One year ago today...a birth story.

From my journal one year ago today:

Annabel Faith Snyder. 

Wow. I am still in shock and overwhelmed. I am in awe and my praise goes to you, o Lord. You sustained me when I could do it no longer. You gave me strength when I had none. Vision and endurance when I could not see the end. Thank you, Lord, God. For bringing me through it.

Let me just say, this is probably one of the hardest things, if not the hardest thing I've ever done in my life. And for the record, I don't want to give birth again! :) It's so hard!! 

4/30, 8 pm-ish I started feeling regular contractions. Earlier that morning the non stress test results were good, so even though I'm overdue, baby girl is doing fine! By 3 am the contractions were 5 to 6 minutes apart, lasting anywhere from 45-60 seconds. At 5 am I called my midwife and she told me to go into the hospital.  I had planned a water birth at St. Joseph's. But when we got there, the tub was not operational and all the newly renovated rooms in the birthing center were occupied! So...no water birth, no new room, and being far from my midwife's office were enough strikes to make us drive to Bromenn Medical Center (just another 10 minutes away). We arrived about 7:30am and I was in the birthing tub by about 8:15. I was 7cm dilated and smiling.  

The water felt GREAT. Then it got hot. Then I got tired from managing the contractions and keeping my head above the water. By about 10 am I was done with the tub and ready for a change of scenery. I wasn't smiling anymore, in pretty bad shape, and I told the nurse I would deliver in the room and not the tub! And by the way, I knew this nurse from Mom2Mom!

They checked me and I had just a little bit left to go to reach 10 cm. After some final excruciating contractions, Annabel arrived at 10:57 am. She was 7 lbs. 5 oz. and 20.5 inches long. She was...words cannot explain.

I have to admit, reading this entry today makes me laugh, especially the part about not wanting to go through childbirth again. That's because I said the EXACT same thing after Kate was born.

Her doctor's visit isn't until tomorrow, so I don't have any stats. But she is beginning to walk a few steps at a time (eight steps for grandma yesterday!). After her ear tubes were put in two months ago she has begun to sleep better too, but still wakes up about once each night. Craziest thing of all...she is STILL nursing. I never thought I would make it to a year especially since Ethan and Kate were done with me by about 9 months. This is an answer to prayer for me! I suppose my prayer now will be, "How do I wean her???"

Annabel, you have been such a joy and blessing to us. Happy Birthday, baby girl!