It's a girl!

Katherine Alice Bartholomew, born Monday, May 3rd at 8:28 p.m. 6 lbs 10 ounces, 18.5 inches long. The birth went well -- Short version: I scheduled an induction for Monday and was finally called to the hospital at 1:00 in the afternoon. My water was broken at 2:30 which gave me some moderate contractions about 15 minutes apart. After two hours, we started Pitocin and things progressed smoothly from there. Around 6:30, things got very intense. My doctor arrived at 7:00, saying she'd rather be there for an hour or two than miss it completely. Good choice, because transition happened very quickly and Katherine was born five minutes after I seriously considered getting that epidural after all, at 8:28 p.m. It was a wonderful experience giving birth without any pain medication -- I feel like I accomplished something difficult and learned a lot. Would I give birth that way again? I'll let you know when I give you the long version in a few days. Katherine's been a sweet baby who rarely cries and nurses like a champ.

Comments

Congrats! She is so beautiful! You look really good for just having a baby, your brave I would never post a pic of me right after having sam!
dedesmith32 said…
Yay! Congratulations - she's very beautiful! You are maazing!
bjahlstrom said…
You look great, Christina! She is beautiful! Good job on the no pain meds!
Congratulations! She's beautiful. And I love her name (although I may be a little partial to the name Katherine. :))
Tiffany Wacaser said…
Congratulations to you. She is beautiful.You look wonderful!
Meradith said…
Yay! She's here!! Congratulations! I've been checking your blog like 5 times a day waiting to see pictures:). She looks a lot like Harmony to me in that first pic, but I didn't get to see all your babies as newbies so maybe there's another sibling you think she resembles more. She's beautiful!! Good job mama! And way to go all natural, you brave brave soul! We'll have to come see her soon:)
Dina said…
Congratulations! I'm glad it worked out the way that you wanted!
Dan and Marci said…
Congrats! Way to go Christina.
Jeanette said…
Congratulations. She is adorable.
Lisa6Kids said…
Congratulations! She is beautiful! And YAY for natural birth!
April J. said…
Congratulations! You are a champ too! Way to go, she is perfect!
John said…
She is so beautiful. Congratulations!!!
Gin said…
WOW! She's amazing! I love chubby newborns, they jsut look sooo perfect. Congratulations!
Wendy said…
She's a doll Christina!! And I think you are a champ as well!!! 8 kids isn't something that most women can handle, but you have a little extra something... like patience and plenty of sanity, to do such an amazing thing.

Let me know how I can help you!!
Lana said…
She is absolutely perfect!! Congrats! Honestly , she makes me want another little girl ;)
Rachel Keppner said…
Congratulations!!! I've been checking to see when the happy day would come! And kudos to you for being a trooper and going au naturale! It sounds like it was a great birth! :-)
Stacey said…
Congrats on your beautiful baby girl!
Kim said…
She is beautiful!
Rachel said…
Wow, I'm amazed you got this post up so soon:) She looks like a little Bartholomew:)