Nonetheless, Ryan and I are SO excited to announce that we were blessed with the most unexpected surprise on Wednesday, September 24. Little Hayes Ryan decided to make his debut a few days shy of 38 weeks gestation- certainly not when we were expecting to meet him, but definitely the perfect day to make his swift entrance into the world.
I could ramble on all day about both of my births, and so that said, I compiled a rough story of Hayes' birth day.
I woke up around 4 a.m. to a contraction on Wednesday, September 24. It didn't seem that strange to me since I had been having Braxton Hicks the past few mornings when I would get up to go to the bathroom. On this particular morning I went to the bathroom and got back into bed, but I couldn't sleep. More tightening. But this was different than what I had been experiencing the previous mornings. These contractions were uncomfortable. They were starting in my back and wrapping around to the front, and they kept coming somewhat regularly. Could these be real contractions? I still wasn't convinced. After all, I wasn't even 38 weeks pregnant yet. I never expected to be THIS early. Not to mention, I still had a few things on my "baby is coming" check list to cross off!
Not sure what to think, I rolled out of bed and let Ryan know what was going on but not to get up because I was SURE it was nothing. I went downstairs and hopped on my computer. I started looking over my check list and began scanning things that "needed" to get done before this baby could come. More contractions. I began to time them. They were coming pretty regularly, 10 minutes apart and lasting about 40-60 seconds. They were pretty tolerable, but I still had to focus, and a few of them had me down on all fours. Even with the contractions remaining consistent, I think a part of me was in denial. No way was this baby coming today. I had convinced myself that this labor was going to go super fast, and this was already going way too slow.
I think about two hours passed. The contractions remained pretty consistent. I was split between thinking I was in labor and totally believing this was all just a false alarm that was going to end soon so that I could carry on with my day. Around 6 I went upstairs to put on my makeup and get dressed. Ryan got up with me and went downstairs to help me time my contractions. He decided he would work from home for the day just to be safe.
I texted my doula around 7 to let her know what was going on, also emphasizing that I doubted it was anything. Around 8 the contractions started wearing off. I think at some point even 45 minutes had passed where I hadn't had one contraction. I was totally disappointed, but then again somewhat relieved. For one, I really wasn't mentally prepared yet for this baby to come! And secondly, Evie had hurt her ankle (at least I thought it was her ankle) on Monday and when she woke up around 8, she still wouldn't walk on it. I really wanted to get her into the doctor that day because I felt like it was more than a simple sprain.
I got Evie ready for the day as usual and decided her and I should go for a walk with the stroller. Meanwhile I had Ryan make an appointment with our pediatrician for 4 that day, because if these contractions really were just going to pass which I felt they really were, then 4 would give me enough time to get her to the appointment. While walking I had one or two contractions. I got back inside and it wasn't long before they started to slowly come back more consistently again around 10, and then really picking up around 11. I called my mom then to let her know that I was having some contractions, I didn't think it was the real deal yet, but to keep it on her radar.I also called my doula, Erica to let her know the contractions had picked back up. I still think I was somewhat in denial that I was in labor.
At this point, things got a little fuzzy, and Im not positive of the sequence of events but it went something like this: I told Ryan around 11 or so that he needed to stop working. I couldn't take care of Evie anymore. I couldn't focus on my contractions. They were becoming more intense and closer together and it was all happening fast. I was torn between wanting to let my body labor and wanting to be there for Evie so that we could take care of her injured leg. I scurried to get our bags together. I talked to my doula on the phone again and we decided I needed to get to the hospital rather than her come to our house. Ryan called my doctor to fill him in. We called my mom to let her know she needed to come get Evie.
My mom arrived around 1:20 and I went into Evie's playroom to have a contraction privately. Evie had been getting pretty upset as labor progressed, crawling to me (because she refused to walk on her hurt leg) with a concerned look on her face and wanting me to hold her. It was so sad because I really couldn't hold her, but I could tell that she was aware that something was going on. I would have a contraction and try to talk to her during it to let her know mommy was OK. She cried for me as Ryan helped me to the car. I knew she would be OK, but it was seriously so tough to have to leave her in such a rush and in so much pain.
The car ride was similar to what I remember with Evie. PAINFUL. The contractions were insane. Ryan was super calm the entire time, encouraging me with, "You're doing great" "We are almost there." "We are going to meet our baby boy soon." I remember being turned around in the seat on my knees, eventually getting on the floor of the front seat on my knees as contractions came on and clutching the seat with all that I had. At one point I told Ryan I felt like the baby’s head was “right there.”
We got to hospital a little before 2 and Erica was waiting at the door. She helped me out into a wheel chair and we quickly made our way upstairs. I remember desperately asking “Can we just go straight to the room?!” Surprised, they did let me go. Apparently my doctor had called the hospital ahead of time letting them know I was coming and I was able to completely skip triage, which was such a relief.
Ryan and Erica helped me to the bathroom because I had to pee so badly. Surprised, I still had had no bloody show and my bag of waters was in tact. I couldn’t pee. Erica walked out and came back with her phone flash light on and told me to check myself. I didn’t want to but she explained it could be the baby's head I was feeling. Sure enough after checking, I knew it was the baby's head RIGHT THERE.
The next thing I know Ryan and Erica are quickly helping me to the bed. Nurses are hurrying in to prepare the room. A very young looking resident doctor came into the room and introduced herself. I'm pretty sure my heart sank when I realized my OB hadn't arrived yet and a little scared that a resident would be delivering the baby. I started out pushing on my left side. It felt painful and I was having a hard time pushing. So I moved to the right side. Erica and Ryan helped hold my legs. Just like my first pregnancy, my bag of waters still hadn’t broke. The resident says, "I am going to break your water" and goes to do it. Luckily my doula said, "Kaitlyn, is that something you want?" I yelled, "no" after realizing Ryan and Erica were encouraging me not to do so. Apparently there was no medical reason whatsoever for the doc to break the water. She simply didn't want the mess of the water breaking. In fact, breaking the water prematurely could have actually slowed down pushing and complicated things. Just one of many reasons Ryan and I were so grateful to have Erica there with us.
The next thing I know Ryan and Erica are quickly helping me to the bed. Nurses are hurrying in to prepare the room. A very young looking resident doctor came into the room and introduced herself. I'm pretty sure my heart sank when I realized my OB hadn't arrived yet and a little scared that a resident would be delivering the baby. I started out pushing on my left side. It felt painful and I was having a hard time pushing. So I moved to the right side. Erica and Ryan helped hold my legs. Just like my first pregnancy, my bag of waters still hadn’t broke. The resident says, "I am going to break your water" and goes to do it. Luckily my doula said, "Kaitlyn, is that something you want?" I yelled, "no" after realizing Ryan and Erica were encouraging me not to do so. Apparently there was no medical reason whatsoever for the doc to break the water. She simply didn't want the mess of the water breaking. In fact, breaking the water prematurely could have actually slowed down pushing and complicated things. Just one of many reasons Ryan and I were so grateful to have Erica there with us.
As I was pushing, the head of the Fetal-Maternal department came into the room, introduced himself and said, "Kaitlyn, you do know that since you are positive for Group B Strep and you didn't arrive to the hospital in time for the antibiotics, you will have to stay to be monitored for two nights?" Wow thanks, guy. Great timing. Here I am literally in the middle of pushing my son out and this doctor wanted to chat about the length of my hospital stay. According to Erica, I yelled "What?!" and continued pushing. Thanks for the reminder guy, but Im trying to have a baby. Having to stay two nights was a bummer, but at the end of the day, I was glad that neither I or the baby had to have any antibiotics. Group B Strep is a harmless bacterial infection that many people carry, but it can be harmful during delivery as it can be (although rare) passed to the baby.
I think I pushed maybe 4 or 5 times, and by 2:20, less than 30 minutes after our arrival to the hospital, I was holding a beautiful, 6 pound 6 ounce baby boy with a full head of dark hair whose name was still to be determined on my chest. My OB sprinted in shortly after, not making it in time to catch the baby of course, but in in time for the afterbirth, repairs and so forth.
As they took Hayes' vitals and helped clean me up, I vividly remember looking out the hospital window and thinking what a beautiful, fall sunny day it was, and then thanking God for this beautiful miracle and for taking care of the details of the day. My heart was full, and I still couldn't fully comprehend that our son was really here. His arrival was just as beautiful and completely amazing as Evie's, and yet special and unique in its own way. Despite the unexpectedness of his birth, the speed in which he arrived and a few hiccups along the way, I wouldn't have changed a thing about Hayes' birth day. I hope I can treasure the moments of that day forever and ever.
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“The most difficult part of birth is the first year afterwards. It is the year of travail – when the soul of a woman must birth the mother inside her. The emotional labor pains of becoming a mother are far greater than the physical pangs of birth; these are the growing surges of your heart as it pushes out selfishness and fear and makes room for sacrifice and love. It is a private and silent birth of the soul, but it is no less holy than the event of childbirth, perhaps it is even more sacred.” – Joy Kusek
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