Well, at least for those of you as obsessed with birth stories as I am.
After weeks of squeezing in writing time between nursing and pumping and diapers...
editing songs and pictures over and over at 1am until they are *perfect*...
then deleting and starting over because you need a clean slate...
FINALLY I have completed my birth story & slideshow. Easton's birth was not like my last. It was not like my first. In fact it was not like any of my other births. (To see those birth stories click HERE, HERE, and HERE.)
That is one of my favorite things about birthing and parenting. Each birth, each pregnancy, each child is different.
I have SIX now.
(cr@zy)
Among all six of my children, there may be a few similarities,
but not a single experience is the same from child to child.
They keep you on your toes!
My births have all been a little different, and this one is no exception. This little (actually my biggest) guy took a little longer, made me work a little harder, and in the end has taught me so much about birth... and life.
I was certain that I would go into labor at 39 weeks.
Positively certain. So, after 38 weeks, 39 weeks, 40 weeks, and this blog post…
I was still pregnant.
I had taken maternity photos, done a belly cast, had
henna painted, processed through all my previous births, and enjoyed every last
moment of my pregnancy. My house had been cleaned, the bassinet was ready, and
my birth kit was waiting in my bedroom. I was literally just waiting for baby!
After weeks of start & stop contractions and prodromal
labor, I had our midwife strip my membranes at my 40-week appointment on
Tuesday. My dad was leaving town early Thursday morning, and my midwife would
be out of town over the upcoming weekend. I was feeling anxious, even though
there was nothing I could do. If I didn’t have a baby soon, it was not going to
go as planned.
If you know me at all… you know I like everything to go as
planned.
Also, if you know me at all, you know that in my life
nothing ever
goes as I planned.
So, I had to just trust that God had a plan for this birth,
and that it would be the perfect timing for both baby & I.
I knew typically if stripping the membranes were going to
start labor that would usually happen within 24-48 hours. So when nothing had
happened by Thursday morning I was pretty convinced nothing was going to happen
any time soon. I had been having contractions, but they would never pick up in
intensity or get any closer. So, I called my mom to come over on Thursday
morning to go walk with the kids & I somewhere. I figured I might as well
help baby settle into the best position possible. As all birth educators and
doulas know, walking is an excellent way to do that!
Another little glitch in my plan was that I had planned on
having a friend photograph our birth. It was one of those “birth bucket list”
things that was really important to me if this were to be our last. Well,
Wednesday afternoon I saw on Facebook that our photographer had the flu. I
couldn’t have a sick person come into my home when I’m giving birth! So, I
called another photographer friend, Valerie. She & I had jokingly talked
about having her as a backup in case I go so fast that the other photographer
couldn’t make it. She said she would be good to go as my backup as long as I
didn’t go into labor that day.
“Cross your legs until 9pm”
Those were her exact words
to me. I was pretty sure that wouldn’t be a problem. I was convinced that this
baby wasn’t coming anytime soon.
Michael was working from home that day. I had the kids pick
up the house “just in case”. My mom came over, and we decided to go to the
park. As I was getting ready, I just felt kind of crampy. The cramps weren’t
coming in waves or regularly. I just felt weird.
At the park we walked… and walked… and walked. I was having
a few Braxton Hicks contractions, but nothing big. We went home to have lunch.
That afternoon the contractions stopped all together. I knew they would. I was
expecting them too! So, after the kids took naps, I had Michael come with the
kids & I on a walk around our neighborhood. Things started up again. This
time the cramping & Braxton Hicks seemed to be alternating. I was pretty
sure it would still be a couple days, but again, “just in case”, I sent Michael
& our oldest to their baseball game that evening while my mom came over to
stay with me. We cleaned up a little and made sure the important areas of the
house were ready. I was having a few more random contractions, but again
nothing big or regular.
That night, after Michael had come home, my mom was playing
checkers with the older kids after their baths. I went upstairs to put our 2
year old to bed. Around 8:30, as I nursed him (bucket list… nursing through
pregnancy), inhaling my relaxing essential oils, I started having a couple stronger contractions. It was pretty
normal for me to contract while nursing as it produces Oxytocin, which is the
hormone that starts contractions. However, usually they would stop and never go
anywhere. At 9:00 he was snoring on our bed, and I had another strong
contraction.
Valerie had said not until 9…
our midwife was in town...
but my dad
was in California.
I tried not to think about that part.
Michael came in to check on us, and I told him I was having
contractions. He had just sent my mom home. Everyone was in bed & I was, as
usual, in denial.
At 11:00, I decided this could be something. I was having
good, strong contractions, but they still weren’t in a very good pattern. They
were about every 4-8 minutes and only 30-45 seconds long. During my last labor,
the shower was really helpful for me to determine if labor was real or false. So,
I thought perhaps that would help me determine if this was real labor or not.
Into the shower I went… within moments, I was uncomfortable & the
contractions were simply unbearable. Then, I thought maybe I should eat something
& drink a bunch of water. These contractions seemed way more intense than
usual for early labor.
By 11:30 I was 75% sure that this was the real thing. I had
Michael make me eggs & I sent a text to our midwife, Jessica, as well as
our doula/friend/birth assistant, Teresa. I let them know I was pretty sure I
was in early labor still, but that the contractions were more intense than last
time. Michael also sent my mom a text, which I’m so glad he did. Around 12 I
began to have to stop talking and focus a little more on the rushes that were
coming. My mom came around this time in case any of the kids woke up. Jessica
called Miranda, her student midwife. Both of them, as well as Teresa, were
heading my way. They knew how fast I usually go once I get into active labor,
so we all felt most comfortable having them close by. At this point contractions
were picking up to every 3-6 minutes.
Easton's Birth PART 2 *if you haven't read part 1, CLICK HERE to read* As we waited for everyone to arrive, I had Michael start to fill up the birth tub down in our family room. I hadn’t really planned on birthing in it, but I knew I wanted it as an option. I put on a little makeup and fixed my hair… this is how Michael knew. He always says he knows it’s real labor when I put my makeup on. It was the real deal. It was 12:30 and contractions were 3-5 minutes apart and building, but still feeling random. I sent Valerie a text to let her know.
I labored for a while as the tub filled. Just a bit of advice. Birth tubs make rooms humid. Humidity ruins pretty hair. Fixing your hair before you hang out in said room is a waste of time. Back to the birth…
By 1:30 Jessica, Miranda, and Teresa had arrived. The interesting thing about my contractions at this point was that they were coming consistently, but the intensity was weird. They would be strong, and then get lighter, then stronger, and then light again. I never knew quite what to expect.
I labored throughout the early morning hours with contractions still at every 3-5 minutes. Valerie arrived sometime. I was in labor land, so I have no idea what really happened. I remember talking & laughing between contractions. I also remember my mom mentioning the book she gave me when I first got pregnant with our oldest & how it made me sick to see the pictures of birthing. I got the book out to show everyone, which is really funny to me. It’s a great book that I have used in my birth classes actually! I just find it funny that I felt the need to have show & tell during my labor.
They look amused, don't they? Haha!
Anyway, I do know that around 3:30 I wanted to be in the water. I debated in my head whether it was time or not… & then after a contraction, I just knew. Within moments I was in that tub. I had now been up for a while & was getting really tired. The water was super relaxing. Now I know why mommas love their water births!
Contractions still felt inconsistent as far as intensity, but regardless, I began to feel pushy around 6:30. I had the thought that I wanted to have someone check me, but they had just shown my mom the “purple line” about an hour before that and it showed that I was really close. So, I figured I was probably fully dilated. If you don't know what "the purple line" is... check this out. It's pretty amazing!
We woke up our oldest daughter so she didn’t miss anything & our 2 year old had started to wake up at this time too. It was almost time to meet our baby!
I pushed… and grunted… and growled… and pushed some more. I had never felt such strange contractions. They were spreading far apart, which can be normal to give your body some rest between. They didn’t feel as powerful as they should though. My water still hadn’t broken, but we thought we *maybe* saw it leaking. Perhaps that would help things intensify? Slowly, as I’m working through these weird contractions, our other kids began to wake up. I felt weak & tired. Almost like I could fall asleep between contractions. So, I rested, but assumed we were getting close. I knew it had been a longer active labor, but I was so tired at this point that I didn’t realize how long I had been pushing!
After an hour of pushing with no results, Jessica got a look on her face. I know that look. It’s the same one she got when she thought I was losing too much blood after our last birth (really it was just the placenta coming out right after baby). I can hear her voice now saying “I need you to show me that you can push this baby out on the next contraction”. So I tried, but the contraction was so weak! I couldn’t get enough power behind it to feel like I was doing anything! She then said I needed to get out of the water. I didn't hesitate. This was about 7:30 am.
I got right out of the water & lay on the couch where she was going to check me. Sure enough, there was a lip of my cervix that wasn’t dilated & my water still hadn’t broken. It was bulging and firm. Baby would not be able to descend until we got past that lip. As I waited, trying not to push, for 2-3 contractions, Jessica slowly stretched that lip of my cervix. As soon as she was finished, my bag of waters ruptured on the next contraction. It was such a relief. However, she then needed me to try not to push through a few more contractions, so that my cervix could slowly stretch & baby could descend. We decided it would be best if I stood, allowing gravity to help. Well, it sure did. As soon as I stood up, baby descended and I felt those strong, uncontrollable contractions that I should have felt an hour before that!
As soon as baby dropped down, I felt lots of pressure. Amniotic fluid poured out all over Michael & I. Then the next thing I knew, baby was pushing on my bladder so strongly that I peed right there in my family room on the floor… on my husband’s feet. Haha! I couldn’t help it! At this point, I couldn’t even stand any longer. Michael was holding me up completely. I just remember I kept saying “I’m sorry- I have to push. I can’t wait. I’m so sorry!” I was trying to follow my instructions, but I couldn’t stop the urge to push.
There are 2 words that come to mind when I think of the next moments… intense & violent.
I would have never used the word violent to describe such a beautiful moment as birth, but as my legs began to shake and I felt my baby coming out with such force, no better word comes to mind! Within moments I was scared, nervous, weak, emotional, and ready to get this baby out. I squeezed Michael’s arm, hearing everyone tell me how good I was doing and how I should give one more good push. I just cried, “I can’t!" I had made it all along being such a good birther. I had moaned. I had breathed. I had done everything I was supposed to do, but in that moment I just couldn’t take any more! My cries were met with instant replies from my husband and amazing birth team. “Yes, you can!”
So, I pushed through the most extreme, burning, fiery pain I’ve ever felt. I had never had a birth like this. I had never known such weakness & yet strength in my body all at the same time. I gave one last growl & felt the head, followed by 2 shoulders, and then body & legs come out. I knew what each part was as my baby literally was ejected from my body. As I fought through, I felt so much emotion. I felt so much love. This baby that I had been waiting for was finally here!
At 8:02 am, as my husband held me, and my children waited on the steps watching with my mom, I heard someone say “Kourtney reach down & grab your baby”. As I pulled this little one up to my chest, I practically fell onto the nearby couch. I couldn’t stand, but my heart was so full at that instant that I didn’t even notice how weak I was. Michael & I just held our baby and cried. We didn’t care if it was a boy or a girl. We didn’t care how long it had taken. We had conquered this amazing, beautiful thing during this birth & for that brief moment time seemed to stand still. We looked at every finger and toe. We stroked that sweet, soft skin. I just held my baby & breathed in deeply, taking in every last bit of that amazing newborn smell.
After those precious minutes had passed I looked over to Michael & said “are you ready to find out?” Jessica & Miranda had already snuck a peek, but since they’re awesome they didn’t say anything. I should also mention that most everyone thought we were having a girl. Our boy-girl pattern had become pretty predictable. My mom & I, however, had been thinking it could be a boy, since I felt like it was a bigger baby. My boys are usually longer & weigh more. So, back to the story…
We hesitated for a split second. I made sure the kids were all watching. Then, Michael pulled open the skinniest, longest baby legs I’ve ever seen to find out… IT’S A BOY! We looked over to find our boys with the BIGGEST smiles on their faces. Our oldest daughter said, “I guess God thought we needed another sweet boy.” *sigh* Precious. Just precious.
There are many more details that I could ramble on about... I could tell you about how wonderful it was to walk up to my bedroom and change into dry clothes. I could tell you about how hungry I was or how sore I was the next day- like I’d been in a car accident or something. My entire body ached from those last 45 minutes of fierce labor! However, I don’t need to go into all that.
All you need to know is the “sometimes”. Sometimes things don’t go how we have planned. Sometimes it’s hard and we really have to work for what is important to us. Sometimes we not only have to work, but we have to fight. Sometimes, when it’s all said and done, you discover something you never knew. You uncover a warrior inside of you. I had never realized what I was truly capable of, and yet how much I needed everyone around me to get to that place.
That isn’t the end of the story. We still had a long postpartum road to walk through. But for that brief moment, I had a glimpse of perfection. An absolutely perfect, 8 pound 8 ounce, 21 ½ inch long baby boy who made those hours of labor completely worth it. Someday I might not remember all these details, but I will always remember who I became that day. That’s the unseen beauty of giving birth. No matter how many times you do it, a baby is not the only one who is born. And now... EASTON'S HOMEBIRTH
Today, I am 40 weeks and 2 days. Baby is still not here & I'm attempting to patiently wait for him or her to arrive. It's not easy. I want to meet my baby!
However, since this is most likely our last baby that I will carry, I am trying to enjoy every last moment. I am relishing every kick & movement. I have done everything on my pregnant bucket list. We've taken maternity photos. We've done a belly cast. We've done henna belly art.
I also counted how many months I've been pregnant. Our oldest is almost 9 years old. If you add 9 months on to that, I got pregnant for the first time, 114 months ago. In the past 114 months, I have been pregnant for... FIFTY FOUR MONTHS! So, I have some experience being pregnant.
In the spirit of distraction & staying positive as I wait for our next bundle of joy, here are my TOP TEN REASONS I LOVE BEING PREGNANT...
10. People really feel obligated to open doors & carry bags for you. It's not usually because they think pregnant women are incapable, but they just feel like they should. And I'm okay with that!
Especially when I'm pushing a cart full of groceries with 5 other children hanging off every side.
9. Late night snacks are not only acceptable, but expected. Baby needs to eat!
8. Picking baby names is super fun! I mean, unless you're 39 weeks & it makes you cry because you can't name your baby until you meet them. But I haven't ever dealt with this. ;)
7. You get a lot of use out of those 3 shirts that fit you at the end. No other items in your wardrobe will ever be as loved.
6. The nightly show that happens across your belly when you lay down in bed. Once, Michael grabbed our daughter's elbow. Haha! She pulled it back so fast that it made me sick. Crazy!!
5. Yoga pants. Enough said.
4. If you've had other babies, you don't notice your stretch marks... because they're stretched out! It's perfect!
3. Your fabulously luscious locks. Thank you prenatal vitamins!!
2. You're not fat. You're carrying a human life inside of you, AND much of it is going to disappear when baby is born. I mean, we're talking baby, placenta, blood, amniotic fluid...
1. Hearing baby's heartbeat at every appointment. It doesn't matter if you've heard it before. Every time is this amazing experience where you're reminded of how FREAKING AWESOME it is that you're growing a baby INSIDE OF YOU!!!
In
2009 my life had reached a new level of craziness. We had three children age 4
& under. Michael had been promoted, then demoted, and we were still living
with my parents. We didn’t really have any friends our own age. Our youngest was a
handful, but that doesn’t even begin to explain him. I was overwhelmed. I was
constantly looking for something to distract me from my life. I had barely come
out of my Post Partum Depression. I had tried 2 different businesses to keep
myself from focusing on what was really going on. I wasn’t happy. I was trying
to ignore the signs that there was something going on with our son.
Well,
in August, we found out that we were pregnant… again. I was really emotional
over it all. I knew God would take care of us, but I didn’t know how. I felt so
overwhelmed. My husband was my rock though. He said, “I knew we would be
soon. It’s going to be okay!” From that point on, he encouraged me daily that
God had a plan. His words were what I needed.
We
saw our amazing doctor, and this pregnancy was fantastic with no complications.
There was never a reason for concern. I was looking to my husband and God for
all the affirmation I needed that this pregnancy was special, safe, and in
God’s plan. We found out we were having a girl at my 20-week ultrasound. As we
searched for names, we chose the one that represented her being placed in our
life at the exact time she needed to be. My brother had gotten married in
January and they found out they were expecting as well. Our babies would be
just 4 months apart. There was so much joy over these two!
As
I neared my due date, I had already discussed birth plans with my doctor. I
told her I felt like I really wanted to avoid Pitocin. She told me that she
thought I could do it without any induction or even an epidural. My labors go
so fast on their own that she saw no need to force things. I wasn’t quite on
board, but it felt nice to have her support me & believe in me so much.
Around 34 weeks, Michael & I were talking in bed one night. In a very
sweet, and supportive way, he told me that he thought I was amazing at giving
birth. He asked me to consider not having an epidural, and having a natural
birth… I laughed.
But
the more I looked into it over the next couple days, the more I realized that I
probably COULD do it. I began to barely scratch the surface of educating myself
on natural birth.
So,
at that 36-week appointment, I told my doctor my plans to try for a natural
birth. I was pretty sure I would change my mind, but both she & Michael
knew I wouldn’t need to. I also found out at that appointment that I was
already 3cm dilated! WOW! I had been 1cm since about 34 weeks, so this was big
news. I had never dilated on my own this quickly… but baby really shouldn’t
come for another 2 weeks! So, I was told to not over-do it & just take it
easy that week. 37… 38… 39 weeks rolled around. I was STILL at 3cm. There was
an insane amount of pressure from her head pushing down on my cervix. I could
hardly walk. So, at 39 weeks I went for my appointment and we discussed what my
options were. I was doing all the natural things to induce labor, but it wasn’t
helping. We decided to try inducing with the Cervadyl again, even though
typically they only use that for moms who haven’t dilated at all. Now, should I
have just given it a couple more days… probably. Was I being incredibly
impatient & kind of a baby… absolutely. I also realized however that our
first 3 children didn’t have red hair, despite Michael’s fire-red head of hair.
So, I figured our chances were pretty good that this one might. We requested to
be induced on St. Patrick’s Day. Whether or not she came out with red hair, it
sure would be fun!
So,
on March 17, only 4 days before her due date, we went to the hospital at 8am. When we walked into the room, the nurse apologized because they had a lady bug problem. Someone had cracked the window somewhere and there were ladybugs ALL OVER our room. I kind of liked them though. They gave me the Cervadyl, and it immediately began to work. By lunchtime, my
contractions were building into a steady rhythm. Around 11:00 they checked me
& I was about 5cm. I was certain that it wouldn’t be long after that. 2
hours later, I was still 5cm. So I had them break my water at 1:30.I remember sitting there in that bed,
laboring away, and a nurse asked me if I wanted to get up and move around to
help things speed up… that was like a foreign language to me! The last 2
births, I HAD to be on my back because of an epidural, and with the first 2 I
had to for 12 hours because of the Cervadyl. Get up and move around? So, I told
her maybe later. Haha! Why? Don’t ask me. There I was, having a baby with no
drugs, eating popsicles, and just laying there. We were watching a movie &
laughing. The nurses would come in & watch with us. It was no big deal…
until around 3:00.
I
remember thinking “I’m going to need an epidural soon”, but I thought I would
just wait like 30 more minutes. I didn’t say that to Michael, but I sure was
convinced that I would be getting one. About 20 minutes later, a nurse said
“I’ve been watching the monitors, I think we should check you & see what’s
going on”… I was about 9 cm. They called my doctor, and not 5 minutes later I
was feeling the urge to push. Everyone came rushing in, the doctor was
downstairs & came right up. At 3:46 my sweet girl was born in 3 pushes. I
had made it to pushing with our first having no epidural, so the laboring wasn’t
unexpected. However, no one told me about “the ring of fire”. There is a moment
when baby is crowning & the head is about to be born, and it honestly feels
like someone lit your vagina on fire. No one warned me… so that part was
unexpected. Haha! BUT I DID IT! I never had to ask for drugs or scream at my
husband because it was so painful. I dug down deep and did something I NEVER
would have imagined I could do.
She
came out with barely a cry. She was so petite & had the sweetest
personality. We swaddled her up & she cuddled up like a little bug. Within
moments, her nickname was “ladybug”… Our little ladybug with bright red hair.
She brought a smile to everyone’s face, and truly still does. Although now it’s
that fiery, funny personality that brings a smile. She is quite a little lady.
That
birth began something in me. I was a different momma from that point on. I was
empowered and believed in myself as a mother. I had never nursed a baby with
such ease. It got me started down a path of researching & learning that I
had never been interested in before! I now knew that I could make decisions,
and tell someone no, if it’s not what is best for my child or me. I had found
my voice. I had found my strength. It was only the beginning…
After our first 2 were born, things were great! We moved into a new apartment when the baby was 2 months old & settled into a great routine! The kids were so much fun! This is the point where I began to ask the question. You know… Are we done? We went on vacation that summer. Our oldest was almost 2. Baby girl would be 1 in the fall. I remember all of a sudden knowing we weren’t done. Michael & I had been praying a lot. We had been talking about it a lot. At the start of our vacation, we went to a weekend worship/prayer conference in Nashville with my family. One afternoon we just knew. We were supposed to have another baby!
By the end of October, we found out we were pregnant. I was ecstatic! This baby was God’s idea & it just felt perfect. However, I had just weaned our 1 year old & prior to that had been pregnant or nursing for 2 years with no break. My body was very tired & depleted of nutrients. So, my pregnancy wasn’t what I thought it was going to be. It wasn’t perfect like I had hoped.
Our insurance also changed, and we had to switch doctors. I was devastated. I felt like we LOVED our doctor & he had taken care of us so well… whether I knew it or not, he had not. So, by accident, we found a doctor. She was great! I didn’t ask any of the right questions, but I felt at peace about both she & her partner. Looking back, this was a perfect twist of fate. This is the woman who would go on to encourage me that I should be a birth educator or a doula. I have nothing, but the utmost respect for her!
Around late November, I began having pre-term labor symptoms. We were struggling financially and I felt like I was under SO MUCH stress. I wasn’t eating well, and certainly was not hydrated well enough. After much discussion and prayer, my parents offered to have us move in with them for a few months to catch up on things & start saving up for a house. Michael was working on a promotion at the time as well, so there was a whole lot going on! In January, we moved in with them. It was crazy & hectic, but being around my family was what I needed. Soon after moving in though, my back began to spasm on a regular basis, and I started struggling with Sciatica. It felt like one thing after another during those first 20 weeks. We found out baby was a boy though, and that all was well at our 20-week ultrasound. The kids were so excited. We began to look for yet another AWESOME E name.
Just as my body began to settle down though, stress began to build among our family. My brother had just graduated high school & was trying to figure out what he was going to do/where he was going to go. My grandparents had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s & Dementia, so my parents were taking frequent trips to Kansas to care for them. My other brother was going through an incredibly hard time as well. Michael had been promoted, and the news came that he would be going out of town a week after my due date. His new position was very long hours and he was practically on call 24-7. The atmosphere in the home was certainly not calm, or peaceful. The other kids handled it well, but baby & I seemed to take on a lot of the stress. It wasn’t evident, of course, until later.
By 37 weeks, we were ready to meet our little guy & considering we lived in a house with my family, we didn’t have much preparation to do. We had everything we needed! Baby was due June 19, but at 38 ½ weeks I started having consistent contractions. I had never gone into labor on my own. I brought Michael home from work, we went to the hospital, and as soon as they hooked up those monitors… everything stopped. I had start/stop contractions for the entire weekend. Finally on Monday morning I requested to be induced. I was exhausted (or so I thought- looking back I should have just sucked it up).
At 8am on June 12 we went into the hospital. Because I had been dilated to 1cm for about 2 weeks, they skipped the Cervadyl that my body responded so well to, and went straight to the Pitocin that my body didn’t really like. Well, by noon, I was having those same back-to-back contractions like last time, and was at 4cm. It was getting very intense! The nurse insisted that giving me more Pitocin would possibly help my water break… so we increased it. Now it was unbearable.
By 12:30 I was begging for the epidural! They had to break my water first though. The problem was… baby wasn’t ready for that. He still needed some time. At 1:00 my water was broken, the epidural was given, and at 2:30 I was still only 4 cm and baby’s heart rate was dropping. We tried backing off the Pit. It didn’t work. The cord was around his neck & there wasn’t enough amniotic fluid in there to loosen it and allow him to descend. Fortunately the nurses had just switched over before this & I was given the MOST amazing nurse, Cori. She called my doctor and they decided we should try Saline Amnioinfusion. Basically they were going to shoot sterile water into my uterus to help loosen the cord so baby could descend. They did this at 3:30. Apparently it worked, because by 3:50 I was fully dilated and about to push. If it hadn’t worked, they were already prepping the OR for a Cesarean. My momma was in the hall, and overheard the nursing staff talking about OR prep... she was pacing the halls & praying. I had to push a little longer with this little guy- all in all it was about 20 minutes. Our second son was born at 4:16 pm… he was mad, yelling, and telling us his story. He peed on Nurse Cori. Then, she put him on my chest, and he calmed right down.
His life was forever changed by this birth experience and so was mine. I learned how scary a birth could be when mom and baby just aren’t ready. He has anxiety and a myriad of other issues that he was pre-disposed to, due to his traumatic birth. Following this birth, I began a slow, spiraling road of Post Partum Depression, even though I didn’t know it at the time. I became a different person, very disconnected with my sweet boy. However, God had a big plan! We needed this baby. He needed us! We would learn so much from him & this birth changed the very course of my life from here on out.
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