Here is my little Hallie Marie. She was born Wednesday August 13th at 3:30am at a birthing center in Alexandria Virginia. She weighed 7 lbs 12 oz and measured in at 20.75 inches. She has a little bit of strawberry blond hair and two birth marks on the back of her head.

I started having contractions Tuesday morning but they stayed 10 minutes apart for the majority of the day. I went about doing normal things and had an average day. The midwife came to my apartment around 7 pm and checked me. I was only dilated to a two and was told to relax because it could be awhile. Ben and I popped in a movie and by the end I was curling over in pain. We ended up going into the birthing center just before 1 am. My midwife and birthing assistant met us there and my contractions were now within minutes of each other. My labor progressed very fast after that. Hallie was born only three hours later. Labor was the most painful thing I have EVER experienced but God blesses moms by erasing the most painful memories. It was only two days later that my memory of the pain was vague.

Hallie is now a week old and we can’t stare at her enough! She makes the funniest faces and does the silliest things with her hands. The only complaint I have is her sleeping habits. She seems to think day is night and night is day. She also loves to sleep right next to Ben and I. (Usually on our bellies) I have come to find out that I too have to follow her sleeping habits if I am going to stay sane. Little naps, nursing, and changing diapers has taken over my life. Yesterday was my birthday and the best birthday I have ever had. I have the best husband who is already an amazing father and a beautiful little girl who I can’t wait to see grow up.

It’s been awhile since I posted the latest about my pregnancy. I am 39 weeks pregnant and officially due next Monday, August 11th. However my little angel gets to decide when she wants her birthday to be and I’m hoping it will be sooner than later.

Something that is worth mentioning is the fact that Ben and I decided to not have Hallie born in a hospital. Anyone who has talked to me throughout my pregnancy knows this was the last thing I planned on doing. I always said I would welcome the drugs to ease the pain. However, after taking a Lamaze class and going on a hospital tour Ben and I both didn’t feel right about it. We checked into a birthing center that is covered by our insurance and amazingly they made room for me although I am so close to my due date. When I went and visited the birth center I was amazed at how welcoming the midwives and staff treated me. They spent time really talking to me and they made me feel like a million bucks. Not to mention that fact that they made my labor and delivery sound like an event that could be a good experience and was meant to be a good experience.

The birth center is just a small little building in Alexandria, Virginia that doesn’t stand out from any of the surrounding buildings. They have two bedrooms, a kitchen, and a Jacuzzi all upstairs. During labor I will have Ben, a midwife, and a birth assistant who is also called a Doula. I will also be free to move around and change positions as much as I need and I can eat. I do not have the option of an epidural which scared me at first and to be honest it still does a little bit but I have faith that I can do it and I really feel like the birth center is the best place to deliver my baby. If any complications do arise I just go to the hospital and they have a doctor that is contracted with them.

All the midwives are amazing and oh so nice. My birth assistant is also great and even made a home visit the other day to meet Ben and I. One of the “different” things that go along with the birth center delivery is the fact that I go home about 3 hours after I have the baby. CRAZY! They also make home visits to check on us 2 and 3 days after-which is nice. So there you have it- a big decision late in the game.

On to more current news- today I went to yet another checkup and found out the following.

Hallie is healthy as can be with a very strong heart rate

She is descended and in great position

My belly grew an inch and a half this last week

I didn’t gain any weight

I am dilated to a one

My insurance will pay for my Doula

I also picked up a book called Active Labor by Janet Balaskas. It talks about being proactive during labor and not just sitting around waiting for something to happen. It is all about how natural child bearing is meant to be. I’m excited to read it and hopefully it will help when the big day comes.

I can’t believe it is only a matter of days until I’m a mom! I’m not sure if one could ever properly prepare for such a life changing event. I get more excited everyday and more aware that the little wiggle worm inside me is going to be mine forever.