A Birth Story

Intro
Harrison and I learned so many valuable lessons preparing for Lydia's birth that really strengthened our marriage. Many of those lessons came as a result of trying to prepare for a natural birth. Fun fact: People are really opinionated about birth and children. I think they're naturally protective of their own experiences. Due to the quantity of commentary we experienced as we began taking to people about our decisions we quickly learned how to kindly defend each other and understand what was most important to us. Something we have both come to realize is that happiness in your own family is what matters most. Everyone has different experiences and dynamics in their relationships that influence their own decision making. Every family will have something that works for them. I love that families are individualized and we can make those choices. I feel like coming to that understanding has helped us judge others less and love each other more. I'm also really grateful we decided to take a natural birthing class that focused on couples working through pregnancy and birth together. Even though we didn't have the birth we planned, it turned out to be the perfect experience for us. One that gave us an opportunity to support and rely on each other completely.
So. Here's our story :)

Our doctor gave us the option to medically induce at 39 weeks because Lydia was measuring big (specifically her head). We set up the appointment at 38 weeks just in case I didn't go into labor on my own before then. I had been having irregular contractions for a while and there was some debate about when my actual due date was so we really didn't know what to expect. We were so anxious to meet Miss Lydia by the time the appointment came around. I swear the last 2 weeks of the pregnancy were longer than the whole thing. We went to the hospital at 6:00 AM July 28th.

After some paperwork and checkin my nurses hooked me up to an IV and got the pitocin running around 7:30. By 8:00 I was having regular contractions. My initial check before the induction showed I was dilated to a 3 and 90% effaced. We worked through the next hour fairly easily. Lots of laughing. Lots of chatting about meeting baby.

By 9:30 things really got moving. My mom got to the hospital right before things got really intense. We had asked her to attend the birth in case we needed extra support during the intense part of labor. She came to a coaching class with us and read the manuel we used to prepare for the delivery. We were both so grateful for her support. By 10:00 we really had to work through each contraction.
I tried a lot of different positions and we ended up having to switch to an internal monitor because Lydia and I were moving around so much. Come to find out Lydia had moved down reeeally low, which explains why everything got super intense so quickly. My contractions were 2 minutes apart for the next hour. I felt the best laying on my side on the bed and focusing on Harrison during those. That hour was the hardest for both of us. He held my hands and helped me breathe and focus. After an hour the contractions were peaking less than 2 minutes apart. I would get one breathe in between and have to go again. People have asked me to describe the pain but it honestly wasn't like anything I've ever felt. The word that always comes to my mind is deep. I couldn't even cry it hurt so much. I began to panic with each contraction and felt so overwhelmed. Harrison was amazing. He never asked me to stop, even though I knew it was so hard for him to watch me be in so much pain. After doing those hard close contractions I wanted to be done. I told Harrison I knew I could do it but I didn't want to anymore. I got an epidural very soon after. The epidural was great! I was able to move my legs and adjust myself in bed. I felt pressure but no pain. I was fully dilated an hour later. We let Lydia rest and descend for a while before I pushed with the nurses.

When our doctor arrived he had to perform an episiotomy. If for no other reason than that I'm SO grateful I had the epidural. I can't even imagine having to endure that after everything else. Lydia came quickly after that :)

Seeing her for the first time was unreal. It was amazing to see that she knew who we were.

First family photo 

Everything about becoming a mom has been accompanied by the sweetest peace. In her conference address last week Sister Linda Reeves asked, "Have we sensed the sacred and holy feelings surrounding this celestial spirit, so recently sent by our Father in Heaven to its newly created, pure little body? I have seldom experienced feelings quite so sweet, so tender, and so spiritual."

I couldn't have said it better.