OUR BIRTH STORY

As a first-time mama, I honestly didn't know what to expect with labor but I felt as prepared as I could be. I researched endlessly, watching Youtube videos, reading several different books & I even hired a doula to be with us in the hospital. I worked full-time up until I was 37 weeks pregnant which made me feel like my pregnancy went by quickly! I was due on October 30th, but our son didn't make his appearance until about a week later.

Let me just say that I cannot recommend having a doula enough, especially if you are a first-time mom and/or if you are trying to go natural. If you're currently pregnant, you are probably familiar with your OB visits that last about 5 - 10 minutes and don't really prepare you or educate you at all. Sometimes it's hard to know what questions to ask when you've never given birth! I actually switched OBs when I was...I think 36 weeks & it was the best decision! I loved my doctor & am so thankful she was able to take me on so late! More on that later. But a doula is such a wonderful resource for education when you're pregnant & postpartum. Plus they have all the tools to help get you through labor.

I would not have made it through my labor without my husband and my doula Amanda. I did not get an epidural but I can say I one hundred percent would have if my doula hadn't been there.

I went into labor at around 3AM on Sunday, November 5th. I distinctly remember waking up from contractions and pulling up the timer on my phone. I don't think you can even describe what labor feels like until you experience it yourself & I truly underestimated the amount of pain I would be in & how prepared I was to work through the contractions. I envisioned still being really energetic & loading the hospital bags & doing my hair & makeup. Oh how wrong I was. All I could do was lay in bed or sit on my birth ball. I was also nauseous/throwing up all day AND I had an upset stomach (your body's way of getting ready for birth). Amanda and I texted and talked on the phone throughout the day & when she got to my house she had already talked to the charge nurse at the hospital I was delivering at - they made sure I had a nurse who was good with me wanting to go natural & she found out who the doctor on call was.

I labored at home until around 6:45PM when Amanda showed up & she agreed it was time to go to the hospital. When they checked me in triage I was 4cm dilated and 90% effaced.

I imagined things would progress a lot faster & looking back, a lot of it feels like a blur because I was in so much pain. Amanda & my husband would rotate applying pressure on my hips to help with the pain during contractions. I mostly laid down but I tried laboring in the shower, & sitting on the toilet. We also used the tens machine, heating pad & diffuser for most of the night. On Sunday night my nurse offered me a dose of IV pain medicine which helped me sleep through the less intense contractions. They also gave me Zofran a couple times but sadly I could not shake the nausea. That night feels like a dream now but I remember my husband being an actual angel and getting up every time I had a strong contraction to comfort me/apply pressure.

Monday morning my doctor broke my water and they started me on a low dose of pitocin because I wasn't progressing enough. I remember pushing and barely being able to stand the pain. I had an amazing team of nurses & they tried different pushing positions & eventually we got to where I needed to be. I couldn't believe when my doctor told me to sit up & Tucker came out & she held him up where I could see him. I remember thinking I would cry & I think I did get a little teary-eyed but I was completely exhausted after laboring for so long - it was different from what I envisioned but still so special. I loved my doctor and nurses - they were AMAZING but I don't think I fully appreciated that until right after Tucker was born! We are just so insanely grateful for our healthy boy & I'm loving soaking up all these newborn snuggles.