The Birth of Katheryn Anne Coker

I have to start this post with the birth of my oldest, Madelyn.

After having an uneventful pregnancy, my OBGYN wanted to induce at what I thought was 2 weeks overdue. I thought due date was September 28, 2004, but they had changed it at my last ultrasound to October 5, 2004 without informing me of the change. We went in for an induction October 8, 2004. I was 1 c.m. dialated when they broke my water, started pitocin and instructed me to get an epidural. At barely 20, I agreed to all they told me. I laid on my back, in bed for 12 hours and only dialated to 2 c.m. When it was time for my OBGYN to go home (5:00 p.m.) she told me that I could labor all night and get a c-section in the morning, or I could go ahead and get the c-section then. She said that Maddy was just too big for me, and I was just one of those women. We consented and Maddy was born on my moms birthday! She was only 7 lbs 9 oz. She had a lot of gas issues, issues with colic, etc. But I thought it was just how a baby was supposed to be.

Isabella's birth was supposed to be much different. After having Maddy I was determined to have a VBAC (vaginal birth after Cesarean). I switched OBGYN's to one that was supposed to be VBAC friendly and began the pregnancy process. Izzy's pregnancy was also very uneventful until I hit 36 weeks. We had an ultrasound done and I was informed that something wasn't right. At 36 weeks she was already measuring, according to the ultrasound, very large and they were concerned. They wanted to do a c-section the day I turned 37 weeks. They had us scared to death and we consented. Izzy was born at just 7 lbs 1 oz. Two days later my OBGYN left for vacation. We were devastated. Izzy had a lot of trouble nursing, she had colic and had acid reflux from being born too early. She had a rough rough start.

Now enter Katheryn. The day we had Izzy, Justin and I knew it just wasn't right. So when we found out Katy was on her way, we did a lot of research, we prayed a lot and we decided to find a midwife and have a homebirth. After lots more research, we found Marilyn Green and Jeanne Stoltzfuz. I had an amazing pregnancy again, until about 30 weeks when I put myself into early labor trying to get our house ready to sell. Then we got up to our due date, June 4th, and we passed our due date....and another week passed....I was still healthy and so was Katy, so we kept going! Marilyn and Jeanne both agreed that I might just carry longer than the "normal" 40 weeks and that as long as Katy and I were fine, there was no need for intervention. We had an ultrasound done and Katy was measuring behind our due date. Not because anything was wrong, but because we probably conceived her later than we thought. So, we sort of "moved" our due date from June 4th to June 13th. Then another week passed and in order for my midwives to stay in good standing with their board I needed to go see an OBGYN. He was terribly uncooperative and unsupportive of what we were trying to achieve. He wanted to tie me down and do a c-section right then! Even though it wasn't medically necessary! We had another ultrasound and Katy, once again, looked perfect!! Justin, Jeanne, Marilyn and I all agreed that since Katy was perfect and I was perfect that we would go one more week. I will have to say that this entire pregnancy I was never against another c-section, as long as it was medically necessary. Justin and I understood that it might have just been our path, but we had left this pregnancy and birth up to God and were letting him take the lead. So, another week almost passes and we discuss how if she doesn't come by Monday, June 29th, that I'll have to go to Vanderbilt and fight my way to a trial of labor. My midwives were tremendously supportive, but their hands were tied because I was so past due (42-43 weeks).

On Thursday, June 25th I had contractions all afternoon. They were about 5 minutes apart and were not painful. A lot of pressure but not painful. By Thursday evening they were gone. Friday morning I woke up with contractions that faded. Marilyn came by to check on me. I had been 3 c.m. dialated for a couple of weeks without change. And sure enough, I was still at a 3, but was having lots of show, which meant some progress. And again on Saturday and Sunday I woke up with contractions that faded. Actually, Sunday I had a contraction wake me up from a dead sleep and I started having more show. But of course they faded. Justin and I, by this point, were tired and extremely frustrated. We decided to spend the day looking at houses and making preparations to head to Vanderbilt the following day. About 2 p.m. I started having contractions. But, I figured they would pitter off. By 3 p.m. Justin asked how many I had that hour and I guessed about 5. So, we decided to start timing them. They were about 10 minutes apart. By 3:45 they were about 5 minutes apart and I sent Jeanne a message. By 4:00 they were 3 minutes apart. I called mom (she had the girls at home) and Marilyn. Justin and I decided to try walking the mall to keep them going. They were not painful, just pressure. But I was only able to make it one lap around the mall before I decided to head home. Justin and I got home about 5:00 and Marilyn said she would come by about 6:30. She checked me and I was still about 3 c.m. dialated, having lots of show and contracting about every 3 minutes. But this time, I was a lot more thinned out and she decided to go run some errands and come back around 8:30 to check on me again. By 8:30 I was 4 c.m. and completely thinned. So she called Jeanne to head on up! Justin and I were still in denial. We still had the contraction master up on the computer timing contractions!!! We were exhausted, truly exhausted and tried to lay down for a bit. This is when I loose all track of time. I had already been in the tub for hours. Marilyn checked me and I was at a 6, we were so encouraged!! So we layed down and maybe 10 minutes later I was woken from my cat nap by a monster of a contraction. But that nap was much needed!! I was hitting transition. I knew that this was going to be hard. But I kept telling myself that I wasn't in pain, that it was just pressure and baby making her way out. That I was fine and so was she!! So we worked through transition in about an hour and a half. I became very vocal. But it helped keep my mind off of "pain". Finally, during one contraction Jeanne said I think you're ready to push!! She could tell just by my vocalization that I was ready!! And I was, my contractions immediately changed once I started pushing. I got a large break in between each one, and the contractions became much different. I lost a lot of control during my pushing phase. I was not prepared for it at all. It scared me actually, because I was in pain and didn't want to push through, but my body took over and I pushed anyway. So that scared me and I pushed for a good hour and a half before she was born. It was a good hour of pushing before I surrendered to my body. And she was out in about 30 minutes after that!! My water didn't break until right before she was born. Because I had already had two c-sections, Marilyn and Jeanne were extra vigilant about checking her heart tones, and she always sounded perfect!! She tolerated labor like a champ!!

I still can't believe we did it! I remember looking at her right after she came out and thinking holy cow!! That beautiful being just came out of my vagina!! Her cord was short so she couldn't be plopped on my chest right away. So she sat between my legs and we all ooohed and ahhed over her until her cord stopped pulsing. Justin got to actually cut her cord!! And then I got her!! She was perfectly amazing and alert, wow was she ever so alert!! And surprise surprise, No cone head!! We all just knew she would be because she had been engaged for weeks!! But nope, she's got such a perfectly shaped head!! And get this no tears!!! NONE!!!!

Katheryn was born at 6:35 a.m. on June 29th. She was 8 lbs 6 oz, 20 1/2 inches long with a 13 1/2 inch head! So the woman that couldn't have a 7 lb 9 oz baby vaginally because she was "too big" pushed out an 8 lb 6 oz baby, with a 13 1/2 inch head COMPLETELY DRUG FREE!!!! Haha!! I love it!!

She's such a good good baby!! She just fuses if she wants to eat!! She nurses so well, she's so alert and attentive and she will just stare into your eyes like she's looking deep into your soul!! She's got lots more hair than Maddy or Izzy did. We are so in love!!

And I feel amazing!! Being at home was great....sleeping in my own bed, eating my own food, and just...being mommy has been beyond awesome. I'm sore today (and so is poor Justin, I had him in a head lock the entire time I pushed) and I'm tired. But gosh, it's a million times better than after either surgery. I can actually walk with my baby and sit up and turn over in bed. And I'm not taking ANY pain killers!!

The only thing is that my blood pressure was low today when Jeanne came by. After delivery I lost more blood than they like to see. So, I was ordered to add more red meat into my diet to increase my iron level. But I feel amazing, I was shocked it was 100/55 today!!!!

We have to thank everyone that stuck by us during this process. We had a lot of stress put on us by friends and family who didn't believe in us. Who didn't trust in God's process like we did. We had a lot of people give up on us. Those that were supposed to support us the most were some of the first to tell us to go into the hospital. But we are so thankful for all of the support we did receive, the love and care and prayers that came our way through this journey!! It was testing and trying, but God had an amazing plan for us, and we give him all the Glory!!!





~Blessings~