The Birth

How do you even begin to tell the story of when life in it's most fresh and purest form enters the world and is placed in your arms. You can't, there simply are not enough tender, sweet words to express those moments....but bare with me as I try to do my best.

As many of you know, Bennett's birth story began around 28 weeks. I was faced with the actual thought that at any minute, any day, my barely ripe baby could be forced to meet the raw world before his prime. Since that time in the doctors office, my pregnancy felt like an uphill battle in which we fought tooth and nail to keep our baby safe, secure, and happy in the womb. We would get bad news, and then worse news....and then good news....and bad news.  It was enough to drive a normal non pregnant person insane....then throw in the "pregnant mama bear" and your picture should be pretty clear as to what I felt like some days. However, much to our relief and thanks to many prayers our Benny boy hung on and proved that the one true Healer and giver of life was bigger than the said to be "issues".

So we made it to 37 weeks...and then 38, and this point my fluid levels again dropped, my feet turned into puffy little marshmallows and my OB decided by 39 weeks if he didn't come before, we needed to meet our Bennett. So we scheduled an induction for Saturday, September 8th at 6:30 in the morning.....

All along my OB was thinking that I would for sure go into labor on my own since I was having all of the signs of labor, it was as if my body was ready but my womb wanted to hug baby tight just a wee bit more. Fine by me, I was just thankful to be able to say we made it to 39 weeks!!! 

Truth be told, induction scared me.  I wanted to be able to feel my body take over as it prepared to give birth, I wanted to be able to walk and roam the halls, to labor in the jacuzzi just as I had with Cole. And just when I couldn't take it any longer I wanted that sweet epidural nectar so that I could relax and enjoy meeting my baby. But as I have learned throughout the course of this pregnancy, life doesn't always happen as you picture it in your mind. It happens as God has it to happen. And this birth proved nonetheless.


Friday night I couldn't sleep. I was full of nerves, excitement, bliss...you name it I was feeling it. My alarm went off at 5 AM, and I leaped out of bed faster than I had at any one point during the last 9 months. I showered and made sure we had everything lined up to go.....that was until I looked at my phone and saw that I had missed a phone call. At that point my heart sunk, I just knew today was not going to be the day. Turns out it had been one crazy Friday night and the labor and delivery was booked solid... 

As in NO ROOMS....AT ALL.

I'll be honest, at first I cried a deflated cry. But then I tried to look on the bright side and see that I got one more day to spend with my family of 3 and one more night to try and get a restful sleep. So we spent the day meandering all over NW 23rd, eating way more sugar than we probably should have.....but soaking each other in. Let me tell you, it turned out to be a sweet, sweet treat. Pretty much perfection. And would you believe my head hit my pillow that night and I slept like I hadn't slept in a long, long time. I woke up refreshed and ready to have my baby!

We showed up bright eyed and bushy tailed at 7am, and they quickly got us all set up to check baby one last time before they began the actual induction. It wasn't until about 9:45 before they gave me my first dose of pitocin. At that point I was already 4 centimeters dilated, 75% effaced, and my cervix was soft. The nurse kept telling me, "you are going to go fast...prepare yourself, your baby will be in your arms before you know it. " So I prepared myself....and after 2 hours and not many painful contractions I began to get discouraged. They checked me again and I was still at a 4 but was completely effaced and my cervix had moved forward just as it should be. At about noon my Dr. came in to break my water and they all kept saying "your gonna go fast, prepare yourself. " Not believing them at that point I actually prepared myself to be in labor well into the night.....that is until that first contraction started about 15 minutes after my water was broke.....

And then it began, my body taking over....It was like a tidal wave that engulfed every breath of my being. I began to shake so much that it scared me, my nurse reassured me that it was my body preparing itself for delivery. I don't remember much other than the fact that every time a contraction hit me, I needed something to grip and brace myself against. Usually it was my bed frame, sometimes it was Kyle's hand (his poor, poor hand.). About an hour later the nurse heard my moaning and said, it's epidural time. I'm sure I looked like a mad woman as I nodded and pleaded for relief.

I had previously spoken with the anesthesiologist about giving me the lighter epidural so that I could have movement and feeling in my legs. As she administered my epidural the contractions were coming on powerful and frequent...I kept waiting for that Aaaaaahhhhh, relief moment....but it didn't seem to come. So they upped my dosage again, and again....and again. Finally, I could no longer feel the cramping pain of the contractions....but I also could no longer feel or move my legs, and my right eye began to feel droopy. Apparently, they had to give me way more than anticipated since my contractions were coming on so strong and quick. 

Even though I was amped up on epidural and could no longer feel the cramping what happened next startled me. I began to feel an immense pressure in the buttocks region. IMMENSE PRESSURE! So much that it still brought me to my death grip position every time a contraction hit. I was still shaking uncontrollably and the only relief I had was when my dear sister came behind me and massaged my neck and upper back, oh man, was that one heavenly back massage--Joy, you are amazing! We decided now was the time to clear out our room, as I felt the time was drawing near. I began to cry as I could hardly comprehend that soon my sweet boy would be here, at time I thought would never come. My nurse kept telling me to let her know as soon as I continued to feel the pressure in between contractions....no sooner said than done. Within 10 minutes I went from a 5 to a 7 and boy could I feel it.....

My nurse reassured me that the time was very near and that I needed to let her know if anything changed. She no sooner left the room when I felt like my baby was bearing down and ready to shove his little noggin' into the world. I must have looked at my mom with wild eyes as I started yelling, "I need my Dr. he's coming! He's coming!" Tears started flowing heavily and Kyle could no longer ease my shaking, I was a sobbing mess as I was sure my baby was going to be born and no one was going to be there to catch him. My mom ran out to the hall, and my nurse came busting in the room....in five minutes I went from 7 to 10...the time had come. 

My nurse quickly prepared the room for delivery all the while I was still balling and asking where my doctor was, apparently she was upstairs and they were having a hard time getting a hold of her. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity....yet also like the blink of an eye, my doctor came running in the room. Jokingly she asked if she even had time to "suit" up because with Cole he came shooting out before she could even tie up her scrubs! We laughed and I tried to calm myself down. I wanted to be present and I wanted to soak in every second of the moment we had been praying so hard for.

The next 25 minutes were a blur. I pushed, I cried, I moaned, I cried, I growled, I cried. I just remember trying to make each and every push count. At one point I overheard my nurse softly say to my doctor that she thought the umbilical cord was around Bennett's neck. Enough said, that was my when my mama bear instinct kicked in and I told myself I wanted him out with the next couple of pushes, I needed to know for sure that my baby was safe and placed securely in my arms.

I cannot even describe in words what happened next, I felt him move through the birthing canal, my doctor told me to look down, and as I did I watched my baby enter the world like a brave little soul. It was that instantaneous, movie-like moment when the baby's cry pierces the air of life and the whole room breathes a sigh of relief. My baby was home. There was no cord around his neck, he was perfect...that moment in time was sweet, sweet perfection at its finest. He was placed on my chest and I couldn't stop touching that warm, soft, butter-like skin. His cry was like the most melodious music I had ever heard, and those tiny toes and tiny fingers grabbed me like none other. The sweet breath of new baby tugged at every corner and crevice of my heart.

This was serious love. 

My heart had never felt so completely full and so completely overjoyed as it did in that moment. I couldn't stop thinking of Cole's big blue eyes, and how this wrinkled-pink-bundle-of- sweetness had captivated me just as he had nearly two years ago. In that moment, my world was complete. I had my two baby boys to hold and snuggle whenever I wanted and they were safe, healthy and thriving. praise Jesus!

The roller coaster ride, the tears, the 2-3 doctor appointments a week, the waiting, the worrying, the praying and hoping had all been worth it for that single precious moment.