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Here is our 3rd hospital birth story! My desire is that you both enjoy a good birth story and gain some insights to help you with yours.
Our third baby, and second boy was born on the 27th of December, 2023. A month “ahead of schedule” at 35 weeks gestation. He weighed 5lbs 13oz and measured 19.5 inches long.
This is a positive hospital birth story. A gift from God.
The Contractions
I woke up at about 9 AM and took a shower before starting breakfast.
While in the shower I started to feel mild “period cramps.” The cramps would come and then go. I was NOT expecting this and became quite a bit nervous.
I told my husband about it. We considered that it may be the braxton hicks, although I never felt them in either of my previous pregnancies.
Usually, in our experiences, labor took a couple of days between the start of the contractions and the baby’s birth. So, for now we were monitoring.
As I made breakfast, I could feel my cervix dilating. As we ate, the contractions started to become a little stronger so I had to stop and breath.
I used combs in my hands to manage the pain. This is a technique I briefly learned about from other moms online.
By 11 AM the contractions were stronger and more intense. I had to stop talking to work through the contractions. Using the comb method was not working to alleviate any of the pain so I was getting discouraged.
Fear started to take ahold of me.
We didn’t have everything ready. Not to mention my insurance didn’t start until the 1st of January.
As the contractions became more intense my husband was helping me finish getting the hospital bag ready.
The Pushing
By 12 PM I started feeling like I needed to poop. When I said that out loud, my husband went into mental calculations & planning mode.
It turned out I didn’t need to poop. I began to feel a mild sensation to push with each contraction.
My husband gave me the go ahead to call my mom to get our kids. We all live in the same building, which is helpful in emergency situations. She prayed for us and my husband took the bags and car seat to the car.
I was scared because I knew the baby was coming. So, I told him that we needed to call the ambulance.
However, my husband knew that if we called an ambulance we would be taken to a hospital we were not familiar with.
Thank Jesus for my husband’s impressive ability to think well under loads of pressure. He is my personal Superman. He made the correct decision.
My husband helped me to the car. I had to stop mid steps going downstairs due to another contraction. I can’t imagine what the neighbors might have thought hearing me yell! Cue nervous laugh.
In the car I couldn’t sit so I knelt on the passenger seat facing backwards.
My husband drove as fast and safe as he could. I was pushing the whole drive. I could feel the baby making his way down and closer to crowning. However with every turn or bump he went back in.
I think this is how our bodies were made: not only to give our bodies time to stretch and move BUT also to give birth when we feel safe. Baby could not be born while we were swerving and stopping and hitting pumps along the way.
I was so exhausted from pushing and wanted labor to be over.
We made it to the hospital in just 25 minutes (which was fast considering we live far from the hospital).
At the Hospital
Upon our arrival, my husband let me know that I’d have to move and that he’d help me.
When my husband got out of the car he notified the hospital personnel that I was in labor.
I was nervous to move because the baby was so close to coming out. My husband helped me out of the car and I awkwardly sat on the wheelchair they brought out for me. As soon I sat down I felt the baby’s head crowning.
The receptionist tried asking me the usual registration questions but I told her the baby was coming out. Hearing me say this to the receptionist, they quickly took me to a triage room.
As soon as they helped me off the chair I fell on my knees next to the bed and continued pushing.
They politely notified me that they needed to pull my pants off to check me. I consented between contractions, “okay.”
They politely asked if they could help me onto the bed. They reassured me that I could continue to be on my hands and knees, if I wanted. This made me feel safe and secure. I wasn’t going to be restricted and controlled. I had some freedom to just focus on giving birth and trust my instinct.
I was so exhausted. I could feel the baby’s head showing up and going back in a few times.
It was frustrating but it helped to allow my body time to stretch.
The nurses in triage were very kind and encouraging, “you’re doing good.” They were also helping me stretch in the meantime.
I felt the head of the baby crowning and ready to be pushed out. So, I pushed through the ring of fire and once the head was out, I told myself. “ONE MORE PUSH.”
I took a deep breath and I pushed for the body. As soon as the body came out I felt instant relief.
The Afterbirth
I turned around expecting I would still have to birth the placenta but I also felt TOO relieved. There was no uncomfortable umbilical cord coming out of me.
When I sat up they were all amazed to have witnessed the baby en caul. The baby was born in the sac and the placenta came out with the baby. An en caul birth is rare.
“It’s a boy!” I hadn’t even thought to ask because I already knew baby’s gender. An inner knowing that I believe God has blessed me with. I have not been wrong with any of my children’s gender so far.
My husband cut the umbilical cord and the nurses took the baby to check him. They were checking me too, in the meantime.
“No tearing,” they announced.
Thank Jesus!
Baby was placed on my chest while they cleaned me up. They did their routine fundal massage, which I think is more painful each time.
I felt great! Not only was labor over and I did not tear, but it was still daytime. We weren’t tired and sleepy from being up all night.
I, officially, prefer daytime births. Hopefully it’s like that for me with all my future births.
Of course we shared the baby’s birth stats and pics with the family.
The nurse helped me with trying to get baby to latch. He did but was unable to suck any milk. They said that he hadn’t developed that skill yet.
The nurses kept confirming the due date with me. I think they were hesitant to trust me because I did not have ANY prenatal care. (More on this in a later post). I know they feel more confident getting stats from other medical professionals.
Still, they were very kind.
The Postpartum
They had us wait a while before we were moved to the postpartum room. This is usual but I also think that they were trying to figure out where to put us since we were uninsured.
They placed us in a room isolated from the rest of the moms. I believe they said it was a quarantine room and that’s all they had. The nurses and obstetrician were very kind and we didn’t mind the room.
I was just so thankful that baby boy was born healthy and I felt GREAT!
I was surprised with how I felt. Even though I had just given birth and was overweight, I felt excellent.
The nurses came routinely to perform the fundal massages and administer some light pain meds for the soreness. To be honest, I wasn’t particularly brave to decline the pain meds because of the post-birth uterine contractions.
After baby is born, your uterus contracts as it’s shrinking back to its normal size. Usually they are most painful the more babies you birth. I felt them ONCE post the second birth and boy was it painful.
Maybe next birth I’ll decline and only take them if I actually feel unbearable pain.
There are certain teas that help with postpartum recovery including post-birth contractions. I will provide a list on a later post.
One well-known supplement is Afterease by Wishgarden, but there are also other options.
I was starving so my husband bought us a Portillos Italian beef for me and a hamburger for him.
The next day we got some pizza from Giordanos. We really liked this part of the whole new baby process: our little getaway from the world.
I missed my 2 other babies so much! Though I was also nervous about going back home and having to assimilate with a new baby.
It was still pretty difficult having to wake up through the night and feed baby.
This time I didn’t use the breast pump as much. I already knew that if baby was not going to breastfeed straight from the breast I was NOT going to be able to commit to breastfeed.
It would be virtually impossible to do so while having to take care of our other 2 children. My husband is extremely helpful but he also has to go to work. So, I am left alone with the kids and it can definitely get overwhelming very fast – particularly because they are all under 3.
The Lactation Consultant came by to help me with breastfeeding but it wasn’t very helpful to me. She gave us a plan to go by until baby was able to latch and feed. That is, when he developed the sucking motion.
However, I knew I was not going to be able to juggle baby’s inability to feed from the breast and everything else at home. It’s disappointing for sure, but this time I was ready for the disappointment. It didn’t hit me as hard as with the first 2 kids.
I didn’t quit right away though. I kept a little bit of hope.
The Baby
Since baby was born so fast and premature he’d been spitting quite a lot. At first he was spitting out amniotic fluid, which wasn’t all squeezed out during labor since he was born in the sac.
We had to feed him at an upright position and slow paced with the formula bottles.
Because baby was premature they had to perform a car seat test. It was to test whether baby was able to breath well for 2 hours straight while traveling in the car seat.
It did seem like a very long time BUT some parents do have to travel very far with a newborn.
Up until now baby had been 100% healthy in everything – praise Jesus! So, my husband led us in prayer so that baby would pass this test too. Our respective families also prayed.
And to no surprise, baby passed. Hallelujah!
My mother and father-in-law and grandmother-in-law visited us for a couple hours. We wanted to give them the chance to hold the baby since we live on the opposite sides of the city. We didn’t think we’d see them for a while.
Once we were approved to be discharged, we got ready to go. We got dressed, dressed baby, collected our things and all our important documents. My husband took most of our stuff to the car, parked the car in front of the hospital, and brought the car seat.
The nurse had to make sure we put baby in correctly AND was secured well. She walked us out and we left.
At Home
When we arrived home, we took our baby and went to pick up our children.
My kids met their newest baby brother for the first time. Our daughter loves babies and other kids so this was a pleasant surprise. Our first son didn’t quite understand what was happening or who this new baby is.
My mom, sister, brother-in-law and nephew also got to meet baby.
Ideally, it would be nice to sit, relax, and focus on baby and recovery only. However household things still need to get done.
Plus, this time I didn’t feel quite like the 2 times before. I felt more like myself again. Still, the plan was to take it easy and slow but not to stop.
My husband was able to help me the first few nights with the new baby. Baby was still spitting up quite frequently and cried so much from gas.
Based on my research online, it seems that spitting up may be due to an immature esophagus. Baby was unable to keep milk down due to being premature.
Additionally, my mother-in-law suggested we try a different formula for lactose intolerance. She was right and boy did I feel guilty for not thinking of this before. My poor baby.
As a newer mom, I am definitely grateful and blessed to have my 2 moms (my mom & mom-in-law) who offer suggestions and prayer. It helps so much. My children are MOST DEFINITELY blessed to have the grandparents that they have.
The Reflection
Each one of my hospital births have taught me that every birth is different. It is also very telling of the child’s personality and character. I’ll elaborate on this on a different post.
While I wouldn’t consider the first 2 births negative, those experiences did cause anxiety. This hospital birth was God telling me that I did not have to be anxious. He gifted me a positive hospital birth story.
The 4 things I learned from this hospital birth experience are:
1. You need to have a grounded and mentally strong support person.
Don’t be afraid to outline in detail what you need/want and how they can help! Give them grace. It’s best to brief them before giving birth so you’re both speaking the same language. Be honest about your needs during labor and post-labor.
2. Even if you feel like your pre-pregnancy self immediately postpartum, you aren’t. So, be patient and allow your body time to recover.
3. If your birth team (i.e. ob/gyn, nurses, midwives, etc.) allows you the freedom to trust your womanly instincts, encourages you, and makes you feel safe & confident, your birth experience can (& more than likely will) be very positive.
In cases with high risk pregnancies and deliveries, the trust still must be mutual. If they trust you enough to inform you and let you make a decision, you can trust them to help you make the right decision. Especially in a moment of intense pressure.
4. Trust God. You have nothing to lose, especially with what you have no control over.
Do what you can, ask God for guidance, and trust the rest to Him.
My desire is that I will be better prepared for the next pregnancy and birth. I will share how I plan to do so in a later post and give you ideas on how you can prepare also.
If you’re still here and read the whole story, thank you!
I hope you come back soon and enjoy other posts. Feel free to share your story with me, or any comments and feedback.
God bless!
