WESTONS BIRTH STORY
5.8.2019
LEADING UP
I don’t even know how to begin this but here we go… warning – this will be raw and real. You’ll see typos and you’ll probably read run-ons but I want to just get it all out there and not overthink this.
So, Westons due date was May 8th. A few weeks prior to his due date I had felt what I thought was my water breaking. I was home alone as I had already taken off for maternity leave and Joe was at work. I called my mom freaking out because it was a tiny trickle (sorry, more TMI is coming) instead of a giant gush, which is what I had always envisioned. The doctor told me to go ahead and go in. We packed everything up just in case and we went in. They tested the fluid and told me that it was not amniotic fluid (my water breaking) and sent me home. The next week leading up to his due date was THE LONGEST week of my life. I had steady contractions but they weren’t close enough to go in. We decided to stay with my parents that week because 1. it was closer to the hospital and 2. Joe was working and I didn’t love the idea of being alone downtown just waiting. That week, as long as it was, is one of the sweetest, best weeks of my life. My entire family was on baby watch! We sat outside, we swam, we took long walks around the golf course, ate a lot of good food, and anxiously waited! My mom and I still reminisce on that time together.
A few days before he was born I went in again. My contractions were closer in time and I thought again, that my water had broken. They hooked me all up to the monitors which showed that I was in fact having pretty decent contractions but again, they were still not close enough and my water had not broken (so they said). They gave me the option to walk the hospital and try to get the contractions closer or go home. I decided to go home. It was important to me that I did not force him out just because of discomfort. I really wanted him to come on his own time. So I went home, walked more miles, did more lunges, bounced on my yoga ball, and prayed for him to come. At this point I was STILL only 2 cm dilated.
After almost 2 weeks of faint contractions and discomfort my 40 week check up was finally here! This was May 7th – the day before his due date. I went in 100% thinking she’d check me, send me home, and tell me to wait it out. They checked my dilation and I was STILL 1.5/2cm and baby boy was high. I was discouraged and felt like he’d never get here. About 10 min later my doc came barreling in my room and said, “SEE YOU AT 5AM WE ARE HAVING A BABY TOMORROW!” I had been anticipating this moment for 40 weeks but nothing will every prepare you for that. My jaw hit the floor, everything went blurry, and the tears came. I WAS FREAKING OUT. She said that he looked super ready and that my fluid was running low.
Sidenote – my fluid hadn’t been low my entire pregnancy so I really think I may have had a tiny leak and those few times I went in were amniotic fluid but I’m not a doctor so whatever. Anyway, I was terrified at the thought of being induced. I had heard so many horror stories about it my entire pregnancy. Stories about your body not being ready, stories about how a lot of times induction leads to c section, and awful stories about pitocin (the drug that puts you into labor). My doctor assured me that baby was ready, that I was strong and ready, and with the low fluid it was necessary. At this point, I just had to have faith and go get some Mexican food. You absolutely cannot prepare for labor – your body is going to do what it needs to do and your story will not look like everyone elses. My advice is to be knowledgable, trust your doctor, and pray.
MAY 8 – D DAY
If you know me, you know that I am super close with my family. Being able to wake up on my boys due date surrounded by family warmed my nervous heart. 5am rolled around QUICK… I didn’t sleep at all. I had BAD contractions all night. I paced my room and prayed. I really think he would’ve come on his own on May 8th regardless of being induced. My contractions were LEGIT. My parents prayed with us and then Joe and I raced off to the hospital. We didn’t even really speak on the way there. We were both so shocked. They made me sign my life away, hooked me up, and it was go time. I labored with no meds for a few hours on pitocin (drug they use to put you into labor). YA’LL IT WAS BAD. The pain was excruciating, unlike anything I have ever felt or can explain. My nurse had advised me to hold off on the epidural in hopes that I would dilate more because the epidural could slow things down. I. WAS. DYING. Unsolicited advice – GET THE EPIDURAL ASAP. My doc came in to check on me at about 8am and said, “get the epidural asap.” The anesthesiologist was there in like 5 minutes. For some reason, I was always more nervous for the epidural than pushing. Not sure why because it was amazing. He did it in-between contractions that were 2 minutes apart and if truly did not hurt AT ALL. It felt like a bee sting. I was amazed, after he did it I didn’t feel another contraction. PRAISE.
After the epidural I felt great! I was able to hang out with my family and relax. Now it was just a waiting game because I couldn’t push until I was at a 10. I loved this time! Our families were in and out of the room, I watched The Kardashians of course, and honestly it was all really fun. I did get really bad shakes from epidural but that is pretty common so don’t freak out if that happens to you. My Doctor came in round 12pm and told me that it was go time! I had gone from a 1 to a 10! Answer to prayers. My siblings happened to come in literally as she was walking out to get ready and my little brother prayed the sweetest prayer over Weston and I. I still have chills thinking about it. I started pushing around 1:00pm. Pushing is another level of exhaustion. Our bodies are insane. I remember I had worship music playing and I just chatted with my nurse the entire time while pushing (always been a talker LOL). Weston came at 2:55pm! I can still feel his little body being placed on my chest. It is MAGIC, PURE MAGIC. He had swallowed some fluids so they had to use the blue suction things to get it out…. felt like forever until I heard his cry but it was actually really quick. The nurses are amazing.
The rest is a blur. I begged and begged to only stay one night in the hospital. I wanted to be out so bad. We both looked great so luckily I was able to get out. Don’t be afraid to ask if/when you can leave. I didn’t sleep in the hospital or when I got home. Seriously, I straight up did not sleep for 72 hours straight. The adrenaline and emotions were insane! My mom had to force me to sleep. I think I was just in shock. I felt so much better when I would force myself to sleep so take help when offered and take care of yourself those first few weeks. Postpartum is another blog post for another time but it was all just pure magic. I have never felt more close to Jesus than I did in the moments I saw my boys face for the first time.
I will never, ever forget that day.
HOSPITAL BAG
I get asked all the time about what to bring to the hospital. Really the hospital has everything you need to take care of yourself so just bring comfy things. I will link what I brought and loved below. Don’t overthink this – in my opinion all you need is comfy pjs, jogger set to go home in/ see visitors, pillow, blanket, slippers for running back and forth to the bathroom, the mesh panties are awesome but I felt more secure in the huge panties over depends, and an extra long phone charger.
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