MY BIRTH STORY
Joey and I are so happy to announce that baby Beau was born on Thursday, April 14th at 2:48pm. Below is our full birth story including the details before, during, and after labor. If you are an expecting or new mother, I hope this story encourages and inspires you! To watch the video explanation of my birth story on Instagram, click here.
BEFORE LABOR
I wanted a natural birtH
I was trying everything to have a natural birth and to avoid an epidural. I had a doula, OBGYN, and Joey helping me leading up to my birth. I even tried doing Lamaze classes.
Beau’s due date was April 9th
My doctor was going to be out town the weekend before Easter. Once Beau’s due date passed, my doctor asked if I wanted to be induced. I didn’t want to because usually when you are induced they use Pitocin. Pitocin speeds up your contractions, so I knew if I got it I would want to get an Epidural.
Something that people don’t talk about a lot is the mental game of trying to be content when your due date passes. It is a very common experience for first time moms to have their baby past their due date. They can over 40 weeks to 42 weeks. My doctor really wanted me come in at 41 weeks and deliver my baby. This was primarily because the weekend after was a holiday weekend with Easter and she wouldn’t be there.
I had a high blood pressure
I went to the doctor as usual and they checked my blood pressure and it was really high. She suggested I go to the hospital walk-in center for pregnant moms where they did more testing. The retook my blood pressure and everything was perfectly fine.
We scheduled an induction
I was glad everything was ok but they suggested I schedule an induction on Wednesday around 6pm to hold my spot for Thursday morning. This was so my doctor and nurse, Rosina could be there as well. After much prayer, we decided to cancel the induction because we wanted to give him a little bit more time to go naturally.
DINNER ON WEDNESDAY
We decided to go to Marina Jacks because we wanted to take our dog, Tripp on a walk. We were also doing everything we could naturally to induce labor. We decided to eat at O’Leary’s which is an outside restaurant in the area. They had picnic tables outside for seating with sand all around. We were able to tie Tripp’s leash around the bench.
My water broke
Joey went to go get the food, when he got back he handed me my burger. I went to put the Mayonnaise on it and my water broke! Joey went to go pack everything up. When he got back, I stood up and there was a puddle on the bench. Luckily, we had towels in the back seat so I was able to sit on them in the car.
Joey had to pick up the car from an oil change, so I had to drive home while my water was breaking. All I was thinking during the drive was that I wanted to tell my mom but I had to get home and shower. To see the video where I tell my mom, click here.
During all of this, I called my doula and she suggested that I go home and sleep it off because I need to deliver within 24-48 hours. My water broke at 6:48pm and continued until 6:00am the next day.
contractions started at 6am
When contractions started, they were only back contractions so we went directly to the hospital. I was 5 minutes apart and was starting with back labor. Luckily my doctor and nurse were in town because it was the Thursday before the holiday weekend.
Nothing was glamorous
I wasn’t able to change into my robes or anything because my labor went by so fast.
WE ARRIVE AT THE HOSPITAL AT 7:30AM
I told them that my water broke at 6:45pm the night before and they asked why I didn’t come into the hospital. We did not know that their protocol was different. They said you only have 18 hours after your water breaks to birth your baby before they give you antibiotics. We knew we did not want the antibiotics so we had to push him out by that time.
WE WENT UPSTAIRS
I wanted to put on my nice robe that I packed but I was in so much pain I was not able to. I was curled over on the bed and they asked me so many questions.
2. LABOR
I was at 3cm before they took me upstairs. It was getting worse and worse and my doula was on the way. She suggested I get on the ball. Joey helped me and they monitored the baby’s heart rate.
The pain of back labor
Keep in mind, I was having back labor so Joey was rubbing my back behind me. He started rubbing my legs as well because they started to go numb. I felt like I couldn’t walk on them and they were in a lot of pain. I threw up and started to feel like I was going to blackout because of the pain. It was a very humbling and sanctifying experience.
I asked for an epidural
Since I was in so much pain, I requested an Epidural. Joey was encouraging me that I didn’t need it but after going back and forth about it we decided it was the right thing to do. It took about 30 minutes before the Epidural got to me. I was afraid he wasn’t going to come in time because I was already at 7cm.
Finally he arrived with the Epidural. He put it in and it hit a nerve so my right leg went numb. For a second, I thought I was going to be paralyzed but thankfully I am not. I didn’t have enough Epidural. However, I’m glad I didn’t ask for more because I don’t think I would have been able to push Beau out as fast if I could not feel as much.
I FELT EVERYTHING
The Epidural helped me stay awake but I was still in excruciating pain. I could still feel everything including the contractions and stitches.
Rosina, my nurse was amazing. My doula, Joey, and everyone was there. I was pushing on my back and my side and they were encouraging me to relax throughout the entire process.
I was at 10cm
We were pushing for an hour and 50 minutes. Joey and I shared this moment together where he saw me in so much pain and he started crying. When it got close to push him out we stopped when and we were in the ring of fire where his head sits there. I was in so much pain but it is an important part of the procedure to reduce tearing.
Beau was born at 2:48pm.
Then we were ready for the final push and Beau came out of the womb crying and looking around. It was such a beautiful moment even though I was in so much pain. Joey started crying as well and he said he would cried even more if there were not so many people around.
CHEST-TO-CHEST
Then Beau spit projectile on Joey and everyone started laughing. They had to put Beau on my stomach so they could cut the umbilical cord so he could reach my chest. Once he was on my chest, I started crying because it was such a beautiful moment. He stayed on me for about an hour for chest-to-chest. Then I had to get stitches because I had a first degree tear.
Then we weighed him and I got to breastfeed him. Then my parents came in and we were transferred to the mother baby unit. They were pushing on my stomach afterwards every couple of hours until I left. I was in so much pain that I couldn’t walk.
3. POSTPARTUM RECOVERY
It was so difficult for us because Joey had to pick me up to take me to the bathroom, change me, and put me back in bed. He also had to do that with Beau and bring him to me.
JOEY TOOK CARE OF ME AND BEAU
Joey had to do everything and take care of both of us. He did all of the diaper changing. He had to get up every time in the night. We couldn’t switch off so I all I could do was breastfeed in bed. We had to stay at the hospital for two days and went home on Saturday. It took me about a week before I could walk again.
new love
Joey and I went through so much together between him taking care of me, and going through the painful labor. Seeing Joey step up as a father, I love him even more than I have before. We have grown so much closer through this experience which I didn’t even think was possible.
GOD’S PERFECT DESIGN
God uses child birth in such a beautiful way because you have to go through so much pain and sacrifice for someone else. It so wonderful to see him as a father and he is just such a wonderful dad. It is so beautiful to see how God designed marriage and the family so perfectly.
AGAPE LOVE
We both have come to agree that there has been this new kind of Agape love that we are experiencing. It’s a love that you didn’t earn or deserve. But you love this child because he’s yours and he’s a gift from God.
I hope you enjoyed my birth story! Not everyone’s birth story is going to look like this. It was really hard but looking back now I’m so thankful the Lord allowed me to get through this. I didn’t have to take the antibiotics and I got to have a natural birth. I did have to have the epidural but it was still just as painful.
We are just so thankful for Beau and I can't wait to keep you updated on this new journey of parenthood!
xoxo, Christine
If you have any questions, feel free to leave them in the comments below.