Birth Story

I can't believe it's been two months since we met our sweet boy for the first time. My water broke at 2:50am on May 28. I wasn't feeling well and had been sleeping on the couch since around midnight. I woke up to use the restroom and was on my way back to the couch when I started leaking. Sorry, I'm not sorry. I went upstairs and woke Austin telling him "I think my water just broke." He said "you THINK?" I told him I was sure and he could check my panties if he didn't believe me. I called my mom so they could leave Arlington and make it by the time he arrived. I called Lynsey a million times until she finally answered. Austin called his parents and his sister Abbey. We texted some friends. My sister had already been staying with us so we woke her and headed to the hospital. It was almost 4am when got there. I had started having contractions, but nothing more painful than menstrual cramps. I was only dilated to 2 cm. It took at least half an hour and 3 pricks to get my IV in. Mama was not happy about that. The first or second contraction I had once the belly monitor was hooked up, Foster's heartbeat dropped. I had no idea. The nurses ran in telling me to turn to my left side, then to my right side, then to get on all fours - my knees and elbows - while they put an oxygen mask on me. It was terrifying. The way Foster was positioned wouldn't allow me to lie on my back for the rest of my labor, so I alternated sides.

Four hours later and I had only progressed to 3 cm. The doctor decided then to start me on pitocin. All I have to say about that is HOLY HELL. My contractions came fast and hard. I can't even explain what it felt like. I cried through most of them and almost vomited through some. At 4 cm I had my epidural, which doesn't hurt at all by the way. But, I don't recommend a sunburn the day before delivery. It doesn't feel so great when they rip the tape off that was holding your epidural in place.

After my epidural, I went from 4 cm to 9.5 cm in ONE HOUR. I started feeling cuhhhrazy pressure, so the nurse checked me. Then 20 minutes later I was fully dilated. The nurse said "it's time to start pushing" and I immediately started crying. I was scared. I didn't know what to expect. I was about to meet my baby for the first time. I asked Austin to pray for us.

The nurse said with your first baby you can expect to push for 1-2 hours. NOT TWO MORE HOURS OF THIS OMG. I pushed through two contractions and she made me stop saying if I continued the doctor wasn't going to make it in time because he was coming fast. Ten minutes or so later the doctor arrived and I pushed through three more contractions and after 9.5 hours our Foster was here! He was born Tuesday, May 28, 2013 at 12:11pm. He was 19 inches long and 7 lbs 7.1 oz. He was perfect. He still is.

Pushing was by far the easiest part. SO easy in fact. Granted, I had an epidural. It sounds weird to say this, but I actually almost enjoyed the pushing. There is something miraculous about pushing a life into this world. Not so miraculous, though, that I wanted to watch it in the mirror as the nurse offered. I'd like to remember my parts as they were, thank you very much.  

Foster cried, but I didn't. The whole thing was so surreal. We had some time cherishing our first moments as a family of three before our family joined us.

I saw my mom and then I cried.

We stayed in the hospital for only one night. Then we brought our baby boy home where we've been figuring this whole thing out ever since.

Thank God for the Boppy. I sat on it like a donut for the first week. At a few points during recovery the pain was unbearable, paralyzing. I literally could not stand up, sit down, walk or move. But by Saturday I was feeling much better. If you're having a baby, you need a Boppy and an ice pack. Also, don't be surprised if your feet look like you have elephantiasis for the first 10 days post delivery.

I was blessed with an easy pregnancy and easy delivery for which I am so thankful. Carrying this child, pushing him into this world, loving him through life - this is what I was made for.

My thoughts on motherhood coming soon.