Kennedy's Birth Story

On Saturday June 4th, around 6pm Justin, Kaylin and I left the house to run some errands. We went to Petco, then to Target, I had been having Braxton hicks contractions for several weeks so I wasn't surprised when I had a couple while walking around Petco and Target. We ended up not leaving Target  until about 7:30pm and since Kaylin usually goes to bed around 8 we decided to get supper from Whataburger on our way home since it would take awhile for me to cook supper. While in the Whataburger drive through I had 3-4 contractions. I remember thinking they were pretty intense and often for Braxton hicks, but still assumed it was from all the walking at Target and Petco. 

We got home, ate dinner, put Kaylin to bed and then Justin wanted to do some cleaning. He vacuumed the living room while I swept and mopped the kitchen. I continued having contractions, I was beginning to think they were the real deal. After doing a bit of cleaning we sat down to watch a movie. I was half expecting my contractions to go away or at least slow down since I was now relaxing on the couch, but they did not. About 30 minutes into the movie I told Justin I thought I was in labor. Contractions were about 5 - 7 minutes apart at this point. Finally about 10:30 I decided to call the midwife and my mom and Annie. I told them all not to come yet but to be ready. Kelly(our midwife) told me to have Justin go ahead and set up the birth pool he just didn't need to fill it yet. So he started setting up the birth pool, I helped here and there when he needed an extra set of hands. We then went and made the bed with a waterproof liner and second set of sheets. Got a few other little things ready here and there.

Around 11:30 I called Kelly,  my mom and Annie and told them to go ahead and come. I remember telling Justin that more than likely Kennedy was going to be born on June 5th, exactly 18months after Kaylin!(Kaylin was born 12/5/14) Justin started filling the birth pool with water and I sat on the birth ball, my contractions were right at 5 minutes apart and getting stronger all the time. Annie got there first, around midnight and Kelly and my mom came shortly after. Kelly and her team started getting all their stuff set up, I remember Kelly saying "I don't need to check you, it's pretty obvious you're in labor!" around 12:45 Kelly suggested I get in the pool so I did, another 20-30 minutes of contractions and I felt like I needed to push. I think I pushed for about  20 minutes and sweet Miss Kennedy was born at 1:44am. A whopping 3 hours after calling everyone that I was in labor!

I stayed in the pool for a few minutes just holding her, after birthing the placenta I got out of the pool and they helped me to my bed. I was able to nurse Kennedy just about 30-45 minutes after she was born! She nursed for 30 minutes or so, then Kelly suggested I get up and go to the bathroom, then we could take an herbal bath. They helped me up and to the bathroom but on the way back I started feeling light headed and ended up passing out. My labor was so fast I didn't eat anything or drink enough during labor, after I woke up they had me drink lots of water, some chlorophyll, and eat an apple and some scrambled eggs. While I recuperated, they went ahead and did the newborn exam on Kennedy. It was so interesting so see all the things they checked! She was perfect(of course!). 

After the finished up we went and got in the herbal bath together. When she was born, Kennedy was covered in a thick layer of vernix(white buttery substance all babies have in utero to protect their skin, Kennedy just had lots more than normal) so we were able to clean her up a bit while in the bath.

 After the bath, I needed a few stitches, so Kelly stitched me up. Then they checked both our vitals, and started packing up. I think the birth team left around 7am. Kaylin woke up about that time and got to meet Kennedy. Then Annie took Kaylin to church with her and Justin, Kennedy and I took a nap. It was so nice to be in our own house, in our own bed, within hours of giving birth!

Kennedy Renee McClure

Born 6/5/16

1:44am

8lb 8oz

20.5in long