Birth Announcements & Stories

virginiaham · November 20

Share your birth announcement / birth story here! Feel free to use the light format or not, with as much or as little detail as you’d like. So close to the finish line to our December babies, congratulations in advance!! ❤️❤️

FTM/STM/TTM+/IC:

EDD:

Birthdate & Gestation:

The Details:

virginiaham · November 23

Spoiler for baby ham’s story!

Meet Harriet Rose! 🥰

The short of it is I had tons of prodromal labor to the point that we were all convinced I would go very quickly. And thennnn three membrane sweeps, an artificial rupture of membranes, and a couple hours of pitocin later she finally decided, “Ugh, I GUESS I’ll come out now 🙄” Tuesday night lol.

So basically up until the very end she tried her hardest to hang cozy with the December babies 😂

FTM/STM/TTM+/IC: 3rd

EDD: 11/13

Birthdate & Gestation: 11/18 @ 40+5

The Details: it’s long, I’m sorry!! Scroll down to labor to skip the prodromal details!

—Prodromal—

I’ve had Braxton Hicks since 15w but started regular contractions around 38-39w. My ILs arrived from out of state at 39+1 ready to watch our older kids so we could go have a baby. I contracted all that weekend and it fizzled out each time, honestly not surprising but disappointing as I was feeling like a watchpot pretty much right away. Also laboring privately at home pretty much shrank to laboring in my room. I’m sure that stress of them being in my space, all the time now, played into things. Laboring as long as I could at home was out of the question.

At my 39+4 appt (Mon last week) I was 2cm/50-60%/-3 station, and just did NOT want a sweep at that point as I really hadn’t changed from the week prior and my cervix was still really posterior/not laboring. So we just set appts for her birth week the following week with an induction scheduled for 41w just in case. Somehow I wasn’t really that uncomfortable and I was sleeping well still so I felt ok to wait for labor to kick off on its own.

All that week we continued to do alll the things. Dates + RRL tea daily, sex, a few rounds of nipple stimulation when it seemed like things were kicking off, yoga ball/asymmetric pelvis movements for better head engagement, long walks. I even saw my pelvic floor PT that week who had been trained on the acupuncture points to induce labor and she did some perineal stretching that session as well. I generally had great contraction response to the labor stimulating things but they always slowed.

Friday I had contractions starting around 3p and added in a variation of the Miles Circuit plus abdominal lift + tuck during contractions. Unfortunately they fizzled out around 9pm so I went to bed, honestly thankful to be getting sleep.

—Labor—

Monday this week (40+4) at my regular appt I was 3cm/70%/-3 station and had my first membrane sweep with what I thought was a good response that afternoon into the late evening. Bloody show, regular contractions with pressure (I labored on the toilet for awhile), lost bits of mucus plug, all of it. 🙌 My doula was already at my hospital with another client and kept telling me please don’t wait too long to come in but even at 3-5 min apart the contractions were pretty irregular and once again fizzled out that night…AGAIN. I went to bed thinking my body would just wake me up in full blown labor like with my first baby and then I woke up to the daylight on Tuesday morning like it was any other Tuesday.

That day at 40+5 I had my BPP and follow-up with the doctor. The plan with my doula was to do a 2nd membrane sweep at the appointment and then once contractions got going get to the hospital and have them break my water after my antibiotics were done for GBS. I was already 4-5/80%/-1 at that appt so all those contractions did something—I WAS in early labor!! We did the second sweep and the doctor said she’d almost like to tell me to just go get my bag and get to the hospital (7 min from my house) but definitely any regular contractions go straight to the hospital and she would be shocked if I was still pregnant tomorrow 🙌

I left and drove around for a bit soaking in the news (also my ILs were at home so I didn’t want to go there)…My husband had taken my daughter to an appointment and it was emotional reaching out to him letting him know that we would finally be meeting our girl today 🥹

My doula was thrilled alongside me but also terrified that I would deliver in the car or parking lot (LOL as it turns out). Contractions started right away so my husband and I left our older kids at home with ILs and met the doula at the hospital just after noon. In triage I was already 5-6cm.

We did a 3rd membrane sweep right then and there before I even went to a room. We all thought I’d have a baby by 3pm and not even get all of the antibiotic. My doula and I went right to work trying to make the most of every contraction, with my husband right by my side. Y’all even with nipple stim and laboring in squats and on the toilet with tons of pressure the contractions kept. spacing. out. So I had time to finish the antibiotics and had my water broken around 4:30p. And my contractions spaced out AGAIN 😭

By that point it was 7pm and I was stalled at 8cm getting dizzy and exhausted so I went back to the bed. Def was lamenting my choice to go unmedicated and my doula let me just voice my fears and prayed over me when I asked. I was realllly pressing into relaxing and breathing and her voice was my lifeline that whole time. She and nurse both really recommended starting a little bit of Pitocin to get the contractions regular and closer together to get progression—and a baby!—and I was totally on board. Over the next couple of hours we titrated to 4 on the Pit and oh man those were productive contractions.

And then just after 9pm my cervix was finally complete 🙌 My doula helped me into a pushing position and mentioned to the nurses to go grab the doctor because we had a little time. With the very next contraction I started to push a bit, then felt how productive it was and couldn’t stop. Suddenly my doula was both telling me to stop pushing and yelling to the nurses to get the doctor NOW — who raced in and allowed me to keep going (BLESS HIM 😅). With all of 2 minutes of pushing, followed by an absolute flood of joy and relief, she was born at 9:07pm! Sunny side up because during birth she had rotated out of her perfect LOA birth position to show her face 🙄😂

She cried right away and they placed her on my chest. I was really worried about the postpartum shivering but it was tolerable and didn’t interfere with the golden hour and she was able to latch in that first hour. I kept looking at my husband afterward and he had tears in his eyes 🥹 Also she was covered in vernix…I know that I ovulated late and pretty certain my dates were wrong.

By 10:30p just like that the room had cleared out and we were quietly soaking in our new baby. Postpartum was thankfully uneventful for both of us, I had a first degree tear but not much soreness and she was just spitty from not getting that good squeeze because she came out so quickly. We got home Thursday and breastfeeding and recovery are going well so far. ILs left Saturday morning and I’ve been in sleepy baby heaven, so tired from a couple rough nights but soaking in this joy in my space with just our little family. ❤️

All of the things on paper that I wanted to avoid (frequent checks, membrane sweep, AROM & pitocin) ended up being the little things my labor needed to move along and bring her here. & I’m really grateful to my doula for not letting me labor until midnight.

Also grateful baby girl and I have the penicillin on board because we came home to strep throat blazing through the household. Hoping it affords us some protection there.

Third babies can definitely be a wild card 😅

brookejay06 · November 23

@virginiaham Beautiful story. So inspired by your resilience and flexibility!!

rebecksah · November 23

@virginiaham congrats!! sorry about the strep throat! stay cozy ❤️

brookejay06 · November 25

Baby boy is here!
George Everett
11/24! (39+0 spontaneous labor)

virginiaham · November 25

@brookejay06 yessss congratulations!!! It sounds like he stayed flipped?? I hope you get that nice bottle of wine soon, you earned it 💙💙

brookejay06 · November 25

@virginiaham He stayed head down, thank God! Even turned OA (facing my back) at the last minute during labor (he was sunny side up all week prior)… So it was all miraculously uncomplicated! His cord was very short so I’m sure that’s why he was breech… but apparently the OB flipped him just the right way so the ECV was successful. We are very lucky and happy!

bridgiebee82 · November 26

Congratulations @brookejay06!!!

californiacherry · November 26

@brookejay06 congratulations mama!!!

californiacherry · November 26

@virginiaham thank you for sharing your story!! I second @brookejay06 - very inspired by your flexibility and resilience!! Congratulations mama 🩵

nopegoat · November 26

@virginiaham @brookejay06 yayayayayayay!!!! Congratulations!!!!!!!!

rebecksah · November 28

@brookejay06 congrats! so glad it all worked out!!

rebecksah · November 28

Little miss Charlotte arrived today, Nov 27th!

Possibly the worst c-section experience I've had but overall, could have been much worse, so I'm grateful to my team of doctors who helped me thru! My 5 year old is ecstatic, and the 18m old is confused. if all continues on the way it's been going, I can go home tmw!

bridgiebee82 · November 28

Silicone to the world, Charlotte! @rebecksah she is perfect! 🩷

californiacherry · November 28

Welcome little Charlotte! @rebecksah sending you vibes for an easier postpartum / recovery ❤️‍🩹

nopegoat · November 28

Ahhh @rebecksah !! Congratulations! She is perfect! I'm sorry your csection was a bit rough. Praying recovery is smooth!

rebecksah · November 29

@bridgiebee82 @californiacherry @nopegoat thank you!! we were discharged yesterday and I couldn't be happier about it lol

bridgiebee82 · November 30

Bahaha I just saw my autocorrect. That should say "welcome" not "silicone." 🫠🤣

californiacherry · December 3

Baby boy arrived this morning at 1:10 am!!! Labor and birth was INSANE. I have a lot to say and bones to pick with the stories I’ve heard 🤣🤣🤣 no but we are so in love with this tiny human 😭 thanks for all the support throughout my first pregnancy, mamas!

iwantcookies · December 3

It’s been long. With our induction starting Saturday night, having minimal progress and ending up with a c-section. With recovery I’ll be in the hospital for 7+ days 😭 but our healthy Baby boy finally made his was begrudgingly into the world 12/02

virginiaham · December 3

@californiacherry I was hoping for you that it was early labor 🙌 Congratulations!!

@iwantcookies so glad baby is here safely and YOU DID IT—both of those are huge and celebration worthy! ❤️🎉 I’m sorry it didn’t go the way you were hoping and it’ll be a longer hospital stay. Praying for a smooth recovery and lots of snuggles while you wait to go home!!

rebecksah · December 3

@californiacherry @iwantcookies congratulations!! get as much rest as possible while in the hospital to get on the mend quickly.

brookejay06 · December 3

@californiacherry YAYYYY you did it!! So happy for you.

@iwantcookies Also YAYYY you did it! That sounds like a very very long hard weekend. You are amazing. Be incredibly gentle with yourself - your birth sounds really challenging and you needs lots of TLC!

brookejay06 · December 3

Birth story! Baby George 🩵

TLDR; spontaneous vaginal delivery, 39 weeks, successful epidural

Sunday 11/23 Feeling crampy in my back alllll day. Also feeling achy in my vagina (no other way to describe it). Went for a walk and had the most intense lightening crotch… Maybe baby was dropping? Idk! That evening we had friends over and I noticed a few small, sharp contractions. Nothing long enough to time. I had prodromal labor with my last baby so I honestly didn’t think anything of this.

Sunday Evening- still crampy, achy, having random ctx. Had DH do some foot/ankle massage, also had sex. Just doing all the things to see if the ctx kept coming! Took a while to fall asleep but eventually slept 12am-3am (Monday 11/24)

Monday 11/24 Woke up at 3am with small ctx. Laid in bed till 5am, decided to take a bath. Ctx picked up in frequency but decreased in intensity. Since baby was breech the week previous (but we had a successful ECV, so we hoped he was still head down), I wanted to go in to the clinic asap to make sure he was still head down. If he was breech again, we would try another ECV. Better to do it early in labor than later!

Monday 7am Had a hard time getting in touch with the clinic for a US. Still having ctx, although they weren’t too painful and I could talk through them. Lost part of mucus plug and had loose stool. Had a big ol mental breakdown and lots of tears at this point. Feeling afraid, feeling scared of the changes to come in my family, feeling like I didn’t want to give birth etc. (This was the biggest indicator that it was real labor - the hormones were raginggggg)

Monday 9:30am Still haven’t heard from the clinic, decided to go in to L&D for US to confirm baby position. (Even brought our toddler with us bc I was sure I would be sent home and would do early labor at home all day)

Monday 10:30am US confirmed baby was head down and I was 6cm already (midwife said she could have easily stretched me to an 8!) Got admitted. Very quickly decided now was the time to get the epidural if I wanted it (I was on the fence)… Decided to go for it

11:30am epidural placed and it was no problem at all. Very well done by the CRNA!

1pm start feeling pressure, had another big ol mental breakdown. Lots of crying. Really did not want to push this baby out. Up until this point I had been listening to Christian worship music, and my doula suggested I put on something that would pump me up (“like Forrest Frank!”, she said). I said you’re absolutely right. So I put on Lizzo 🤣 And baby boy was born after about 10 min of pushing while I rapped every word of Truth Hurts (I just took a dna test turns out I’m 100% that bitch…) lolol

Small tear, easy repair. Overall good experience even though birth is tough.

bridgiebee82 · December 5

Aoife Jeanne has arrived! 12/3/25

TW: traumatic birth story in spoiler

I was told to call L&D at 2pm for a time to come in for my induction on 12/1. When I called they were busy and I was told to call back later. So I did and they were still busy. I ended up going through the ER for preeclampsia (no signs or symptoms before then) and was monitored in L&D for 2 days. I was put on a magnesium drip (0 stars, do not recommend) to help with lowering my BP, which helped, but I wasn't allowed out of bed. I did a Cook balloon to help me dilate as well as pitocin. I got as far as 4cm (after 24 hours) and we decided to break my water. Well, Aoife did NOT like that at all. I tried switching positions, and at one point my nurse (a literal angel here on earth) just said, "Bridget, we have to get her out now. I'm going to press a button and a ton of people will be all over you. We will get through this together." Within seconds about 20 people came rushing to my room. They tried having me on my hands and knees to get baby girl out to no avail. A midwife asked if I was OK with a c-section and I said, "Let's go now!" They got me to the OR in what felt like seconds but also an eternity. Just as they had me all prepped for the c-section, I told them I could feel what they were doing so my husband got kicked out of the OR and I had to go under general anesthesia for a c-section. Aoife Jeanne had gotten the cord wrapped around her neck 3 times. If I had insisted on the VBAC, we could have both died, is what my OB told me. So thank God for quick thinking nurses and hospital staff, and the ability to say, "whatever will be safest for my baby." We spent the next 24 hours in L&D due to me still being on yhe magnesium drip, but as soon as I got off of it, I was transferred to the Mother-Baby unit of the hospital. We are doing great. My sister brought our 3 year old son to come visit us. He has been away from us all week and I can't wait to get home and have both of my babies in my arms. 🥰

nopegoat · December 5

@californiacherry congratulations!!!!! Rest up! You deserve it!

@iwantcookies congratulations on your baby boy! I'm sorry things didn't go as originally planned. Praying recovery goes well and you are able to get some rest!

@brookejay06 congratulations!!!!! Your story made me legit LOL! 🎶🎶 Rest up and get all those baby snuggles!

@bridgiebee82 congratulations on your beautiful baby girl. Glory to God for being in the right place with watchful and prudent providers. So glad you both are ok. I hope your recovery goes smooth! Soak in all those baby snuggles!❤️

brookejay06 · December 5

@bridgiebee82 I am so glad she’s here safely. She is beautiful. Thank you for sharing your story. You are amazing.

californiacherry · December 6

@iwantcookies congratulations on bringing a healthy baby boy earth side, mama! I’m sorry it was a rough experience and will be for a bit in the hospital. I hope your recovery is as smooth as possible. Also, virtual cheers bc our baby boys are birthday twins 👯

@brookejay06 omg on the Lizzo lol same bc I listened to the entire Lemonade album at some point during active labor “who the fuck do you think I is!?? you ain’t married to no avg bitch, boy!” Lol 😂😂 congratulations mama!!

@bridgiebee82 so glad you both are safe and healthy. That nurse does sound like an angel. Aoife is gorgeous! I hope your recovery is super smooth 🫶🏻 Congratulations mama!

californiacherry · December 6

Birth story!

Rio Lee, born 8lbs on Dec 2 @ 1:10 am 🩵

Flagging unmedicated labor and unfiltered, detailed experience. I don’t know if it’s encouraging or not so just wanted to preface before reading — the funny, the good and the hard!

Sat

On sat I did a maternity shoot. I planned it with my bff (we’re both creatives love an art proj and Pinterest board). She came over w her partners dslr and took casual shots of us in our home. Had a few random contractions (which now I kno they were lol) towards the end (4pm ish) but just was like “ah one second there’s this pain gimme a sec before I flex my foot for this pose” lol (side note I loveeee how the photos turned out!) Anyways I kept having the “pains” throughout the night and they kept waking me from sleep!

Sun

Still went to my acupuncture apt and then ran errands after with my fiance. We were in target and I’d have to stop walking for a contraction when it came. I was timing by this point bc I was like hmmm maybe? They were in no pattern at all — I would have a 5 min break then a 20 min break then a 7 min break then a 10 min break then a 5 min etc. and they each lasted anywhere from 30-90 seconds.) I had mentioned this earlier to my chiropractor and there was a doula in office with her client and they all said it sounded maybe like prodromal labor, at least with how I was describing it, hence my post / question in the question thread!! I texted my doula after and let her know what was going on. They stayed in this “pattern” / lack there of the rest of the evening and throughout the night. Again, I was woken up by most - if not every - contraction.

Mon

Woke up and same thing, they were slightly increasing in intensity but still no pattern to them. I kept my doula updated and she said she’d stop by around 2 to check in and assess. This is when I still thought maybe false labor lol. My partner ends up texting her because they get more intense around noon and she just plans to bring her bags in case it’s the real thing. She gets here and could tell it was the real thing lol and starts helping me into so many different positions to labor I would have never done without her! I did some side laying with tons of pillows, on labor ball over bed, on the toilet, some hip circles, etc. I was in the shower for a few rounds throughout the rest of the night. She checked my cervix at some point - I think this was around 4pm or so - to confirm everything was moving along. She didn’t tell me how dialed bc (1) it will take me out of labor land and (2) I didn’t wanna know anyways in case I’d get super discouraged — I planned unmedicated and didn’t want to second guess if I was in this much pain already and only 3 cm or something. (Spoiler alert, I asked her a few min after birth and she said I was 7cm when she checked.)

I labored at home in my bedroom and bathroom for the remainder of the evening until it was time to go to the hospital. We left probably around 11. The contractions were fucking insane by that point I kept saying there’s absolutely no way I can walk and get to/in the car. I could not fathom being in any position that varied by a grain salt of exactly what I thought was going to help relieve some discomfort. The car ride was 25 min or so. My labor comb was the MVP in the car — I clutched that thing so hard it was bent in so many places once I looked at it after birth.

Got to ER entrance and no time to check in — the guy who was wheeling me over to L&D was freaking out lol he was RUNNING me down the hall and frantically asking “are you pushing? Are you feeling like you need to push? Just hold on we’re almost there.” My partner and doula said they got so far behind this guy cuz he was sprinting lol. After birth, one of the L&D nurses said all the guys at the ER do that bc they are so unfamiliar with birth and they just freak out lol but I’m glad he ran bc I needed to get there!

Anyways, we get to the room and I just immediately start pushing w moth each contraction, standing next to the bed leaning over and would squat down when the contraction came. I did that for a few contractions then eventually got on the bed hands and knees. The nurse started my just in case IV in my hand and within one contraction I noticed so much blood all over that side of the bed and a pillow- I yanked it out somehow thrashing or pounding my hands against the bed lol I lost all my shit by this point. Like, every technique I practiced to keep calm and breathe was out the fucking window. All that came out when a contraction approached was “HELP” then “fuck” then whining “I can’t” though the peak. (My “help” was signal to my doula and partner throughout active labor for hip squeezes.) Once I was at the hospital, when I’d say “help,” the nurse would be on one hip and my doula on the other just each using two hands to push for counter pressure. They were getting a workout lol. The midwife asked if she could do a cervical check to see where I was just to confirm I should push, sure enough I was 10. I pushed in that position for maybe 6 contractions, and my doula introduced the rebozo at some point to hold as I squat down and push.

By this point I was so discouraged yall pushing was absolutely not a relief for me as it sounds like it is for some - it was so hard. I kept saying to my doula “it doesn’t feel like he’s moving down idk what to do I can’t do this anymore” and she just kept reassuring me that he does come down with each push and that it just takes time. My midwife encouraged me to try side lying because I could then use the mirror which helps a lot of moms to see how close baby is so they are more encouraged but it sounded fucking awful bc side lying for all my contractions just hours earlier felt like torture lol. I got into the position anyways but I was so reluctant to be like, correctly in that position I just did what felt best at the time and ended up kinda diagonal on the bed and so my head was pushed up against the side rail lol omg the skull pain I’ve had the last few days from pushing/banging into that rail is ridiculous. I also kept randomly hitting all the buttons on the bed rail with my head, moving the bed up and down and changing its position lol

ANYWAYS OMG after pushing for.. an hour and a half almost? I watched his head pop out and his whole body followed and flew out. Likely the reason for my tear my doula said bc he came out all in one push.

I apologized to all the nurses and my doula for squeezing their hands so hard. The nurse closest to my head omg I grabbed her like around the waist at one point and just burrowed my head into her, screaming lmao I was apologizing throughout the night and she’s like “girl I’ve had moms bite me, pull my hair so hard it comes out, so that was nothing- it’s all good.”

I had a 2nd degree tear, some stitches. I hear it’s common but I would have loved to not tear lol obviously bc who wants to tear.

WHAT A CRAZY RIDE. I feel so blessed to have the labor and delivery I wanted because I know plan A is not something to hold onto too tightly. I feel blessed that all my wishes were honored, and that I was fully supported in everything I wanted to do etc., and with all that said idk if I’d do it again lol it felt like a nearly impossible assignment towards the end. I’ll add though I’m the most impatient person and I panic easily, so my coping isn’t the best. Also, I do hear second births+ are easier and this is super fresh so I probably am speaking too soon 😅

I am still so shocked I did that and look back already like wow I’m so proud of myself that was fucking badass. Birth is insane and we’re all fucking super women what the fuck! Lol cheers to all of you, esp. moms with multiple kids - omg yall are heroes.

I have a lot more thoughts about early postpartum! Would love to share somewhere/get advice/opinions and just connect on the fourth tri with you all! Maybe in the weekly or the questions thread at some point.

Anyways, we’re so in love with our little man!

virginiaham · December 9

@brookejay06 ohh the hormones and the mental breakdowns in labor…Love that you had Lizzo queued! Congratulations!!

@bridgiebee82 Aoife is beautiful, congratulations!! I am so glad you had a watchful team and an angel of a nurse, and a flexible spirit about bringing her here safely. Praying your recovery is smooth from here and you can process this all when you’re ready. I hope you’re home snuggling your whole crew!

@californiacherry girl YES I definitely had that “omg I can’t believe I just did that, I can’t believe that was me 😳” LOL about hitting the bed buttons, transition is a mess 😭 Congratulations on your sweet little one!

You ladies are all amazing!!

PS Love the idea of a 4th trimester check in thread if we’re ok with that??

rebecksah · December 10

@brookejay06 @bridgiebee82 @californiacherry congrats on welcoming your little bundles! time to cozy up at home for recovery 😍

Melissa112009 · December 16

After a very unexpected traumatic c section, Callaway “Callie” Ann has made her entrance into this world. At 7 pounds even and 20 inches long on 12.13.2025 at 3:39 am.

There was a point in delivery that we didn’t think she was going to make it. But thankful to the whole crew that came running to the room and jumping into action to ensure that baby was safe and made it into this world breathing. 💗💗💗

rebecksah · December 19

@Melissa112009 congratulations!

nopegoat · December 20

@Melissa112009 congratulations!! Thank God you and your little one are ok! She is perfect! 😍😍

thatbaintforbetty · December 20

Oliver Andrew born 12/19 6:56 pm 8lbs 5oz 20.75 inches long.

Induction started at 5 am, got into a room and all set by about 7, was initially dilated to 3, went right to Pitocin and waited and waited. Had a late breakfast and then decided that the contractions were getting really good and got my epidural around 1. It took really good on the left but a couple hours in it was wearing off on the right side. Checked and was at a 5, had them top it off as I was really feeling the pain in my right hip.

Got it shifted slightly to help equalize and at 530pm I was at a 7 and still feeling it all in my right hip. Went from 7 to almost 10 in like 45 min and told them I feeling all the pressure. Turns out he was moving downward quickly and putting all the pressure in that area. They got me all set up and pushed for like 15 minutes. Had a veritable brigade of nurses since they were worried about shoulder issues.

I lost a good amount of blood and they did extra meds to help with the clotting/uterine firmness.

Almost passed out when later they tried to move us to recovery. Had to do more pitocin/meds and many rounds of uterine message that feel more like torture and not so fun times on the catheter. Lost more blood/clots. Finally made it there about 10:30.

Breastfeeding has been a challenge I forgot my nipples are terrible and kinda flat. Shields to the rescue though. He absolutely does not like to be put down to sleep much like his older sister.

Head of dark hair and lots of baby rolls. Will get to meet his sisters tomorrow (later today, lol).

cindy10104555 · December 20

Baby girl Riza born on 12/17 @1:44, 7 lbs 7 oz 🥰. I was 39 wks & 6 days.

No real trigger warnings: 2nd unmedicated birth, a bit unexpected though 😅

I’d been waiting (anxiously) for my Mother in Law to get into town to be able to watch our toddler while we would be at the hospital. But with it being winter in Vermont, everyone was sick and the snows were terrible. So instead of her being here last Friday like she planned she arrived Tuesday night.

Later that night I woke up a few times with what felt like contractions, but I was able to go back to sleep no problem. Throughout the morning I was definitely having some contractions but I kept thinking of my friend with her prodromal labor. I didn’t want to read too much into anything and start timing them and get too wrapped up in my own head about them. So I just tried to ignore them and stay busy! Because it’s better to labor at home as much as possible anyway, right? 😅

Well, by noon I thought I couldn’t put off timing them any longer. They were already at 5 minutes apart for a minute each. So, I call the hospital at 12:50, letting them know I’ll just wait for my MiL to get here from the hotel and I’d head over, see them in maybe an hour? And the nurse on the line was like… honey, bring your kid, but you better come as soon as you can! I, of course, don’t take her too seriously and think to myself ‘it would take as much time to load my kiddo up and get us all going than to just wait for my MiL to get here in a few minutes’. But a few minutes later as my MiL arrives, I’m deep in contraction territory and my only thought is that I should be putting on my snow boots and getting in the car.

I live only a mile and a half away from the hospital and that drive was like a dream sequence of freezing winter air blasting my face and me repeating to myself that ‘I can do this.’

We manage to make it to the hospital, they can see me coming in through the doors and get me straight to the birthing suite. I walk in and they immediately try to get me hook up to some monitors. I am standing there, maybe 5 minutes before the midwife comes to check me and says I’m fully dilated. My husband, the nurses and the midwife all try to help me into the birthing tub, literally across the hallway, but before I can make it out of the birthing room I feel her head. I’m too dazed (overwhelmed?) to realize what that means, but I stop walking. They try to basically carry me to the tub when I stop, but then I feel her shoulders and I just shout, she’s already here! (Or something to that effect between my other yelling, I have no idea 😅)

Before I realize what’s happening, I’m on my back on the floor of the birthing suite, everyone’s around me and the midwife managed to catch my baby before she fell straight onto the floor 🙌 Thank God!

Whew. After that, they manage to get me to the bed and there was no other drama! I didn’t tear this time, like I did with my first, so recovery is already so much better. Breastfeeding is just as much agony as the first time 🥲 hopefully that will just get better with time. 🤷‍♀️🤞

aisleofviewtwo · December 21

It’s a ….

BOY!

Samuel Anthony arrived as scheduled the morning of Thursday 12/18 at 39w0d. He’s a long, lanky lil guy at 7 lbs 6 oz and 20.5 inches.

C-section went smoothly with a fabulous team, and recovery for me has been generally pain-free, for which I’m extremely grateful.

We’ll be in the hospital a few more days, though, because Sam is in the NICU working through some congestion with oxygen assistance. Prognosis is excellent, mostly a waiting game while he gains strength and clears that gunk from his respiratory system. Looking forward to being back home and cuddles that don’t involved navigating monitor cords very soon 💛

Melissa112009 · December 21

@cindy10104555 congratulations. I LOVE the name!!!

bridgiebee82 · December 21

Look at all these beautiful babies and their beautiful strong mommies! 🩷🩷🩷🩷 congratulations!

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