Alice Sophia

Birth of Alice Sophia Kirk (Ali)
March 8, 2010 3:14 PM
7 lbs and 20.5 inches

She is so beautiful! She is named after her two living Great Grandmas. Alice is Josh's dad's mom, and Sophia is Josh's mom's mom.


It is impossible to show how little newborns are, but this picture with Josh's hand gives some perspective.


Here is the traditional family picture. It looks like I may have my hands full.


If you are interested in more details of the labor and delivery here they are from the prospective of Ali:

My birthday was perfect!! I am so happy to be out of my mommy and to join my family. They are so excited to have me. Although I tried to provide my mom with as much comfort as possible we were just getting so crowded! I was getting tired of living on peaches and rice crispy treats, too. (She has said that as terrible as it was this was her best pregnancy yet.) Mom did everything she could to put herself into labor last week, but it just wasn’t time yet. She tried to take caster oil twice, but I would have none of that and she threw it up. Thursday she had her membranes stripped and that didn’t work. She had her feet zoned on Friday and that gave her good contractions for the evening, but didn’t put her into labor. Finally she resigned herself to the being pregnant until her doctor appointment on Monday. She kept saying that she wanted to go to church on Sunday any way. (There were some changes in the primary presidency and she was moved from 2nd counselor to 1st.)

Sunday night I was trying to kick myself out right through her skin, but even that didn’t work. Apparently my kicking all night just makes mom tired. We had a 8:45 AM OB appointment with Doctor Fowers. Mom seemed healthy to the doc except her blood pressure, which was about 145/95. She wasn’t surprise because her blood pressure has gone up at the end of all of her pregnancies. She was prepared to give Dr. Fowers a list of about 100 reasons why he should start her, but her blood pressure was enough so she didn’t even have to cry or whip out the list. When he left to call the hospital he said he would schedule a start for “today, tomorrow or Wednesday.” Mom was relieved when he returned and told her that they could start her in 30-60 minutes.

We drove home and got dad and mom’s stuff and dropped Andy and Cara off at the Lows. Things went a little bit slow in the morning. We arrived at the hospital at 10:15, and the pit was started at about 11:15. I slept for the first few hours of labor, which the nurses didn’t really like, but I was fine. My heart rate was beautiful through the second couple of hours of labor though. For me the labor and birth experience was as smooth as can be all except a little scratch on my head from when Dr. Fowers broke my water.

For mom, however, labor and delivery were an entirely new experience. She had decided to mix things up a little this time by, one, not finding out what gender I was, and, two, by “waiting longer to get an epidural and maybe not even get one.” She had been studying the Hypno Birthing book and listening to the CD’s. She had peer pressure mostly from Erica, and from Cathie too. They both had natural deliveries this year with their fourth. Mom wanted to see what it was like. Mom says that labor went great. Even though the contractions were painful there was always a brake. She wanted dad close by to talk to her and to tickle her arm and back during the last couple of hours or so, but it was not nearly as bad as she thought it would be.

Mom is quite proud of herself. Not only was she on patocin, which makes labor more painful, but Dr. Fowers broke her water about 30 minutes after she was started which also makes things more intense. That allowed me to drop and for things to progress more quickly. By 2:00 mom was at a 7, 100%, and I was at a 0. She had taken some fentanyl to take of the edge and they also slowed down the pit. Slowing down the pit slowed down progress so with no change from 2-2:30 she got some more fentanyl and they upped the pit again. It was 3:04 when I crowned and was ready to be delivered. It was at that point that mom was convinced that going without an epidural was a really bad idea (although I the end she decided that it is a better way to go for her). Mom said, “oh my gosh, the baby is coming out.” Dad ran into the hall and called to the nurses to “come and catch this baby.” The nurses were scrambling! They were telling mom not to push. Yah, right!! She didn’t listen nor did she respond. She just listened to her body and knew that it was time for me to be born. The nurses were relieved when Dr. Fowers made it within seconds of delivery. The doctor said that it was the first time he has sprinted in months. She still needed an episiotomy to get me out, but as soon as the doctor came he gave her one and I was born.

It was such a relief to be born. Dad announced to mom that “it ‘s an Alice!” Mom wanted them to wipe me down before they handed me to her. I was having a hard time waking up due to the fentanyl, but other than that I was perfectly healthy. They tried a few times to make me cry, but I am just not that interested in crying. It is just so nice to be born and to have a body, why would I cry? Even though I was tired as soon as I got up to moms skin I wanted to eat. I am a Kirk; I love to eat!

Caleb, Cara, Andy, and Grandma Iva came shortly after we arrived in our room. They were so happy to see me. They got to help give me a bath and hold and love me. They were so happy to see me. I am the sister that Cara has been dreaming of. Caleb told everyone who came into our room how much “we love babies at our house.” He will be a great brother. Andy was a little nervous, and a little rough. He just needs a little time to remember what great friends we were before he came to earth. I am perfectly happy and excited to be here. I have no reason to cry or fuss. I am healthy and strong and I already feel the love of my family.