to use my doctor's cell phone to call Josh, who had just gotten to our friends house, and tell him I had delivered our little lady. So, to let you know how fast this happened, the water broke around 11:25am and Katelynn was born at 12:11pm....not even an hour later and probably within 10 minutes of arriving at the hospital. Too fast if you ask me and Josh missed it. I was very sad about that. I know he was too. Josh put Jackson back in the car and they both made their way back to the hospital, meeting baby Katelynn together another 15 minutes later. I got a shot of pitocin after delivering the placenta to help the uterus contract and slow down the bleeding. Usually they give that in the IV, well I didn't get an IV. So there you have it. I'm a bit afraid already for my next delivery since I was so fast this time. I don't really want to be one of those women that delivers in the car or at home because it happens so fast. But, I can say that I was able to do it naturally again and it was actually a lot easier this time. No "ring of fire", she just kind of came out. Don't get me wrong, it hurt and was uncomfortable but I was at the end and didn't realize it until I felt her head pop out. I just wish Josh had been able to be there with me. Now the good part, enjoying the pictures of our little family of 4!

Jackson was soo excited to meet his baby sister, and what a proud brother he is!

First family picture

Josh and Jackson meeting and holding Katelynn for the first time


Washing her hair

Getting her temperature taken, and bath

Nice and pink with her purple feet after a bath



At home, Jackson is constantly asking to "share" Katelynn and loves holding her





Nana Van Woerkom arrived Wednesday evening. Jackson was so excited to show Nana his baby sister!