Pearl's Birth Story

Pearl is 6 weeks old now, and I realized that I never blogged about her birth story.  Thankfully I wrote it down while I was still in the hospital, so I will just quote from my journal.  I know I will add in few things here and there so I will put my add ins in *s

Pearl Lyn Balukoff was born on April 30, 2013 at 12:02pm.  She weighed 7lb and 12oz and was 

19 & 3/4 inches long. She has a skiff of light brown hair and is perfect!

I woke up at 1:30am on the 30th cramping and having a few contractions.  I got up and had a bowl of cereal  and waited to see if things would calm down, but the contractions started to get closer together.  I woke up Sam and got in the shower while he timed my contractions.

*This is the chart he made while timing my contractions.   I had a few contractions before I looked over and saw that he was charting them on our bathroom mirror...it made me giggle because it is just so Sam*

My contractions weren't lasting very long, but they were 2-3 minutes apart, so we called our neighbor Carol Shadduck and she came over to stay with our girls and Sam and I headed to the hospital.

We got to the hospital around 4am.  

 *Ready to head up to Labor and Delivery.*

They checked me and said I wasn't in active labor yet, so I was sent to walk the hospital halls for a couple hours.

At 7 we went back to triage and when they checked me I was 5cm and 70% effaced.  They admitted me then.

I spent some time in the tub, and then on the birthing ball, standing next to the bed and then the last hour I was in the bed.  Every once in a while I would have 3-4 min. in between contractions and  would doze off, by this point I was so tired. *The first time this happened Sam shook my arm and said my name.  I could tell he was really worried about me.  I think he thought I had just keeled over and died....can't say I wasn't tempted to do just that!  After he realized I wasn't dead I think he was kind of impressed/jealous that I could fall asleep while doing a natural labor.  I say jealous because he had also been up all night long, but if he fell asleep on me I would have been ticked!*

I wasn't checked again until 11:45-ish and I was yelling that I was going to push soon. *I know I felt some pressure but I think more than anything I just wanted to be done, and I thought if I made everyone else take this seriously and get ready, then maybe my body would do the same thing!*

At that point I was at a 9 and they broke my water. A few contractions after that I really was ready to push and Pearl was born at 12:02pm

They placed her on me as soon as she came out and I was instantly in love!  I also cut the cord this time and it was pretty cool.  *Sam took a picture of that, but I made him delete it...*

 She is such a sweet baby and has brought even more love into my heart.

Sam was amazing throughout the whole labor and delivery.  He was always calm and positive and stuck with me through it all.  I really feel so blessed to have him forever!!

I am so grateful that everything went smoothly and that Pearl is healthy, strong, and beautiful.  I don't feel like our family is complete yet, but I know she was sent to us on purpose and that she has a place here, and we are so happy to have her!

I did have a really strong impression while I was in my room holding Pearl one night.  We were all alone and I was just cuddling with her and I felt a confirmation that THIS (having kids and being a mom) is exactly what I am supposed to be doing right now and is the most important thing I will ever do in my life.

I feel blessed and a little overwhelmed to be trusted with such a responsibility...but I know I am not in this alone.  Not only do I have a wonderful husband and family and friends to help me but I also have a loving Heavenly Father who will give me strength, comfort, and guidance if I just ask.